While Prince Charles is said to be out of self-isolation and recovering well from his battle with the coronavirus, the royal family isn't out of the woods yet. Andrew Parker Bowles, Camilla's ex-husband and longtime royals friend, has confirmed that he has tested positive for the virus.
Andrew confirmed the news to The Telegraph, saying, "I probably got it on the Wednesday or Friday I attended Cheltenham. I’ve felt pretty bloody awful with it. It’s better in the mornings and gets worse as the day goes on. I’ve had a bad cough and I’ve been very lethargic. I’m sleeping twice as long as normal."
This news is sure to startle several members of the family, most notably Princess Anne and her daughter, Zara. The pair attended the Cheltenham Festival alongside Andrew two weeks ago. Anne was photographed kissing Andrew, and Zara happily put her arm around him and leaned in to greet him. Andrew is actually Zara's godfather, so the two are usually pretty close.
Oh, Andrew. The 80-year-old attended the festival one week before the UK decided to ban gatherings of large groups. The festival is part of a racehorse event, and several people had criticized the organizers for refusing to cancel the event ahead of time. While there, he met up with his old friend (and former flame) Princess Anne.
Princess Anne and Andrew have been close for years, and the two reportedly dated for a brief bit of time before Andrew and Camilla married. Andrew is even godfather to Anne's daughter, Zara. Andrew always stayed friends with Anne, even after he and Camilla divorced, and he's remained a close friend of most of the family.
Andrew isn't the only person who attended the festival who has been feeling sick. The festival has since been dubbed a hot spot for the illness, particularly after hundreds of people who attended have reported symptoms of the virus in the two weeks that have followed.
The Cheltenham Festival is typically a pretty fun, upbeat experience for everyone who attends, but The Guardian has reported that this year it was a little different. There were numerous hand sanitizer stations placed everywhere, which several people approved of. One attendee, Simon Beattie, said, "You don’t have to go over the top but it is sensible to take every precaution you can with this coronavirus thing around. Thousands of people must have touched that statue before me."
The publication also reported that last-minute ticket sales were down, and several people had asked for refunds. Some attendees wore face masks, and tens of thousands of people still attended the festival. That's kind of unbelievable given what we know now, a mere two weeks later.
Clearly, Andrew Parker Bowles, Zara Phillips, and Princess Anne were three of those people. There have been no updates about whether or not Zara or Anne have been tested. The festival took place during the same time period that has since been pegged as a bit of a problem for the UK in terms of viral transmission: March 7 to 14.
Princess Anne infamously kept up her public appearances well into March and was one of the last members of the royal family to close her schedule. She was still attending events up to March 16 or 17, when she made an appearance at the National Coaching Convention at the Addington Equestrian Centre.
While her intrepid spirit is admirable, it's surprising that Anne persisted in attending public engagements so far into the month. Zara and her husband, Mike Tindall, were also reportedly "reluctant" to change their plans for this month but eventually ceded to the powers that be. The pair are now at Gatcombe Park estate, alongside their daughters and Zara's mother.
The Queen and Prince Philip are still self-isolating at Windsor Castle, and reports indicate the pair will likely end up staying there for several weeks. They are both in their 90s, and with so many positive test results in the family, they likely are prepared to stay at Windsor and mind their health as long as they need to.
Prince Charles and Camilla continue to self-isolate in Scotland at Balmoral Castle. Charles tested positive for the virus but is said to have since recovered, and Camilla tested negative and has not had to contend with the toll the virus can wreak. Charles is believed to be staying in his home at Balmoral, Birkhall.
Prince William and Kate Middleton also continued to make public appearances well into March, but now they are said to be with their children at their country home, Anmer Hall in Norfolk. Kate has been spotted grocery shopping near the home in the days since the pair moved out, and they're also still working from the offices in the home itself.
