Queen and Prince Philip receive coronavirus vaccinations

9 January 2021, 15:05 | Updated: 9 January 2021, 16:09

By Nick Hardinges

@NHardinges

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have joined more than one million people in receiving their coronavirus vaccinations, Buckingham Palace has said.

A royal source confirmed the 94-year-old monarch and her consort, 99, had been given their first jabs of the Covid-19 vaccine on Saturday.

It is an unusual move by Buckingham Palace, which rarely comments on the private health matters of the Queen and Duke.

However, it is understood the monarch believed the announcement should be made public to prevent inaccuracies and quell further speculation.

The source confirmed the injections were administered by a royal household doctor at Windsor Castle.

Read more: Prince William says he talks to his children 'every day' about NHS staff 'sacrifices'

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have today received Covid-19 vaccinations."

The Queen and Prince Philip have spent lockdown in England sheltering at their Windsor Castle home after deciding to have a quiet Christmas at their Berkshire residence.

They chose to forgo the traditional royal family gathering at Sandringham due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Royal family have been largely separated during the course of the pandemic, and Prince Charles and The Duke of Cambridge have both had the virus.

Yesterday, Prince William revealed he talks to his children "every day" about NHS staff so they understand the "sacrifices" medical workers make treating coronavirus patients.

He comments were made during a video call with staff from Homerton University Hospital in East London when he was told events now were "worse than the first wave".

One senior nurse said queues of people waiting to be vaccinated at the hospital offered hope but the way out of the health crisis was for the public to "stay at home" during the lockdown.

Speaking on Thursday, the duke who is joint patron of NHS Charities Together, said: "A huge thank you for all the hard work, the sleepless nights, the lack of sleep, the anxiety, the exhaustion and everything that you are doing, we are so grateful. You are all in my thoughts.

"Catherine and I and all the children talk about all of you guys every day, so we're making sure the children understand all of the sacrifices that all of you are making so thank you so, so much.

"Good luck, we are all thinking of you."

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