Prince William and Kate Middleton will 'take a leaf from Diana during the AIDS epidemic' and shake people's hands post-lockdown to 'counter the stigma' and show life can 'resume normality', royal expert claims
- Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been carrying out virtual engagements
- Young British royals working to resume duties in-line with government guidance
- Royal author Nigel Cawthorne says Cambridges will take a 'leaf from Diana'
- Says late princess 'made a point of shaking hands with AIDS victims during epidemic to counter the stigma at the time and spread comfort'
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are likely to 'take a leaf from Diana' in the way they return to public duties from lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, a royal expert has claimed.
Prince William and Kate Middleton, both 38, are continuing to operate behind closed doors, conducting virtual engagements via video call, while homeschooling their three children Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, five, and Prince Louis, one.
Despite plans for a further easing of lockdown in the UK next week, with the reopening of non-essential retailers, FEMAIL understands there is currently no set plan in place for the British Royal Family to step out publicly any time soon.
The younger households, including that of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Earl and Countess of Wessex, are reportedly looking at how physical engagements can be done in the future. These will be in-line with government guidance and with a care to not put a strain on resources.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (pictured in Ireland in March) are likely to 'take a leaf from Diana' in the way they return to public duties from lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, a royal expert has claimed
Nigel Cawthorne, author of Prince Andrew: Epstein and the Palace, told FEMAIL he believes the Cambridges will 'take a leaf from Prince William and Harry's mother during the AIDS epidemic' in their approach.
'We now know how [AIDS] is transmitted, but there was a lot of uncertainty at the time,' he explained.
'Ironically, at the time, shaking hands couldn't transmit the virus, and their mother made a point of doing so to counter the stigma and spread comfort.
'I think her sons will seek to do the same and show how life can resume normality, while sticking to the safety rules on transmission further to the latest guidance - washing hands frequently, wearing a face mask, particularly when coughing and sneezing or when exercising or singing, or mingling in a large group.
Nigel Cawthorne, author of Prince Andrew: Epstein and the Palace, told FEMAIL he believes the Cambridges will 'take a leaf from Prince William and Harry's mother during the AIDS epidemic'. Pictured: Princess Diana shakes hands with an unnamed male AIDS patient in 1987 while opening the UK's first unit dedicated to treating people with HIV and AIDS at London Middlesex Hospital
'Unless pregnant with child, they are not part of the "at risk" demographic and will want to show that coronavirus may have changed lives, but it will not limit our hopes for the future.'
Back in 1987, when HIV stigma was rife, Princess Diana was famously the first member of the Royal Family to touch someone with AIDS - challenging the previously believed notion the disease could be passed via skin-to-skin contact.
She was pictured shaking hands with an unnamed male AIDS patient without wearing gloves while opening the UK's first unit dedicated to treating people with HIV and AIDS at London Middlesex Hospital.
She was quoted as saying: 'HIV does not make people dangerous to know. You can shake their hands and give them a hug. Heaven knows they need it.'
Prince William and Kate Middleton, both 38, are continuing to operate behind closed doors, conducting virtual engagements via video call, while homeschooling their three children Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, five, and Prince Louis, one
The People's Princess would also regularly visit the Lighthouse, both with the media present and without. According to Dr Rosemary Gillespie, chief executive of the HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust: 'London Lighthouse offered residential and day care for men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS, and provided a refuge and respite to people marginalised and abandoned because of their diagnosis.'
Princess Diana was a patron of the National AIDS Trust at the time of her death in 1997.
Scientists have previously warned the coronavirus pandemic could spell the end of hugging and handshakes for years to come.
Measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, including bans on physical contact, could change human behaviour in social situations, they argue.
A heightened awareness of infections after the pandemic could mean the so-called COVID-19 generation may be nervous about physically greeting friends and family.
Back in March at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, Prince William is believed to have told his wife it felt 'weird' not to shake hands with people at the event
William reportedly told his wife: 'We can't shake hands and we have to hold back. We will have to put loads of hand gel on afterwards. I am not used to it, it feels weird'
Back in March at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, Prince William is believed to have told his wife it felt 'weird' not to shake hands with people at the event.
This Morning's royal expert Camilla Tominey said The Telegraph's lip reader deduced he told Kate: 'We can't shake hands and we have to hold back. We will have to put loads of hand gel on afterwards. I am not used to it, it feels weird.'
William then made another reference to the ban while meeting singer Alexandra Burke after the ceremony, telling her apologetically: 'We can't shake hands,' to which she replied: 'I know I am keeping my hands firmly locked together, nice to see you both.'
It's likely the Cambridges and the Wessexes will be the first royals to return to physical public duty. Last month it was reported that the Queen may remain in self-isolation 'for months' and never return to regular frontline royal duties.
Prince Charles, 71, also remains in isolation with the Duchess of Cornwall at his Aberdeenshire home of Birkhall on the Balmoral estate. He contracted coronavirus in March but claims he was 'lucky' to have experienced 'relatively mild symptoms'.
No comments: