Prince William battled coronavirus in secret months ago: report - 9Honey

Prince William was reportedly diagnosed with coronavirus in April, but kept the news quiet to avoid alarming the public.

According to a report in The Sun, the Duke of Cambridge, who has been vocal in his support for healthcare workers during the pandemic, caught the virus days after his father Prince Charles and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tested positive.

At the time, William is said to have told a guest at an engagement that there were "important things" occurring and he "didn't want to worry anyone" with his diagnosis.

RELATED: Prince William the first royal to address the coronavirus pandemic

The Duke reportedly battled the virus throughout April. (Getty)

Treated by palace doctors and in isolation at Anmer Hall, the Cambridges' country home in Norfolk, the future king carried out 14 telephone and video call engagements during the period.

A source claims William was "hit pretty hard" by COVID-19 and was "struggling to breathe" at one stage.

His condition also sparked alarm in his inner circle, the source saying those around him were "pretty panicked."

William remained dedicated to his work and was "determined" to conduct "business as usual" through his illness, they added.

A source claims William was "hit pretty hard" by COVID-19 and was "struggling to breathe" at one stage. (AP)

During the suspected period Prince William was in isolation, he attended a hospital opening via video link for Birmingham's Nightingale Hospital.

He also spoke with healthcare workers at Queen's Hospital Burton on April 1, telling them he was "proud" of their work.

The father of three did not appear publicly for a week after April 9.

On April 23, he re-emerged to feature alongside Stephen Fry in a Blackadder-themed sketch for the BBC to raise funds for coronavirus frontliners.

William, his wife Kate and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were also filmed at their front door step, applauding frontline workers as part of the Clap for Carers tradition.

The Duke also spoke to the Football Association about mental health and called the Crown Prince of Jordan during the time he was ill.

According to The Sun's report, William was diagnosed with the virus days after Boris Johnson was rushed to hospital, which coincided with the Queen delivered her rousing 'We Will Meet Again' address to the public.

The 'panic mode' that struck the country prompted the royal to keep his condition a secret because he felt "there were more important things going on in the country," according to The Sun's source.

The Duke was the first royal to address the pandemic publicly. (AP)

At the start of the year, William was the first royal to address the pandemic in a video message posted on social media, urging the public to "come together" - albeit from their homes.

The Duke spoke about Britain's "unique ability to pull together", saying the public's desire to help in the wake of the tragedy "needs to be managed and channelled in the best possible way".

His father, Prince Charles, isolated for two weeks in March with mild symptoms, while Johnson spent three nights in ICU from April 5.

The news of the Duke's battle with COVID-19 emerges as the United Kingdom enters its second round of strict lockdown, which will reportedly last until December 2.

There are currently 1,035,000 cases of coronavirus in the United Kingdom.

Royals and coronavirus: who has it and who's talking about it

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2020-11-01 23:10:00Z
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