Prince Charles tested positive for coronavirus earlier this week but is in good health and is now self-isolating in Scotland with mild symptoms, Clarence House said. The news sparked questions on how the Prince of Wales could obtain a coronavirus test so promptly when hundreds of NHS staff are still waiting to be tested for COVID-19 to be able to go back to work. Sky News host Kay Burley grilled the health minister on the subject resulting in a heated clash when Mr Argar refused to comment on Prince Charles’ health. 

The Sky News host was forced to remind Mr Argar “I’m the one who asks questions” as she pressed him for an answer. 

When asked why the heir to the British throne had a test while millions of frontline health workers have not, the junior health minister said: “My understanding is that his symptoms, his condition, met that criteria.”

“The Prince of Wales didn’t jump the queue,” Mr Argar added.

The Prince of Wales is self-isolating in Scotland after he became the highest-profile coronavirus case in the country.

His office Clarence House said the 71-year-old had tested positive for COVID-19, was displaying “mild symptoms” but was in good health and spirits at Birkhall in Aberdeenshire.

A source said “medical advice is that it is unlikely to escalate into a more serious case”.

The Duchess of Cornwall, 72, who is also at Birkhall, has tested negative for the virus, so is separating herself from the Prince.

The couple were tested by the NHS in Aberdeenshire on Monday, but SNP politician Joan McAlpine, a Member of the Scottish Parliament, raised questions about the procedures, citing a relative with an underlying health condition who was refused a test.

Clarence House said the Prince and Duchess were tested on the NHS as “they met the criteria required for testing”.

Prince Charles fell ill over the weekend and a source said his doctor’s most conservative estimate was that he was contagious on March 13.

Prince Charles last saw the Queen the day before this date, at a private meeting at Buckingham Palace which was not attended by the Duke of Edinburgh, who at the time was thought to be at Sandringham.

Buckingham Palace said the Queen, 93, who is staying at Windsor Castle with Philip, 98, remains in good health and is following all appropriate advice.

It is not known when Charles was last in contact with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Clarence House said: “The Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus.

“He has been displaying mild symptoms but otherwise remains in good health and has been working from home throughout the last few days as usual.

“In accordance with Government and medical advice, the prince and the duchess are now self-isolating at home in Scotland.

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“The tests were carried out by the NHS in Aberdeenshire where they met the criteria required for testing.”

Ms McAlpine, who wished Prince Charles a speedy recovery, tweeted: “Given that his symptoms are said to be mild, like many I wonder how he was tested when many NHS and social care workers cannot get tested.

“My nephew, who has serious asthma and a chest infection was recently refused a test.”

The NHS Scotland website says people will only generally be tested for Covid-19 if they “have a serious illness that requires admission to hospital”.

Prince Charles and Camilla are both over 70, the age group told to take social distancing particularly seriously.

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