Prince William congratulates Oxford researchers for 'amazing achievement' with COVID-19 vaccine

Prince William is congratulating Oxford researchers following the news that the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca have created a COVID-19 vaccine that has shown the capability to be 90% effective. 

During a video call with researchers Monday, the Duke of Cambridge, 38, praised them for their work.

“Well done, I’m so pleased for all of you, I really am," he said. "I saw it in everyone’s faces back in June how much time and effort was going into this, and I could see that there was a lot of pressure on everyone, so I’m so thrilled that you’ve cracked it – so really well done.”

He continued, "It's an amazing achievement, isn't it? It really is... Huge, huge congratulations to you all and your teams."

The call follows William's June visit to the University of Oxford’s Oxford Vaccine Group, where he learned about the university’s work to establish a viable vaccine.

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The BBC and other media outlets reported earlier this month that the royal contracted COVID-19 in the spring but kept his diagnosis secret to avoid worrying the nation.

The duke, who is second in line to the throne, is believed to have tested positive for the virus in April. His father, Prince Charles, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, was confirmed to have the virus March 25.

Kensington Palace said it would not confirm or deny William's April diagnosis. 

The Sun tabloid newspaper, which first reported the news, said William was treated by palace doctors and followed official guidelines by isolating at the family home in Norfolk. It claimed that at one point in his sickness, William was "struggling to breathe."

Despite his reported sickness, the BBC reported that William carried out 14 telephone and video call engagements during April. On April 17, William and his wife, Duchess Kate, spoke to BBC Breakfast, sharing appreciation for front-line workers, and the prince said he "was quite concerned" when his father, who is 72, tested positive.

"I have to admit, at first I was quite concerned. He fits the profile of somebody, at the age he is at, which is fairly risky," William said at the time.

Contributing: Susan Haas, Kim Hjelmgaard

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