Prince William and Kate visit paramedics on the coronavirus front line

British royals offer support to London medics and the country's vaccination campaign

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  Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge talk with members of the ambulance service in the wellbeing garden during a visit to Newham Ambulance Station in east London. AFP

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  Paramedics await the arrival of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. AFP

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  Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge talks with ambulance crew. AP Photo

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  Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge speak with the family of paramedic Jahrin Khan via a mobile phone. AP Photo

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  Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge hold a discussion with members of the ambulance service. AFP

Britain's Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on Thursday visited an ambulance station where they met medics fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Prince William and Kate chatted with the family of paramedic Jahrin Khan on a mobile phone during a visit to Newham ambulance station, east London.

Ms Khan's family live in London but her father joined the conversation from Bangladesh. She has been unable to see him throughout the pandemic because of travel restrictions.
"You must be very proud of your daughter. She works very hard and she's looking forward to seeing you soon," William told Mr Khan.
"Hopefully it won't be too long before you can all meet up and see each other again," the duchess said.

Paramedic Shani Smith, who has been with the ambulance service for more than 20 years, told the royal couple that working through the Covid-19 crisis was "like one long major incident”.

The duke and duchess also heard about the mental toll of the pandemic on ambulance crews.

The royal family on recent weeks has been encouraging people to be vaccinated.

Queen Elizabeth urged the public to have a coronavirus shot, telling sceptics to "think about others rather than yourself".

"It was very quick and I’ve had lots of letters from people who have been very surprised by how easy it was to get the vaccine," she said of her own inoculation "And the jab – it didn’t hurt at all."

William's father Prince Charles visited a mosque in London on Tuesday as authorities attempt to boost uptake of vaccinations among the UK's black and Asian communities.

The heir to the British throne was accompanied by his wife Camilla when they visited Finsbury Park Mosque.

The family are at the centre of a race row after an interview given by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan Markle, to US TV host Oprah Winfrey.

After the interview, Prince William denied the family was racist.

Last week and also in east London, William, again with the duchess by his side said: “We’re very much not a racist family.”

Prince Charles and Prince William spoke to Prince Harry for the first time since the interview earlier this month.

US breakfast show host Gayle King said she had called the Sussexes and was told Harry had spoken to his father, the Prince of Wales, and brother the Duke of Cambridge – but no one has spoken to Meghan.

Before the Winfrey interview was broadcast, Prince Philip, the queen's husband, spent time in hospital for an undisclosed illness.

The Duke of Edinburgh, 99, was admitted to the private King Edward VII Hospital on February 16 and was given treatment for an infection and to undergo heart surgery.

See photos of Prince Charles's visit to a mosque

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  Prince Charles speaks to a member of the public during a visit to a vaccination pop-up centre at Finsbury Park Mosque in north London. AP Photo

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  Prince Charles was accompanied by his wife Camilla as they appeared at Finsbury Park Mosque. Getty Images

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  Prince Charles tours the vaccination centre at Finsbury Park Mosque. AFP

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  Camilla speaks to people as she is shown around the vaccination centre. AFP

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  Prince Charles said he was thrilled that his father Prince Philip was back at his Windsor Castle home after a month-long stay in hospital. Getty Images

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  Prince Charles and Camilla during the visit. Getty Images