Prince Charles tests positive for Covid-19 day after a tour of London’s major museums

The announcement that Prince Charles has tested positive for Covid-19 was negative news for the two prestigious London museums he visited just hours before.

Yesterday morning, the Prince of Wales had been treated to a tour of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, of which he is the royal patron. A photograph posted on Twitter shows him admiring Kehinde Wiley’s current exhibition in the company of the gallery director Gabriele Finaldi. Neither of them were wearing face masks.

In the evening, the heir to the throne stopped off at the British Museum at a reception to celebrate the work of the British Asian Trust. Guests at the event included the chancellor Rishi Sunak and the home secretary Priti Patel.

This is the second time the Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus after having mild symptoms in 2020. He is now self-isolating and was unable to unveil a statue of a medieval Jewish businesswoman in Winchester as planned.

Current Covid-19 rules in the UK require anyone who tests positive to self-isolate for at least five days. Contacts do not need to self-isolate but must take lateral flow tests for seven days.

When asked if any of their staff members had tested positive for Covid-19 after the Prince of Wales's visit, a spokesperson for the National Gallery replied: "The National Gallery does not comment on the health of its staff members, and all government guidelines were adhered to during HRH's visit." A spokesperson for the British Museum said: "This was a private hire of the museum space after hours by the British Asian Trust."