Prince William fought off coronavirus in April: report

close

Video

Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines for October 31

Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. Check out what's clicking today in entertainment.

Prince William, like his father, fought off coronavirus earlier this year.

The 38-year-old royal "struggled to breathe" while he battled the virus back in April during the early days of the global pandemic, The Sun reports, but kept the news a secret in an attempt to avoid alarming the public.

Ever the dedicated civil servant, William carried out 14 official engagements while isolating.

Reportedly, William tested positive only days after his father, Prince Charles also tested positive for COVID-19 in late March.

KATE MIDDLETON, PRINCE WILLIAM VIEW 'INCREDIBLE IMAGES' IM LOCKDOWN PHOTO EXHIBIT

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also contracted the virus around the same time. It is currently unclear if any other royals contracted the virus.

Prince William reportedly contracted coronavirus in April. He kept his diagnosis quite so as not to alarm the public. (Getty Images)

"There were important things going on and I didn’t want to worry anyone," William reportedly told an observer during an engagement.

The royal was treated by palace doctors and isolated in his Norfolk family home, Anmer Hall.

QUEEN ELIZABETH STEPS OUT WITH PRINCE WILLIAM FOR FIRST PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SINCE MARCH

A source told the outlet that the Duke of Cambridge "was hit pretty hard by the virus."

"At one stage he was struggling to breathe, so obviously everyone around him was pretty panicked," they added. "After seeing medics and testing positive -- which was obviously quite a shock given how fit and healthy he is -- William was determined it should be business as usual though."

It is currently unclear whether Kate Middleton (right) or any other members of the royal family contracted COVID-19 after Prince William (left). William's father Prince Charles announced that he'd tested positive days before William's positive test. (Getty Images)

William's diagnosis was kept a secret as it came just after Johnson was hospitalized and Queen Elizabeth II had delivered her now-iconic address regarding the pandemic.

"He felt there were more important things going on in the country," said a source. "But as a result of his own experiences, he realizes absolutely anyone can catch this awful disease -- and knows how imperative it is that we all take this second lockdown seriously."

The UK recently announced a second strict lockdown in the wake of rising cases of coronavirus.

After April 9, the royal took a weeklong break from phone calls and engagements before virtually opening the Nightingale Hospital Birmingham on April 16.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Reps for the royal family did not immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment.