Prince William, Kate Middleton and their children all wore NHS blue as they led the fifth week of Clap for Carers this evening – as millions of Britons saluted key workers from their doorsteps.
The royal couple stood alongside Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to put their hands together and praise everyone from NHS healthcare workers to shop assistants who are risking their lives to keep the country going.
The Duke of Duchess of Cambridge’s three children have been encouraged to take part in the Clap for Carers every week, and were joined by Prince Charles and Camilla who are currently staying at Clarence House.
The NHS and its staff is something that William and Kate have put at the heart of their private and professional lives, and this week announced a new initiative to support key workers by providing a dedicated mental health support system, Our Frontline.
For the fifth consecutive week, people from around the country stood out on their doorsteps to clap for a minute as a thank you for the brave staff on the frontlines battling the coronavirus.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson – who is still recuperating from the virus at Chequers – also joined in with fiancee Carrie Symonds.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their children clapping for NHS and frontline workers on Thursday
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall joining in ‘clapping for our carers’ outside the front door of their home at Birkhall in Aberdeenshire
NHS nurses and occupational therapists help to unveil a rainbow floral display outside the University College Hospital today at Euston Road, in London to thank the public for their support during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic
An NHS worker reacts outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues
Residents in Tonbridge, Kent, United Kingdom, take part in the fifth Clap for Our Carers as the Coronavirus lockdown continues
The picture of Prince William and his family clapping appeared in a comedy skit with Stephen Fry for The Big Night In – a fundraising telethon to raise money for key workers and those affected by coronavirus taking being shown on BBC One tonight.
In the sketch, The Duke of Cambridge told Fry that homeschooling his children had proved ‘a bit of a nightmare, really’. He added: ‘By the way, have you seen anything good on TV? It’s hell without EastEnders.’ When Fry suggests Tiger King, the duke said that he ‘tends to avoid shows about royalty’.
Before getting up to take part in the clap for carers, he said: ‘On my way, let me just see if I can find my socks, and my shoes, and my trousers.’
Footage of the duke clapping outside his home with his family was then aired as the tribute to key workers began at 8pm.
The first emotional Clap for Carers took place on Thursday, March 26, and has happened every week since, in an act of solidarity and praise for those who are dedicating so much during the pandemic.
Tonight, people banged pots and pans, dressed up in silly costumes, and chanted their support for the NHS, while keeping a safe social distance, all across the country
Emergency services vehicles blared their sirens and as they paid tribute to their colleagues, and others, while flashing their blue lights.
The Countess of Wessex joined a video call with Thames Valley Air Ambulance this week, where she thanked crew members who have been redeployed to help their NHS colleagues working on the frontline
A medical staff member applauds outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS this evening
Health workers take part in a national ‘clap for carers’ along the banks of the River Thames to show thanks for the work people across the country
Residents in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear applaud to salute local heroes during Thursday’s nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic
Crouch End residents take part in ‘Clap For Carers’ this evening banging pots with spoons and wearing colourful headwear
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab applauds to show his appreciation for National Health Service (NHS) staff working amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak
A NHS worker applauds outside the Aintree University Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Liverpool
NHS staff take part in a national ‘clap for carers’ to show thanks for the work of Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) workers and frontline medical staff along the Thames
People applaud outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
NHS workers react outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS as the spread of the coronavirus disease
First Secretary of State Dominic Raab also joined in with the clap for carers applause in Westminster.
Mr Raab, who is deputising for Boris Johnson while he recovers from coronavirus, said in a Twitter post: ‘The weekly £ClapForCarers and £NHSHeroes is a brilliant demonstration of how the UK unites in moments of crisis.
‘By coming together we will beat this virus.’
The touching gesture of national solidarity came just hours after a virtual tribute to the NHS was traced across the skies of North Antrim just hours before the weekly clap for carers.
The Northern Ireland fixed wing Air Ambulance, operated by Woodgate Aviation, were behind the the initials on Thursday.
The route taken by the King Air BE20 aircraft could be seen on flight tracking apps Planefinder and Flightradar as it flew at 15,000ft over Coleraine and Ballymoney.
The Air Ambulance was on a proving flight following maintenance work at the Woodgate hangar at Belfast International Airport.
Pilot Nick Byrne, from Bangor, Co Down, was at the controls during the solo flight.
‘Completion of maintenance work on the King Air coincided with the weekly ‘clap for carers’ when people show their appreciation for NHS staff,’ he said.
People and emergency responders stand on Westminster Bridge near to St Thomas’ Hospital in London to salute local heroes during Thursday’s nationwide Clap for Carers initiative
Staff outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London join in the applause to salute local heroes during Thursday’s nationwide Clap for Carers initiative
Staff outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London join in the applause to salute local heroes during Thursday’s nationwide Clap for Carers initiative
NHS workers react outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues
People are seen on Westminster Bridge during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues
Paramedics outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, join in the applause to salute local heroes during Thursday’s nationwide Clap for Carers initiative
‘We decided we would try to write NHS in the skies which could be seen on aircraft tracking apps.
‘I’ve never attempted anything like this before and although there was a little wavering, I’m delighted with the outcome.’
Woodgate Aviation operations manager Keith McKay added: ‘We have a long track record of working with the highly professional and dedicated staff in the NHS, and this was our way of applauding the tireless work they do in our hospitals.
‘We all owe frontline staff such an immense debt of gratitude that we felt this would be a fitting and novel way of recognising their efforts on our behalf.’
It came as two thirds of Britons have said the UK should be given an extra bank holiday to celebrate medics and care staff who battle the coronavirus pandemic.
Campaigns such as Clap for Carers has highlighted how much the UK values the NHS and care workers
A London Ambulance worker takes a patient with an unknown condition from an ambulance outside of the Royal London Hospital on April 20
As campaigns such as Clap for Carers, Captain Tom Moore’s walking challenge and other fund raising appeals shine a light on how much the UK loves the NHS, many think health care workers deserve further recognition.
So far in the UK it has been reported that over 100 NHS and care workers have died from the coronavirus, and the report suggests the public want more to be done to ensure the safety of key workers.
A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank revealed that Britons want a new bank holiday – to celebrate both health and care workers.
A YouGov poll found that almost two thirds of the population supported this proposal, compared to a quarter who opposed.
The report also found that the UK supports more intervention from the UK government.
The public wants more substantial support for workers putting their lives on the line to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
96 per cent of people polled agreed the government should introduce more support for healthcare workers’ physical health.
This is while 95 per cent of people supported more support for their mental health needs.
Two NHS workers are seen outside Queens Hospital this week wheeling in a patient on a stretcher
88 per cent were in favour of more generous pay and leave entitlements for them.
The report also proposes a five point plan for a ‘Care Fit for Carers’. The guarantees echo that made in the First World War.
During that time there was a ‘homes fit for heroes’, the new report demands that the government must deliver such a package for NHS and care workers.
The five guarantees would be: safety, accommodation, mental health, pay and care.
It warns that if action is not take, there will be a serious strain on key workers.
Chris Thomas, IPPR Health Research Fellow and lead author of the report, said: ‘Our care heroes are making significant sacrifices to pull our country through this crisis. But government must ensure people’s lives, livelihoods and security are not lost unnecessarily. That means taking urgent action’
‘Care Fit for Carers is about giving the heroes of the coronavirus pandemic the protection, support and security they need. No one should have to put their health at risk because PPE is lacking.
‘No one should face a mental health crisis because no support was there. And no one should face financial destitution while delivering our crisis response.’