The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge married in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London on April 29, 2011, but their latest visit to the historical location didn’t actually have anything to do with their wedding. The stunning church — which is located in the center of the British capital and was founded in 960 — has seen 16 royal weddings take place inside its walls since 1100, according to its website, but is now being used for something totally different, yet extremely important.
During what’s sure to be a trying time for the royal family following William’s brother Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier in the month, the couple appeared to ignore all the chatter about the controversy after William previously spoke out during another appearance, this time focusing on the coronavirus pandemic. So why did Kate and William visit their wedding venue, and what did they do while they were there? Keep reading for all the details.
Prince William and Kate Middleton had a ‘moment of reflection’ at their wedding venue
In March 2021, a COVID-19 vaccination center was set up at Westminster Abbey. People reported that Kate Middleton and Prince William visited the center on the morning of March 23, 2021, where they spoke with staff and volunteers helping to get people in London vaccinated against coronavirus. The two were photographed speaking to people and walking around the historic building while wearing face masks. Per their office at Kensington palace, they spoke to staff about what it was like being part of something so big and how it felt to be working from the iconic church. The two are also said to have chatted to some of those being vaccinated, as the center provides 2,000 vaccinations a week to the people of London.
William and Kate’s visit also saw a very poignant moment, as their visit fell on the U.K.’s National Day of Reflection to mark the one-year anniversary of the country going into lockdown, per Hello!. In March 2020, people were urged to stay home to prevent the spread of the virus, while restaurants, shops, and a number of other businesses were forced to close their doors. The couple reportedly also took time to think about the thousands of people who have died during the pandemic, as Hello!’s Royal Editor Emily Nash tweeted that they “took part in a private moment of reflection” while “William lit a candle and Kate left daffodils.”
Have Prince William and Kate Middleton been vaccinated for coronavirus?
Prince William confirmed during their visit to Westminster Abbey that he and Kate Middleton had not been vaccinated for coronavirus, as the rollout began with older and more vulnerable people. “I’m a while away yet until I get mine.
But you’re getting there pretty fast so it won’t be long,” the 38-year-old prince told a team of vaccinators, per Hello!. William also made it pretty clear that he will be taking up the chance to get vaccinated when he’s offered it and wasn’t too worried about the two injections, adding, “I’ve had plenty of vaccinations in my time. I get jabbed a lot.”
William’s grandparents, 94-year-old Queen Elizabeth II and 99-year-old Prince Philip, received their vaccinations in January 2021, as confirmed by Buckingham Palace. BBC reported that a household doctor at Windsor Castle — where the couple has been staying for much of the U.K. lockdown — administered the vaccination. The royal couple were two of the first in line, as the vaccination program began by protecting those over 80 and those with pre-existing health conditions.