Prince William Makes First In-Person Royal Visit of New Year to Visit Vaccine Center

WPA-Rota/Press Association Images Prince William at the vaccinations center on Monday

Prince William is paying tribute to the vaccinators.

On Monday he made an early morning visit to a center near his country home of Norfolk where health workers are administering the COVID-19 vaccine.

At the King's Lynn Corn Exchange, William — who was ill with the coronavirus last April — met some of those receiving the vaccine (colloquially known as "the jab" in the U.K.) and spoke to National Health Service staff and volunteers about their experiences of being a part of the largest vaccination program in British history.

ARTHUR EDWARDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Prince William on Monday

He made the short journey from his home at Anmer Hall, where he, wife Kate Middleton and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, have been staying during the latest U.K.-wide lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

During his visit, William was asked about the health of his 99-year-old grandfather, Prince Philip, saying Philip is "okay" despite his ongoing hospitalization.

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William also observed the vaccine delivery work of Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust, which is operating centers across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk and Waveney. Family doctors and pharmacists are also administering the vaccine rollout.

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Up until about a week ago, 307,716 doses of the life-saving vaccination have been delivered to people living in Norfolk and Waveney. That means 94 percent of those over age 80, 97 percent of 75-79 year olds and 73 percent of 70-74 year olds in the region have received their first dose.

WPA-Rota/Press Association Images

William's appearance came a day after his brother, Prince Harry, and wife Meghan Markle reached out to lend a helping hand to those suffering from the winter storms in Texas. Their Archewell Foundation non-profit helped the Genesis Women's Shelter & Support in Dallas repair a roof after they suffered large-scale damage to their transitional housing facilities, school and offices.