Buckingham Palace has confirmed the Queen and Prince Phillip have indeed taken the covid jab, in order to prevent further discussion. The news came at the special request of the Queen, as the nation comes to the end of its worst week during the pandemic.

More than 80,000 people have died in the UK since the start of the pandemic with a staggering 1,035 deaths in the UK reported on Saturday, taking the total by that measure to 80,868.

The Queen and the Duke will have been in the second priority group, for those aged 80 and older, which follows care home residents and staff

The royals’ medical matters are normally a private matter but No.10 hope going public will give the vaccine the royal seal of approval.