Prince William has spoken out to reveal that he is “very proud” of his grandparents Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip for getting the COVID-19 vaccination.

Daily Mail reported that William said this during a video call with NHS staff and volunteers. Dr. Nikki Kanani, a GP in south-east London and medical director of Primary Care for NHS England and NHS Improvement, talked to him on this call about how important it was for patients to get vaccinated.

“We do have vaccine hesitancy in some groups,” she said. “It is really important to get into communities, ethnically diverse communities, and more deprived communities to say ‘this is your vaccine as well, it’s for everyone not just for some communities.’ Getting that uptake is really important.”

“My grandparents have had the vaccine and I am very proud of them for doing that,” William said. “It is really important that everyone gets the vaccine when they are told to.”

“Huge congratulations to all of you for playing your part in such a monumental moment frankly, to roll out this vaccine,” William added. “I think it’s a hugely proud moment for the NHS and for the UK being able to achieve such a massive task. I know what a massive difference it is going to make to everyone. It is also worth pointing out I think that this isn’t something that happens really easily and that everyone has access to around the world. This is because we have a world-leading NHS and we have the right people, research and development here.”

“‘Everyone on the frontline, volunteers and NHS staff have all pulled together and worked so tremendously hard to ensure the vaccine rollout is a success,” Kanani said.

Dr Helen Alefounder, a GP at Rysseldene Surgery in Colwyn Bay, Wales, then explained to William that north-east Wales had been hit worse with coronavirus than the west.

“We are still seeing sick patients, are still having to deal with everything we would normally do as a practice and (are) very thankful to staff giving up their evenings and weekends to try and help vaccinate because it really is the most important thing we can be doing,” she said.

Bronagh Hegarty, a pharmacist at Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, told William that people have “moved mountains day in, day out.”

“I’ve been down the mass vaccination centre, I went from ordering to seeing it put in someone’s arm because a pharmacist has to be there,” she said. “The enthusiasm and the vibe – ‘let’s get this done’ – we are really making a difference. It is palpable and just lovely to be involved.”