PRINCE Charles won’t wear a mask unless Government guidance requires him to, a Palace source has said.
The Prince of Wales is expected to ditch the mask ahead of a fundraising event in Exeter Cathedral on Sunday.
“This will be the first time in 18 months that we are seeing a return to normality. We’ll be looking forwards, not backwards,” a Palace source told the Mail on Sunday.
“This is the first time the Prince has been to a location inside and won’t be wearing a mask because it’s a large area where people will be social distancing and it will be the first day of the new rules.”
“When the rules state that a mask should be worn, then the Prince will wear one but not otherwise.”
The heir apparent is patron of a fundraising appeal at the cathedral and his trip was made public ahead time for the first time in months.
His engagements have been kept secret during the pandemic to prevent crowds gathering.
The Duchess of Cornwall is understood to also be glad to about the recent changes.
During her visit to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, the 74-year-old told a student she “can’t wait to get rid of this!” referring to her face mask.
The move comes as England prepares to relax all Covid restrictions on July 19.
Dubbed Freedom Day, rules around social distancing and mask wearing as well as the number of people allowed in a venue at any one time will be dropped.
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However, Number 10 has warned it is ready to reimpose lockdown if the Covid third wave becomes “unacceptable”.
Solicitor General Lucy Frazer insisted Freedom Day must still go ahead on Monday, declaring: “If we don’t do it now, when?”
Concern over the rapid spread of the Delta variant is mounting and Thursday 63 deaths were recorded – the highest since March.
Covid cases have soared by 71 per cent since last Saturday.
Cases are slightly higher than yesterday’s figure of 51,870 – meaning today’s tally is the highest since January 15.
And the toll is 71 per cent higher than the 31,921 infections reported last Saturday, and significantly up on the 24,517 recorded a fortnight ago.
This comes as Health Secretary Sajid Javid tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday.
The Health Secretary today said he had returned a positive lateral flow test for the bug – but his symptoms are “mild” as he has been double-vaccinated.
Officials are scrambling to work out precisely who has been in close contact with Javid in the past few days.
Trending In The News understands that several top ministers and civil servants could be forced into self-isolation should Javid return a positive PCR test to back-up his earlier result.
Yesterday, Javid was seen leaving Downing Street – fuelling speculation that Boris Johnson and other cabinet ministers will be required to isolate if contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
He also met with staff at Aashna House care home in Streatham, South London on Tuesday as part of a busy ministerial schedule.
Earlier that day, Javid mixed with fellow ministers and MPs in Westminster.
It marks a fresh setback for the minister, who will likely be required to isolate on ‘Freedom Day’ – when all restrictions are lifted.
In a video message posted to his Twitter, Javid said: “This morning I tested positive for Covid.
“I’m waiting for my PCR result, but thankfully I have had my jabs and symptoms are mild.
“Please make sure you come forward for your vaccine if you haven’t already.”
He added that he had returned the positive result after taking a lateral flow test, which he took after feeling a “bit groggy”.
Javid continued: “I’m now self-isolating at home with my family until I get the results of a PCR test.”
Javid tweeted on March 17 that he had received a first shot of the Astrazeneca jab, posting a picture of him getting a second dose on May 16.
