Royal visit: William and Kate hear of personal Covid-19 tragedies from paramedics in Edinburgh

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge thanked frontline workers from the Scottish Ambulance Service for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic as they kicked off their country-wide tour in Edinburgh today.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to the Scottish Ambulance Service response centre in Newbridge, Edinburgh, on the second day of a three-day tour across the country (photo: Wattie Cheung/PA Wire).

William and Kate met the ambulance staff in Newbridge, near Edinburgh, during their first engagement after they set off on their 1,250-mile morale-boosting festive trip on the royal train.

The royal couple heard moving accounts from ambulance workers about how they have been personally affected by the coronavirus crisis.

The duke, dressed in a dark blue coat and tartan scarf, and duchess, wearing a blue Catherine Walker coat and carrying a bag by Scottish designer Strathberry, thanked staff for their efforts in coping with demanding jobs while many were affected by personal Covid-19 tragedies.

Photo: Wattie Cheung/PA Wire.

William spoke at length with some of the paramedics about how the additional strains of working under the threat of coronavirus had impacted on their mental wellbeing.

He and Kate also heard from paramedic Alistair Matson about how he had to cope with his father falling ill and later dying in hospital during the pandemic.

Mr Matson, 54, said: "It was very emotional talking to the prince about losing my father.

"He was very anxious to hear how we managed to cope with the mental strains of our job.

During the tour William and Kate will visit communities, outstanding individuals and key workers to thank them for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic (photo:Wattie Cheung/PA Wire).

"I was helped considerably by the great sense of camaraderie at my work.

"There was never any rush to come back and they have been like another family to me.

"It was really heartening to see the royal couple here today acknowledging what we do and their thanks means a lot to us."

His colleague John Kane, 59, told the royal couple how he spent three weeks in an induced coma in Edinburgh's Western General Hospital after contracting the virus.

Mr Kane said: "I had to be placed on a ventilator for three weeks and placed in an induced coma.

"It was a terrifying time and the recovery has been slow, but again the SAS has helped that.

"The prince was particularly interested in how we manage the mental wellbeing of our own staff."

It also emerged during the visit that William and Kate had sent a special bouquet of flowers to the family of a veteran paramedic, who died last month after he re-enlisted in April four years after his retirement.

Rod Moore, from Falkirk, died aged 63 after contracting coronavirus.

His funeral was due to take place during the royal visit.

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: "I know that Rod's family greatly appreciated the flowers sent on behalf of the royal family. It was a lovely gesture."

The couple also made a particular point of thanking the cleaning staff at the unit, telling cleaner Ellen Reeder, 65, that she was "one of the most important people in the whole organisation, keeping everything together".

Afterwards, Ms Reeder said: "That has really made my day. In fact, I think it has made everyone's day here to get that appreciation from the Royals. I am a huge fan."

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