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Prince William is third in line for the throne, though he has said in the past that he’s not focused on becoming king right now. But the queen is turning 94, and there’s no denying that she’s reached an age that makes her a bit more fragile. With the coronavirus pandemic plus Prince Charles’ battle with the virus (though it was a mild one), William has made it clear that he is worried about his grandmother’s health.

Prince William and Queen Elizabeth
Prince William and Queen Elizabeth | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

The royal family has already been hit with coronavirus

No matter a person’s status, nobody is exempt from being at risk of coronavirus. And the royal family had a major scare last month when it was learned that Prince Charles, who is second in line for the British throne, had tested positive for the virus.

Charles was lucky — he only dealt with a mild case of it. But it meant that concern grew even more for the possibility that the queen could come down with the virus, too — and it could be much harder for her to beat it.

Queen Elizabeth is certainly vulnerable to health scares at her age

The queen is one of the strongest women we know, right? At almost 94, she’s still driving herself around and seems like the kind of person who would refuse to let a virus bring her down. But the truth is, coronavirus is much more serious among the elderly, since their immune systems aren’t as efficient as those in younger people.

The queen has been the picture of health for most of her life, though her husband, Prince Philip, has had a few health scares of his own through the years. And with Philip being 98, it’s so important that both of them avoid getting sick.

Prince William told BBC his grandparents’ age does ‘worry him’

Prince William knows too well the importance of keeping his grandparents safe, but he recently revealed that their health is definitely a concern of his. On April 17, William and his wife, Kate Middleton, opened up to BBC about what royal life has been like while dealing with the virus.

“I think very carefully about my grandparents and the age they’re at,” William said, according to Yahoo. “We’re doing everything we can to make sure they are isolated away and protected from this. But it does worry me…” He went on to say that he’s also concerned about the impact the virus will have on “high-risk” people who need to stay away from their families. William also said that he was “quite concerned” when his father was diagnosed. Charles has since recovered from the virus.

William isn’t ready to be king

William’s concern comes from a place of love for his father and grandparents. But he was likely also concerned because he is not quite ready to be king yet. William revealed a little while back that it’s hardly something he thinks about. After all, he’s still third in line, and if his father lives to be as old as Philip, it could be another 30 years before William takes the throne. Should tragedy strike, William would be thrown into the role far sooner than he ever thought.

Thankfully, Charles has recovered from the virus. Now, the family’s biggest concern is ensuring that the queen and her husband stay safe.

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