Prince Charles today described the coronavirus pandemic as a 'strange, frustrating and often distressing experience' after recovering from the infection.

The 71-year-old Prince of Wales paid tribute to emergency services workers and shop staff in a three-minute video and stressed the importance of living with hope.

He also said it was 'essential' that key workers including NHS staff were 'treated with special consideration' when finishing their shifts and trying to go shopping.

The message, recorded this morning by staff at Birkhall, the Prince's home in Scotland, marked his first appearance since coming out of self-isolation on Monday.

It comes as:

Banks threatened the future of up to one million firms who say they will go bust after being denied access to the Government's emergency loan scheme;

Couriers begged people to stop going on spending sprees online during the crisis, claiming they are delivering more non-essential parcels than ever before;

Ministers were accused of 'complacency' and snubbing offers of help from labs as Boris Johnson struggles to get a grip on the coronavirus testing shambles.

Scientists claimed the UK could already have had 1.8million coronavirus patients with one in every 37 people having caught the disease.

It was revealed nearly one million Britons have tried to claim Universal Credit in the last two weeks as the pandemic batters the UK economy; and

London Mayor Sadiq Khan again blamed commuters for packed Tube trains during the crisis as he was shown footage of the cramped conditions on live TV.

The UK today saw its biggest day-on-day rise in the number of deaths since the outbreak began - up 563 on the previous day's total to 2,352.

Prince Charles paid tribute to emergency services workers and shop staff in a video message released by Clarence House today and stressed the importance of living with hope

Today, Charles said: 'Having recently gone through the process of contracting this coronavirus, luckily with relatively mild symptoms, I now find myself on the other side of the illness, but still in no less a state of social distance and general isolation.

'As we are all learning this is a strange, frustrating and often distressing experience when the presence of family and friends is no longer possible and the normal structures of life are suddenly removed.

'At such an unprecedented and anxious time in all our lives, my wife and I are thinking particularly of all of those who have lost their loved ones in such very difficult and abnormal circumstances, and of those having to endure sickness, isolation and loneliness.'

ln addition, Charles also praised those on the front line in the National Health Service, saying they needed the country's support.

Charles meets an NHS worker in a photograph shared again today. The picture shows him with nurse Leonie McCaffrey and dialysis patient Eaimie Gormley at Omagh Hospital in June 2018

The Prince also spoke about the elderly, adding: 'As patron of Age UK, and my wife the patron of SilverLine, our hearts go out to all those older people throughout this country who are now experiencing great difficulty.

Prince Charles's full video message on coronavirus today 'Having recently gone through the process of contracting this coronavirus - luckily with relatively mild symptoms - I now find myself on the other side of the illness, but still in no less a state of social distance and general isolation. 'As we are all learning, this is a strange, frustrating and often distressing experience when the presence of family and friends is no longer possible and the normal structures of life are suddenly removed. 'At such an unprecedented and anxious time in all our lives, my wife and I are thinking particularly of all those who have lost their loved ones in such very difficult and abnormal circumstances, and of those having to endure sickness, isolation and loneliness. 'As patron of Age UK, and my wife the patron of SilverLine, our hearts go out to all those older people throughout this country who are now experiencing great difficulty. 'However, we also know that in every community up and down this land - where people of all ages are being affected by this virus - there are truly wonderful neighbours, individuals and groups of volunteers who are providing ceaseless care and attention to those most at risk and that all this network of selfless assistance is, in itself, helping to provide vital support and reassurance to the hard-pressed professional services. 'And at a time when doctors, nurses and all the vital ancillary staff that form the backbone of our remarkable NHS are increasingly under such enormous strain, and risk, as they battle heroically to save lives in intensive care centres and to contain, as much as possible, the spread of this virus, our thoughts and prayers are very much with those marvellous people whose extraordinary skills and utter, selfless devotion to duty and the care of their patients make us so very proud. 'Indeed, it has been so wonderful to see just how many across the UK have signed up in their hundreds of thousands to be NHS volunteers, offering their help to do whatever they can to provide support to those on the front line. 'It is clearly essential, therefore, that such key people are treated with special consideration when coming off their exhausting duties and trying to do their shopping, for instance, while having to contend with constant anxiety about their own families and friends. 'In this regard, we also think of all those many shop workers who are toiling as hard as they can throughout each and every night to keep supermarket shelves stocked - a further 'emergency service' on which we are all relying. 'As a nation, we are faced by a profoundly challenging situation, which we are only too aware threatens the livelihoods, businesses and welfare of millions of our fellow citizens. None of us can say when this will end, but end it will. Until it does, let us all try and live with hope and, with faith in ourselves and each other, look forward to better times to come.' Advertisement

'However, we also know that in every community up and down this land - where people of all ages are being affected by this virus - there are truly wonderful neighbours, individuals and groups of volunteers who are providing ceaseless care and attention to those most at risk and that all this network of selfless assistance is, in itself, helping to provide vital support and reassurance to the hard-pressed professional services.

'And at a time when doctors, nurses and all the vital ancillary staff that form the backbone of our remarkable NHS are increasingly under such enormous strain, and risk, as they battle heroically to save lives in intensive care centres and to contain, as much as possible, the spread of this virus, our thoughts and prayers are very much with those marvellous people whose extraordinary skills and utter, selfless devotion to duty and the care of their patients make us so very proud.'

The heir to the throne, who was sat at his desk and dressed in a jacket, shirt and tie, concluded his message with the words: 'Indeed, it has been so wonderful to see just how many across the UK have signed up in their hundreds of thousands to be NHS volunteers, offering their help to do whatever they can to provide support to those on the front line.

'It is clearly essential, therefore, that such key people are treated with special consideration when coming off their exhausting duties and trying to do their shopping, for instance, while having to contend with constant anxiety about their own families and friends.

'In this regard, we also think of all those many shop workers who are toiling as hard as they can throughout each and every night to keep supermarket shelves stocked - a further 'emergency service' on which we are all relying.

'As a nation, we are faced by a profoundly challenging situation, which we are only too aware threatens the livelihoods, businesses and welfare of millions of our fellow citizens. None of us can say when this will end, but end it will. Until it does, let us all try and live with hope and, with faith in ourselves and each other, look forward to better times to come.'

Charles, who is residing at Birkhall on the Balmoral estate, was diagnosed as having Covid-19 following a test on the NHS in Aberdeenshire.

Fortunately, he only suffered what were described as 'mild' symptoms and carried on working throughout. He came out of self-isolation on Monday.

Royal sources said the prince was in 'good health' and his self-isolation lasted seven days 'in accordance with government and medical guidelines'.

He is now said to be operating under 'standard' government and medical nationwide restrictions.

It's understood that he will continue to hold meetings over the phone and via video conferencing, talking to the many charities he supports to see if he can help them through the current crisis.

He is also in touch with his Duchy of Cornwall land stewards about supporting his tenants, particularly in the south west of England.

But he can now also get some exercise outdoors, walking in his beloved Scottish Highlands.

His wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, tested negative for the virus but immediately went into self-isolation and will remain so - in a different part of the house - until the end of the week.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall greet guests during the Commonwealth Reception at Marlborough House in London on Commonwealth Day on March 9

Sources say Camilla has shown no sign of the virus.

The Mail revealed last week that Camilla has been cheering herself up by chatting with her family via video on the popular Houseparty app.

The Prince began to experience symptoms of Covid-19 around ten days ago, as he flew up to Scotland from Highgrove, his Gloucestershire home.

He is said to have been in 'good spirits' throughout his sickness.

Last week, a member of the Scottish Parliament expressed surprise that the Prince was tested for Covid-19 on the NHS.

This MailOnline graphic shows who Prince Charles met in the 16 days leading up to the announcement by Clarence House that he had contracted coronavirus

Joan McAlpine, SNP MSP for the South of Scotland, wished him a speedy recovery but added: 'Given that his symptoms are said to be mild, like many I wonder how he was tested when many NHS and social care workers cannot get tested.

'My nephew, who has serious asthma and a chest infection was recently refused a test.'

Royal sources insisted, however, that both Charles and Camilla met 'local criteria for testing'.

The NHS Scotland website says people will only generally be tested for Covid-19 if they 'have a serious illness that requires admission to hospital'.

Dr Catherine Calderwood, Scotland's chief medical officer, defended the decision to test Charles and his wife, saying there were 'very good reasons'.

Prince Charles with his wife Camilla, the Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9

(From left) The Queen, Charles, Camilla, William and Kate at Westminster Abbey on March 9

She said: 'My understanding is there were very good reasons for that person and his wife to be tested, and obviously I wouldn't be able to disclose anything else that I know because of patient confidentiality.'

Footage of Charles joining the nation in applauding the country's health workers last Friday, while still suffering from the virus, was previously posted on Clarence House's official Instagram account.

Clarence House, Charles's official London office, is currently closed down as a result of the virus lockdown, with staff working from home.

Charles has had a packed public schedule, including the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, where he was with Boris Johnson and his pregnant partner Carrie Symonds, and other senior royals, including the Queen.

Mr Johnson has also since tested positive for coronavirus, although this was nearly three weeks after their meeting.

On March 10, Charles attended a round table conference with Prince Albert of Monaco, who subsequently revealed he had tested positive for Covid-19.

That week Charles also met celebrities including Ant and Dec and Ronnie Wood at a major Prince's Trust Event, held an investiture at Buckingham Palace, and attended a charity dinner with Lord Archer and his wife, Dame Mary.

On March 13, the prince went to stay at Highgrove, where he was visited by the Duchess of Cornwall, who has a home, Raymill, nearby, and held private meetings with staff, organisations and tenants.