London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Prince William hails 'incredibly exciting' work done by Oxford Uni vaccine team

The Duke of Cambridge has paid tribute to the ‘fascinating’ and ‘incredibly exciting’ work being done in the UK to find a coronavirus vaccine.

William also passed on his family’s pride at the ongoing efforts by British researchers in the fight against Covid-19 ahead of a meeting with some of the ‘guinea pig’ volunteers taking part in the University of Oxford trial.

Wearing a mask, a protective coat and goggles for much of Wednesday’s visit to the Oxford Vaccine Group’s facility at the city’s Churchill Hospital, the future king toured the laboratory where samples from the clinical trial are being examined by researchers.

He also met with Professor Sarah Gilbert, who is leading the trial, and Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the vaccine group.

More than 4,000 participants are already enrolled in the UK, with enrolment of a further 10,000 people planned as researchers test the vaccine – known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19.

Trials are also taking place in South Africa and Brazil and it is hoped an effective vaccine could be ready later this year.

Speaking to volunteers William enquired of one woman what had motivated her to take part, asking: ‘Were you just a willing guinea pig?’

As Prof Pollard paid tribute to the ‘crucially important’ volunteers, William remarked: ‘You’re in good hands, I’m sure.’

The Oxford study was described as ‘probably’ the ‘most advanced’ in the world, this week by the Government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.

The Jenner Institute and the Oxford Vaccine Group began development on a vaccine in January and earlier this month pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca signed a deal with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi) to help manufacture 300 million globally accessible doses.

During the visit, while discussing the hopes for the vaccine to succeed, William said if it was announced the Oxford team had ‘cracked it’ people would ‘breathe a huge sigh of relief’.

‘People want there to be some sort of finality to it,’ he said.

After William asked how the team might feel if things do not work out, Prof Gilbert said she was hopeful they would ‘see something’.

‘The only question is how good it is and how long it will last,’ she added.

The royal told the scientists he had recently spoken to an expert who said there were 1.5 million potential viruses ‘that could hop from animals into humans’.

He added: ‘Hopefully this will be a wake-up call to people.’

Highlighting the enormity of the challenge, Prof Pollard told William: ‘It’s success for the country and the world if these vaccines work, not for us.’

A day ahead of the visit William took part in a video call with some of those involved in the partnership, including AstraZeneca’s CEO Pascal Soriot and Oxford University’s vice chancellor Professor Louise Richardson.

The duke, who said he had ‘always been interested in medical science’ told them: ‘It’s the most incredibly exciting and very welcome project that you’re all doing which is why it’s fascinating.’

Prof Richardson said William’s visit was ‘a real shot in the arm’ for a team of researchers at the university who she said had been working ‘flat out, every weekend, every night’.

She said it had been important to those involved right from the beginning to ensure a vaccine could be accessed at reasonable prices by low and middle income countries, and for there not to be any profiteering.

Congratulating everyone involved, William said: ‘My family is very proud of everything that is going on here, particularly with the Oxford research side of things and the collaboration you are showing with AstraZeneca, I think it’s fantastic.

‘If we can amplify and exemplify what is going on here to the rest of the world, then like you said Pascal, that’s going to be the quickest and best way to end everyone’s problems really, so please keep up the good work and just a huge well done.’

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×