PRINCE WILLIAM has joked that he might be "spreading" the deadly coronavirus shortly after touching down in Ireland for his very first royal visit.
While meeting well-wishers at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin yesterday, the British royal appeared to make light of the outbreak after asking a paramedic if he thought the media coverage was "being a little hyped up".
"I bet everyone’s like 'I’ve got coronavirus, I’m dying', and you’re like 'no, you’ve just got a cough'," he told the paramedic.
"Does it seem quite dramatic about coronavirus at the moment? Is it being a little bit hyped up do you think in the media?
"By the way, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are spreading coronavirus, Sorry. We’re keeping an eye on that, so do tell us if we need to stop," he joked.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their visit to the Guinness Storehouse in DublinThe Prince then made a speech to those who had gathered, and even spoke a little Irish.
"Ladies and gentlemen, a dhaoine uaisle [noble people],” William said.
"We are very much looking forward to our next two days in Ireland, where I have no doubt we will continue to be impressed by the creativity, warmth and hospitality the Irish people have to offer," before ending with the Irish toast of "Sláinte" and taking a sip from a pint of Guinness.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are currently in the midst of a three-day tour of the nation, having spent time in Dublin on Tuesday where they met with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and President Michael D. Higgins.
Today they'll be visiting Co. Kildare, Grange in Co. Meath and the coastal town of Howth in Co. Dublin.
