Prince Charles visits vaccine centre in London mosque as officials seek to boost uptake

British royal visits Finsbury Park Mosque in support of UK's Covid inoculation campaign

Prince Charles and Camilla visit a pop-up Covid-19 vaccination centre at Finsbury Park Mosque in London. Reuters

Prince Charles visited a mosque in London on Tuesday as authorities attempt to boost uptake of the Covid-19 shot among the UK's black and Asian communities.

The heir to the British throne was accompanied by his wife Camilla as they appeared at Finsbury Park Mosque in the north of the capital.

The royal said he was thrilled that his father Prince Philip was back at his Windsor Castle home after a month-long stay in hospital.

"Very good news, I'm thrilled about it. I've spoken to him – several times," he said.

During the visit, Camilla said she received the shot made by AstraZeneca when she had her first vaccine dose, and had not been concerned whether she received that or another shot made by Pfizer-BioNTech.

"I don't even ask because I hate injections so much that I shut my eyes ... so whatever comes out," said the duchess, who was vaccinated along with her 72-year-old husband last month.

Philip, 99, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, left a London hospital on Tuesday after a four-week stay for treatment for an infection and to undergo heart surgery.

The Duke of Edinburgh was admitted to the private King Edward VII's Hospital on February 16 after he felt unwell and was given treatment for an unspecified illness.

Buckingham Palace issued a statement in which the duke thanked the medical staff and all those who had sent their good wishes. A royal source said he was in good spirits.

On Tuesday it was revealed that Prince Charles and Prince William spoke to Prince Harry for the first time since his bombshell TV interview earlier this month.

US breakfast show host Gayle King said she had called the Sussexes and was told Harry spoke to his father, the Prince of Wales, and brother the Duke of Cambridge – but no one has yet spoken to Meghan.

A friend of Meghan claimed initial talks were “not productive”.

King said on CBS This Morning: "I'm not trying to break news, but I did actually call them to see how they were feeling and it's true Harry has talked to his brother and he has talked to his father too.

“The word I was given was that those conversations were not productive, but they are glad that they have at least started a conversation.

“And I think what is still upsetting to them is that the palace keeps saying they want to work it out privately, but yet they believe these false stories are coming out that are very disparaging against Meghan still – no one in the royal family has talked to Meghan yet…”