Prince William Just Opened the Latest Field Hospital in the U.K. (& He Did it via Video Chat)

Prince William may not have been able to physically attend his latest royal engagement due to social distancing, but he made sure he was there in “digital spirit.”

On Thursday, the Duke of Cambridge opened a new emergency field hospital in Birmingham. The new NHS Nightingale Hospital, which was constructed in eight days in response to the coronavirus outbreak, was officially declared open by William via video chat from his country home in Norfolk.

According to Kensington Palace (who shared a clip of the event), the hospital will have a workforce of doctors, nurses, therapists and support staff to provide beds and care for coronavirus patients.

“I know that the Nightingale Birmingham will provide invaluable resources for hospitals from miles and miles around,” he said in the video. “This will reassure people across the Midlands that if their local hospitals reach capacity, there will be extra beds available for their loved ones here. I find that very comforting and I know many other people will too.”

Ahead of the big opening, the Duke of Cambridge spoke with medical staff, logistical staff, military staff and the project director. Lucky for us, Kensington Palace shared the video footage from the chat on their social media accounts as well.