The Duke of Cambridge has thanked NHS staff in the Western Isles for their work during the coronavirus pandemic.

William spoke on the phone with Barra charge nurse Frances MacNeil on Thursday.

They discussed her role as a vaccinator in the Covid-19 programme, and William passed on his thanks to all NHS Western Isles staff.

Barra and Vatersay moved into the highest level of lockdown restrictions in mid-January following an outbreak of the virus, while the rest of the Western Isles moved into Level 4 at the end of last month after a spike in cases.

Ms MacNeil said she enjoyed speaking with William, known as the Earl of Strathearn in Scotland, who she said was “very relaxed”.

She said: “Prince William was very knowledgeable about the vaccination programme and the geography of the islands. He asked about the logistics of getting the vaccine to the islands and how we were managing.

“We spoke a little about the challenges of unpredictable weather and reaching people in their own homes.

“He commented that of course so many of them had been unable to leave their homes during the past year because of the pandemic.

“I did mention to him that his grandmother knew Barra and Vatersay well as she visited on several occasions with her young family on the royal yacht Britannia.”