NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Lifestyle

Covid 19 coronavirus: Prince Charles enjoys Zoom so much he will use it post-pandemic

By Victoria Ward
Daily Telegraph UK·
27 Jun, 2021 01:00 AM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Prince Charles, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Anne, and Princess Alexandra paid tribute to the world's nurses via video call in May. Photo / Royal Family

Prince Charles, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Anne, and Princess Alexandra paid tribute to the world's nurses via video call in May. Photo / Royal Family

Most people in their 70s would be glad to see the back of conversations over Zoom, with its many associated pitfalls such as the dreaded mute button and awkward camera angles.

Not so the Prince of Wales, who is keen to further embrace video conferencing and incorporate it into his long-term working pattern.

Prince Charles, 72, has so enjoyed the dual advantages of being able to convene heads of state from across the globe while at the same time reducing carbon emissions that he intends to make such practices permanent.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Clive Alderton, his private secretary, said the Prince had "really enjoyed" being able to conduct video meetings with "numerous" heads of state and government during the pandemic, from the chancellor of Germany to the King of Jordan.

"When Covid restrictions finally disappear, I think we might just retain some of these methods of working," he disclosed.

Describing them as "real positives," he added: "We became very used to and increasingly comfortable with mobile devices propped up on piles of books as messages are recorded or Zoom calls were joined."

A source close to the Prince said he had been "really struck" by the "sort of diplomacy" that could be conducted remotely.

"The Prince has always done quite a lot of this sort of thing on the telephone," they said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"But to be honest, what we had never done before, was video conferencing with heads of state and government."

The Queen and The Duchess of Cornwall have joined together to thank @RoyalVolService volunteers for their hard work, one year on since the launch of the NHS Volunteer Responders Scheme.

Watch the full clip from the video call: https://t.co/JCGgUf6Aik pic.twitter.com/2cVF0EIWaA

— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) March 19, 2021

A round table the Prince convened with the African heads of state and government was described as "absolutely brilliant", while a similar event hosted for Asian leaders was also considered a hit.

"We've never done that before but I think it's been a huge success," the source said.

"The Prince has really enjoyed doing it. It's been really striking that they all turn up, which is fantastic.

Discover more

Royals

'It is quite something': Queen's surprise move over Harry visit

26 Jun 08:01 PM
Royals

Kate hopes to heal the brothers' royal rift

26 Jun 01:16 AM
Royals

Surprise as another Meghan children's book surfaces

25 Jun 10:49 PM
Royals

'That's what Diana wanted': Princess' ex on why she did Bashir interview

25 Jun 09:59 PM

"The technology works. There was a real concern the first time we did this that the IT would glitch in the middle - half of the presidents and prime ministers would be frozen on the screen.

"Not a bit of it, it was absolutely brilliant. So I think we're going to do more of that.

"What it's made us realise is that a blend of these things is going to be the right answer going forward."

Wishing you a very happy Easter Sunday 🐣🌼

In support for Christians around the world, The Prince has contributed to this year’s Easter Meditation at @Stonyhurst College in Lancashire. His Royal Highness reads ‘God’s Grandeur’ by Gerard Manley Hopkins. pic.twitter.com/QUfNFTxDN3

— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) April 4, 2021

Despite the many positives, the Prince's staff at Clarence House insisted nothing could exceed the benefits of face-to-face diplomacy.

"You only really build these relationships when you go and see people, stay with them, spend time off duty with them," one said.

"You can't walk around the park with them on Zoom. But I think what we will see in the future is a blend of these things, partly because the environmental impact of not travelling is huge."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

In recent weeks, The Prince of Wales has convened a series of Roundtables with leaders from every region of the Commonwealth to discuss economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, accelerating action on climate change, biodiversity and sustainable investment. pic.twitter.com/os77r1ACm0

— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) May 28, 2021

The Prince of Wales has made a virtual visit to Nigeria to learn about @RESCUE_UK's work in the northeast of the country.

📺During a video call with the organisation's staff, HRH met doctors at Mashamari Stabilisation Centre in Maiduguri treating children with malnutrition. https://t.co/TE9SZk4U9q

— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) May 26, 2021

Alongside its annual financial review, published last week, Clarence House released its own carbon statement, detailing the Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall's carbon footprint.

Alderton said the couple had "taken a personal lead" in becoming energy efficient, saving nearly 3500 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the past 10 years - equivalent to driving a petrol car around the planet 465 times.

He said 100 per cent of the electricity used across all their homes and offices now came from renewable sources.

The reduction in official travel because of the pandemic meant their carbon footprint was significantly down on the previous year.

The overall cost for royal travel fell by nearly 40 per cent, from £3.2 million to £2.1 million.

The most expensive trip was Prince Charles's charter flight to Kuwait in October to pay his condolences after the death of the country's Emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, at a cost of £58,993 (NZ$115,915).

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

Lifestyle

Macca's confirms rumour of fan favourite's return after eagle-eyed Kiwis spot error

11 Jul 07:27 AM
Premium
Lifestyle

'It's not about being powerless': Experts explain submissive kink amid Sabrina Carpenter backlash

11 Jul 07:00 AM
Premium
Lifestyle

I’m a longevity doctor. These are my daily habits to stay young

11 Jul 06:00 AM

Get your kids involved in your reno

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

Macca's confirms rumour of fan favourite's return after eagle-eyed Kiwis spot error

Macca's confirms rumour of fan favourite's return after eagle-eyed Kiwis spot error

11 Jul 07:27 AM

Eyebrows were raised when the McRib began showing up on kiosks in-store.

Premium
'It's not about being powerless': Experts explain submissive kink amid Sabrina Carpenter backlash

'It's not about being powerless': Experts explain submissive kink amid Sabrina Carpenter backlash

11 Jul 07:00 AM
Premium
I’m a longevity doctor. These are my daily habits to stay young

I’m a longevity doctor. These are my daily habits to stay young

11 Jul 06:00 AM
How tinned fish became the star of dining trends

How tinned fish became the star of dining trends

11 Jul 12:00 AM
Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper
sponsored

Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP