The Prince of Wales has visited his father the Duke of Edinburgh at King Edward VII's hospital in London.
Charles arrived at around 3.20pm on Saturday in a grey Tesla, and exited the vehicle wearing a face mask.
He is the first member of the royal family to visit during the Duke's stay in hospital.
Sky News understands he travelled from Highgrove in Gloucestershire and was visiting as the Duke has been in hospital a little longer than expected.
Image:The Prince of Wales spent a brief amount of time inside the hospital
The Duke, 99, was admitted to hospital on Tuesday evening as a "precautionary measure" after feeling unwell.
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On Friday it was reported that he was likely to remain there into next week for rest and observation, although he was said to be in "good spirits".
Image:The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh had their COVID-19 vaccinations earlier this year. File pic
Sky News home editor Jason Farrell said Prince Charles' brief Saturday afternoon visit was "unusual because he hasn't visited his father in hospital on previous occasions.
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"The other concern is that family member visits in hospitals aren't generally happening at the moment (due to the coronavirus pandemic)."
A royal source said last week that the reason for the Duke's hospital stay was not coronavirus-related.
They added that he had been taken to hospital by car and not in an ambulance, and he walked inside unaided.
Reuniting families and allowing people to have more social contact will be an "absolute priority" in easing lockdown after schools reopen, No 10 says.
Options being considered include allowing two households to mix outdoors in the coming weeks.
It comes after confirmation that care home residents in England will each be allowed one regular visitor from 8 March.
The full plan for England's lockdown easing is due to be set out on Monday.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously said that reopening schools will be the first step - but teachers' unions have said it would be "reckless" to bring back all pupils together.
A final meeting is expected to be held on Sunday before the prime minister unveils the full "road map".
Any relaxing of social contact rules will be focused on the outdoors, where transmission is less of a risk. The rules for England's current national lockdown, which began on 4 January, only allow people to meet one person from another household for exercise outdoors.
The devolved nations of the UK have the power to set their own coronavirus restrictions, and have been moving at different speeds to ease lockdown:
In Scotland, the government hopes to publish a route out of lockdown next week, but First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged people not to book Easter holidays
In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced up to four people from two different households can exercise outdoors together from Saturday; he said he hoped the "stay-at-home" requirement could end within three weeks, with some non-essential shops and hairdressers possibly reopening at the same time
Northern Ireland's health minister has played down the prospect of restrictions being eased in time for Easter - a review of current measures will take place on 18 March
Mr Johnson said during a coronavirus briefing this week that steps taken to ease lockdown should be "cautious but irreversible"..
He hailed the success of the UK's vaccine rollout, but warned the threat from the virus remained "very real" and now was not the time to "relax".
The latest business leader to express concern at lockdown measures continuing is John Vincent, co-founder of fast-food chain Leon, who has said extending lockdowns will "cost lives" as businesses keep losing money that should be going to their employees and the government through taxes.
The political reality is that Boris Johnson had to offer up a date for when he'd explain the path out of lockdown.
There are those on the Tory backbenches who would not have accepted an open-ended timeline.
But the government would argue that naming 22 February wasn't some arbitrary effort to buy time, rather a logical choice - one that's linked to the aim of reopening schools, two weeks later, while allowing both the lockdown and vaccine programme to take effect.
Regardless of considerations in play, the long-awaited road map does now loom on the very near horizon.
Government sources insist that the details are, even now, still being finalised.
But with two days to go a broad plan must now be in place.
The government can try and stress caution or talk about caveats but all the build-up has led to a growing sense of anticipation.
And, for many, that anticipation's linked to a hope that our daily lives may soon be less limited.
In care homes, in addition to the new "one visitor" rule, outdoor visits - as well as those inside pods or behind screens - will be able to continue.
The government said the new measure, which follows advice from the deputy chief medical officers and Public Health England, is the next step towards normal indoor visits resuming.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was pleased people would soon be "carefully and safely reunited with loved ones".
"This is just the first step to getting back to where we want to be," he said. "We need to make sure we keep the infection rate down, to allow greater visiting in a step-by-step way in the future."
'It's too late for my wife'
Selina Geddes
Michael Blakstad says the new visiting rules have come "too late" for his wife Tricia, who has Alzheimer's disease and lives in a care home in Hampshire.
Since moving into the care home last July, Tricia has only been able to see visitors who wear face masks and for a short period of time over a fence, Michael told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
He believes the restricted visits, combined with periods of isolation, with no contact other than her carers, has led to her Alzheimer's deteriorating much faster than it should have done.
As a result, Tricia has gone past "the point of no return" so the new visiting provisions will not make a meaningful difference for her, Michael says.
"It's far too late for Tricia now. Two or three months ago, Matt Hancock promised [on the Today programme] that every care home would have this testing by Christmas.
"It didn't, the home Tricia's in never adopted it, and I think it's too late."
Liz Kendall, shadow minister for health and social care, said families had been calling for the resumption of care home visits - made safe with access to personal protective equipment and testing - for seven months.
"Over this period, ministers have repeatedly failed to grasp how important families are for the physical and mental health of care home residents, and the appalling impact preventing visits has caused," she said.
Chief nurse for adult social care Prof Deborah Study said while she knew people wanted to hug and kiss their loved ones, lives could be put at risk so people had to continue to follow the rules.
James Tugendhat, chief executive of HC-One, Britain's largest care home provider, said the move was "welcome news" for families and colleagues.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Visiting is obviously a fundamental and necessary part of care home life and we certainly feel very ready now for visiting to resume."
While only one named person will be able to make the visits, care homes will have the discretion to allow more than one visitor in exceptional circumstances. Full details on the plans will be given before 8 March.
Nadra Ahmed, executive chair of the National Care Association, said she understood how difficult it would be for families to select just one nominated visitor.
She added that the biggest issue for care homes would be having enough staff to manage testing and extra cleaning.
"Staff resource is our biggest problem," she told BBC Breakfast, adding that care home workers were "exhausted" and many were ill with either Covid or "long Covid".
Every care home resident in the UK has now been offered their first vaccination.
But the latest NHS England data shows three in 10 care home staff have not received their first coronavirus vaccine, despite being in the top four priority groups for a jab.
Office for National Statistics data shows coronavirus infections are continuing to decrease around the UK - but experts have warned that infection levels remain high, with about 553,000 people identified as having the virus.
On Friday, it was announced that another 533 people had died within 28 days of a positive test, bringing the UK's total by that measure to 119,920.
Care home residents will be allowed to have a regular indoor visitor from 8 March as part of the government's plan to ease lockdown in England.
The Department of Health said the relaxation of the restrictions struck a balance between the risk of infection and the importance of visiting for the mental and physical wellbeing of residents and their families.
But sounding a note of caution, care homes point out coronavirus, which particularly impacts the elderly in terms of severe illness, has not gone away and visits will still require "very close but compassionate supervision".
Aren't care home visits already allowed?
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'Inhumane' to prevent care home visits
Government guidance for the current lockdown, which came into force on 6 January, highlights the importance of visiting.
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Although it acknowledged this inevitably brings infection risk, it said it was one which care homes could mitigate.
It states: "Visiting should be supported and enabled wherever it is possible to do so safely - in line with this guidance and within a care home environment that takes proportionate steps to manage risks."
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However, many care homes have remained closed to all but end-of-life visits in a bid to keep at bay more infectious, rapid spreading mutant strains.
Image:The nominated visitor will have to take a coronavirus lateral flow test
So what will be permitted from 8 March?
One nominated person will be allowed to visit someone in a care home, but must take a coronavirus lateral flow test before entry and wear personal protective equipment (PPE).
Residents will be asked not to hug or kiss their relatives, although hand-holding will be permitted.
Guidance for care homes is expected to be published in the next fortnight.
Outdoor visits will also continue, giving residents the chance to see more than just their named visitor.
The government met its target to offer all care home residents - along with social care and NHS staff, all those aged over 70 and the most clinically vulnerable - a vaccine by 15 February.
Scientists believe the vaccines become effective after three weeks, meaning by 8 March all those who accepted a vaccine should have a good level of protection from COVID-19.
However, vaccination will not be a condition of visiting.
Visits will also be suspended during local outbreaks in individual homes.
How have care homes been affected by the pandemic?
Care homes are seen to have borne the brunt of COVID-19, particularly during the first wave.
It follows the controversial decision to discharge thousands of patients from hospitals without being tested, even after it became clear people could transmit the virus without having any symptoms.
Latest official figures show the number of care home resident deaths linked to COVID-19 in England and Wales stand at more than 33,000.
Michael Blakstad says the new visiting rules for care homes have come "too late" for his wife Tricia, who has Alzheimer's disease and lives in a care home in Hampshire.
From 8 March, care home residents in England will be allowed to pick one person to visit them regularly.
Since moving into the care home last July, Tricia has only been able to see visitors who wear face masks and for a short period of time over a fence, Michael told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
He believes the restricted visits, combined with periods of isolation, with no contact other than her carers, has led to her Alzheimer's deteriorating much faster than it should have done.
As a result, Tricia has gone beyond the point where the new visiting provisions would make a meaningful difference, Michael says.
"It's far too late for Tricia now. Two or three months ago, [Health Secretary] Matt Hancock promised on your programme that every care home would have this testing by Christmas, it didn't, the home Tricia's in never adopted it, and I think it's too late," he said.
"It would have made a difference to us and it will make a difference to new people who come in now, so that's to be thanked for, but it really should have happened a lot earlier... Tricia has passed the point of no return I'm afraid."
Indoor care home visits will resume in Scotland next month.
The Scottish Government confirmed on Saturday that routine visits will begin from 'early march'.
It comes as care home Covid-19 deaths in Scotland have fallen by 62 per cent in the past three weeks.
Residents will be granted two designated visitors.
Each visitor will be allowed to visit once a week.
Almost all older care home residents and staff, 99.9 per cent and 92 per cent respectively, have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Scotland's care home scandal saw 35 per cent of all Covid-19 deaths so far come from care homes.
Health Secretary Jeanne Freeman welcomes the news but insists Scots 'remain vigilant'.
Care home visits were suspended amid the pandemic (Image: Daily Record)
She said: “The decisions regarding restrictions on visiting for care home residents have been some of the most difficult we have faced and I have the greatest sympathy for those who have been unable to see relatives and loved ones in person for so long.
“Care home staff have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to support continued contact between residents and their loved ones but these restrictions have been hugely challenging for them, as well as for care home staff and colleagues.
“We deeply regret the deaths and other harm caused by coronavirus in our care homes, but we also recognise the harm caused to the wellbeing of residents and families as a result of an inability to see those they love.
Care home resident Annie Innes, 90, receives the Pfizer vaccine in Hamilton earlier this month
“We must remain vigilant about the risks but with multiple layers of protection now in place the balance is in favour of allowing visits."
Ms Freeman maintained that extra precautions to ensure the safety of both residents, staff and visitors will remain in place.
She added: "Everyone, including visitors, has a responsibility to ensure that visits take place as safely as possible by continuing to follow safety advice.
“The additional protection in place includes infection prevention and control measures (IPC); personal protective equipment (PPE) in care homes and testing of staff and visiting professionals to care homes, which have developed processes and protocols for safer indoor visiting to take place."
Commenting, Scottish Conservative Shadow Health Secretary Donald Cameron said: “This will be greeted with an overwhelming sense of relief by families who have loved ones in care homes. Many won’t have seen or had physical contact with their relatives for almost a year, and will be counting down the days until they can hug them again.
“While protecting our most vulnerable has always been the priority, this represents a hugely positive step forward for our care home residents and provide them with long overdue family time.
“SNP Ministers must ensure that the guidance they publish on Wednesday is clear and practical so the return of visitors to care homes can operate as smoothly and safely as possible.”
Cathie Russell of Care Home Relatives Scotland said: “We look forward to working with care home providers, public health and oversight teams to ensure that the new guidance allows residents to enjoy meaningful contact with their closest relatives and friends once more. It has been a very difficult year. The deepest ties of love are important and we can never thrive without them.”
Donald MacAskill, chief executive of Scottish Care, said: “The COVID pandemic has presented frontline care home staff and managers with many challenges but undoubtedly the hardest has been keeping residents apart from family and friends.
“We have now reached a very different place and with a range of COVID-19 protections in place, including vaccination and testing, combined with the use of PPE and IPC, we are at a stage where we can re-introduce safer indoor visiting to Scotland’s care homes. This day has been long-awaited and we understand that it will be an emotional time for many.
“Scottish Care is committed to supporting staff and managers, residents and family, to make sure that these guidelines succeed in their aim of reconnecting individuals.
"We commit to working together to overcome any challenges and difficulties we might face and to support those who may still be anxious and fearful, so that together we can ensure that a painful period of separation can be replaced by greater togetherness.”
Regular visits should resume from early March.
The Scottish Government expects all care homes to 'have embraced the guidance' by mid-March.
Coronavirus in Scotland
Initially, children under the age of 16 should only be classed as a designated visitor for indoor contact under exceptional circumstance.
Outdoor visits for children under 16 are still encouraged.
According to National Records of Scotland (NRS) care homes now account for a smaller proportion of Covid-19 deaths last week, than at any time since March of last year.
The prime minister is still aiming to reopen all schools in England next month despite concerns from teachers and scientists.
Ahead of an announcement about easing coronavirus lockdown on Monday, Downing Street refused to be drawn on specific reports that more extensive outdoor socialising could be allowed by Easter, including suggestions that two households will be allowed to meet outside.
But one government source said "looking at how we allow more social contact is incredibly important as soon as we can".
Senior ministers on the COVID Operations Committee are due to meet on Sunday to finalise the roadmap.
Schools and outdoor mixing are likely to be the first areas where rules will be relaxed.
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Education unions have criticised Boris Johnson's aim to get all pupils back in the classroom at once though, publishing a joint statement calling the plan "reckless".
Scientists advising the government have also called for schools to be opened in a phased and gradual way.
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Appearing on ITV earlier this month, SAGE member Professor John Edmunds said if all schools were opened at once "I suspect we'd be lucky to keep the reproduction number below one".
However, the government denied reports in the Guardian newspaper that England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty was against the plans saying he agrees with the "prioritisation of education".
Younger pupils in Wales and Scotlandare due to return to the classroom on Monday as part of a staggered approach.
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'We want this lockdown to be the last'
One Whitehall Source insisted the "ambition" for England was still for all pupils to come back at once, but added there would be caveats around "data not dates" in case those plans needed to change nearer the time.
In the first part of the prime minister's "roadmap" to ease the lockdown, the government announced that care homes residents in England will be able to hold hands with one named visitor starting from 8 March.
Care home residents in England will be allowed to pick one person to visit them regularly from 8 March, in the first confirmed easing of lockdown since its reintroduction last month.
They will be able to meet indoors and hold hands - but visitors must wear PPE and be tested before entering the home.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the rule change was a "first step to getting back to where we want to be".
PM Boris Johnson will reveal his road map for easing lockdown on Monday.
Schools are the top priority of any easing, the BBC's political correspondent Nick Eardley said, with Downing Street still hopeful that they can reopen on 8 March.
He added that this is likely to be followed by more outdoor socialising, with No 10 said to be focusing on allowing people to safely reunite with family members.
The PM is spending the weekend finalising those plans.
New data is expected to suggest vaccines have cut transmission rates.
But the latest NHS England data shows that three in 10 care home staff have not received their first coronavirus vaccine, despite being in the top four priority groups for a jab.
Every care home resident in the UK has now been offered their first vaccination.
In addition to the new rule for care homes, outdoor visits - as well as those inside pods or behind screens - will be able to continue.
The government said the new measure, which follows advice from the deputy chief medical officers and Public Health England, is the next step towards normal indoor visits resuming.
Mr Hancock said he was pleased people would soon be "carefully and safely reunited with loved ones".
"This is just the first step to getting back to where we want to be," he said. "We need to make sure we keep the infection rate down, to allow greater visiting in a step-by-step way in the future."
Liz Kendall, shadow minister for health and social care, said families had been calling for the resumption of care home visits - made safe with access to personal protective equipment and testing - for seven months.
"Over this period, ministers have repeatedly failed to grasp how important families are for the physical and mental health of care home residents, and the appalling impact preventing visits has caused," she said.
Michael Blakstad says the new visiting rules have come "too late" for his wife Tricia, who has Alzheimer's disease and lives in a care home in Hampshire.
Since moving into the care home last July, Tricia has only been able to see visitors who wear face masks and for a short period of time over a fence, Michael told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
He believes the restricted visits, combined with periods of isolation, with no contact other than her carers, has led to her Alzheimer's deteriorating much faster than it should have done.
As a result, Tricia has gone beyond the point where the new visiting provisions would make a meaningful difference, Michael says.
"It's far too late for Tricia now. Two or three months ago, Matt Hancock promised on your programme that every care home would have this testing by Christmas, it didn't, the home Tricia's in never adopted it, and I think it's too late.
"It would have made a difference to us and it will make a difference to new people who come in now, so that's to be thanked for, but it really should have happened a lot earlier... Tricia has passed the point of no return I'm afraid."
Chief nurse for adult social care Prof Deborah Study said while she knew people wanted to "hug and kiss their loved ones", that could put lives at risk so they had to follow the rules.
She added: "We all hope to be able to take further steps in the future."
James Tugendhat, chief executive of HC-One, Britain's largest care home provider, said the move was "welcome news" for families and colleagues.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Visiting is obviously a fundamental and necessary part of care home life and we certainly feel very ready now for visiting to resume, with lateral flow testing, with vaccination, with PPE, with infection control."
While only one named person will be able to make the visits, care homes will have the discretion to allow more than one visitor in exceptional circumstances. Full details on the plans will be given before 8 March.
Nadra Ahmed, executive chair of the National Care Association, said she understood how difficult it would be for families to select just one nominated visitor, but it was about "mitigating risks", adding that it could be "up to the resident sometimes to nominate that person".
She told BBC Breakfast that the biggest issue for care homes would be having enough staff to manage testing and extra cleaning.
"Staff resource is our biggest problem," she said. "We have staff who are exhausted, we've got staff who are going down with Covid and also getting long Covid.
"We have no insurance in our services for Covid-related risks - that still hasn't been sorted out by government in any way, so there will be all sorts of things about mitigating risks, but the default is we want to enable this visiting."
Mike Padgham, chairman of the Independent Care Group, warned there must be "a note of caution" because Covid has not gone away, and called for further clarity on the plans.
He said: "We need some clarification - for example, the announcement says holding hands will be allowed but warns against 'close contact'. How is that going to be possible? There is going to have to be some very close but compassionate supervision of these visits."
The devolved nations of the UK have the power to set their own restrictions, and have been moving at different speeds:
In Scotland, the government hopes to publish a route out of lockdown next week, but First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged people not to book Easter holidays
In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced up to four people from two different households can exercise outdoors together from Saturday; he said he hoped the "stay-at-home" requirement could end within three weeks, with some non-essential shops and hairdressers possibly reopening at the same time
Northern Ireland's health minister has played down the prospect of restrictions being eased in time for Easter - a review of current measures will take place on 18 March
Office for National Statistics data shows that coronavirus infections are continuing to decrease around the UK - but experts have warned that infection levels remain high, with about 553,000 people identified as having the virus.
On Friday, it was announced that another 533 people had died within 28 days of a positive test, bringing the UK's total by that measure to 119,920.
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