Prince William slammed for keeping public in dark about coronavirus diagnosis

Prince William is on the receiving end of immense censure after it was reported that he had kept his coronavirus diagnosis hidden from the world.

This has particularly ruffled feathers of an anti-monarchy group that believes it points towards William's 'lack of leadership.' 

According to multiple reports, the Duke of Cambridge had contracted the deadly virus in April but never disclosed it to the public.

Graham Smith, who is the CEO of an anti-monarchy group called Republic, slammed William stating that his act indicates a "condescending view of the public."

"Every other public official who has caught it has been honest and open about it, not least as a way of showing some kind of leadership and (leading) by example and taking necessary precautions," Smith said.

"We don't treat the public like children, we tell them the truth and you let the public decide what they're going to be concerned about."

He added: "People were concerned about Boris Johnson, but no one hid it, everyone was told what was going on and people were able to make their own judgments.

"It's a rather condescending view of the public and a very inflated view of William's importance to the country," the Republic founder stated.

According to The Sun, William told a confidante that he did not want the people to worry over his health.

"There were important things going on and I didn't want to worry anyone," the Duke had reportedly said at the time.

Following his diagnosis, William continued to perform his duties online and was treated by palace doctors in Norfolk.

However, he was hit "pretty hard" by the virus and at one stage struggled to breathe, the publication said.