Harry's HIV message

Prince Harry takes an HIV test live on the Royal Family Facebook page today

(photo Kensington Palace Twitter)

In a real royal first, not only did we get to see a member of the Royal Family having an HIV test today, it all happened live on the internet. In a bid to end the stigma around HIV/ AIDS and encourage more people to get tested for the virus, Prince Harry had a test live on Facebook. It was a moment of royal history and you can see the full video at the end of this post.

Prince Harry just before his HIV test which was streamed live on the internet

In the video, Harry was seen talking about the test then washing his hands before settling down to a finger prick and watching the blood being analysed. It was carried out at the Burrell Street Sexual Health Centre in London, part of Guy and St Thomas' NHS.  His result was non reactive meaning it was clear of HIV and needed no further testing. But the prince went on to talk about what would have happened with a different result - as he said to get the best information out there for those watching. He heard about the further consultations that would go on to establish whether a person was HIV and the treatment that would follow.

Prince Harry is with us having a rapid #HIV test to normalise & de-stigmatise testing #PrinceHarry @GSTTnhs pic.twitter.com/ptyHKyVRpI

— Burrell Street (@BurrellStreet) July 14, 2016

Prince Harry announced his campaign to raise awareness of HIV last month having spent most of 2016 taking private briefings on the subject to get a fuller understanding of the work involved. His mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, was the first royal to meet and shake hands with an HIV carrier in a bid to end the stigma around the virus. Now, her younger son is carrying on her work and breaking new royal ground as he aims to help and educate.