Prince William Returns to Public Duties After Wife Catherine’s Cancer Revelation

Reuters | April 18th, 2024

Prince William visited the Hanworth Centre Hub, a youth centre in Feltham which provides a range of services to create a safer and better-connected community that also receives a regular delivery from Surplus to Supper, a charity the Prince of Wales visited earlier in the day. Photo: Ian Vogler - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Britain’s Prince William returned to public duties on Thursday for the first time since his wife Catherine revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer.

In a video message last month, the Princess of Wales, 42, said tests taken following major abdominal surgery she underwent in January had uncovered cancer, something she described as a “huge shock.”

William, 41, has been absent from official engagements since then as the couple and their three young children come to terms with the impact of the news.

Although he and his eldest son Prince George were pictured watching their favourite soccer team Aston Villa play last week, Thursday marked the first time William carried out official public appearances since Kate’s highly-personal announcement.

He appeared in good spirits as he chatted and helped out staff on a visit to a surplus food redistribution charity. One volunteer handed him “get well soon” cards for Kate and his father King Charles who is also undergoing treatment for an unspecified form of cancer.

“Oh, you’re very kind. Thank you very much,” the prince said to her.

Prince William helps make bolognese sauce with head chef Mario Confait during a visit to Surplus to Supper, a surplus food redistribution charity, in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey. Photo: Alastair Grant/Pool via Reuters

He later visited Hanworth Centre Hub, a youth centre which receives regular deliveries from the charity.

Kate, often referred to by her maiden name Kate Middleton, will return to public duties herself when her medical team say she is well enough to do so, her office has said, but no timeline has been put on this.

Her illness comes at the same time as the king has been absent from public duties since his diagnosis. However, he did greet crowds during a walkabout after an Easter church service at the end of March.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Kate Holton and Sarah Young)

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