Prince William to return to public duties for first time since Kate's cancer announcement

16 April 2024, 10:33 | Updated: 16 April 2024, 12:57

Prince William will return to royal duties on Thursday, his first public engagements since the Princess of Wales's cancer announcement.

The prince will visit Surrey and west London to highlight "the community and environmental impact organisations in the area are having through their work".

The 41-year-old heir to the throne will attend a food redistribution charity as well as a youth centre.

They will be Prince William's first public engagements since the Princess of Wales revealed she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy after doctors found cancer during planned abdominal surgery.

He will visit food redistribution charity Surplus to Supper in Sunbury-on-Thames, where he will help volunteers who sort and redistribute food at the charity's hub at Sunbury Cricket Club to load deliveries into their vans.

William will also lend a hand in the kitchen by joining the team of chefs as they prepare meals, then visit a youth centre in west London which benefits from the organisation's deliveries.

"Protecting the environment for future generations is one of the Prince of Wales's key priorities," Kensington Palace said.

Last week, William and his eldest son Prince George attended an Aston Villa football game together, in their first public outing since Kate's cancer announcement.

William, Kate and their three children missed the Easter Sunday service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, following the news, despite attending last year.

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In a video released after weeks of speculation about Kate's health, she said the diagnosis came as a "huge shock" to both her and William and she was currently in the early stages of treatment.

"It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment," she said.

"But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be okay."

Since the announcement, William and Kate are said to be "enormously touched" and "extremely moved" by the public's warmth and support.

(c) Sky News 2024: Prince William to return to public duties for first time since Kate's cancer announcement