Prince William returns to work amid Kate Middleton’s cancer

KATIE KINDELAN
·2 min read
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Prince William returned to work this week in his first official public appearance since his wife Kate, the Princess of Wales, revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer.

William traveled to Surrey on Thursday to visit Surplus to Supper, a nonprofit organization that distributes surplus food to people in need.

The royal engagement is the first for William since March, when Kate shared publicly for the first time that she was diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing preventative chemotherapy.

William received cards of well-wishes for Kate and his father, King Charles III, who is also battling cancer, from volunteers at Surplus to Supper, according to a video shared on X by Lizzie Robinson, of ITV News.

"Thank you very much. That's very kind," William told one volunteer who handed him the cards.

PHOTO: Prince William is greeted as he arrives for a visit to Surplus to Supper, a surplus food redistribution charity in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, Britain, April 18, 2024. (Alastair Grant/Pool via Reuters)
PHOTO: Prince William is greeted as he arrives for a visit to Surplus to Supper, a surplus food redistribution charity in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, Britain, April 18, 2024. (Alastair Grant/Pool via Reuters)

As the volunteer turned to show William the spaghetti she was serving, William told her, "I've got children. I know spaghetti."

Kate shared her diagnosis in a video message released March 22, the same day that William and Kate's three kids, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, began an Easter holiday break from school.

Kensington Palace said at the time that William would return to public duties once George, Charlotte and Louis returned to school.

In her video message, Kate asked for privacy for her family.

Kensington Palace has said only that Kate will return to public duties once she is medically cleared to do so.

PHOTO: Catherine, Princess of Wales' released an official statement on her health on March 22, 2024. (BBC Studios)
PHOTO: Catherine, Princess of Wales' released an official statement on her health on March 22, 2024. (BBC Studios)

The family has stayed out of the spotlight since Kate's announcement, including not attending Easter service at St. George's Chapel with other members of the royal family.

Since Kate's announcement, the only sighting of members of the Wales family came on April 11, when William and George attended an Aston Villa soccer game in Birmingham, England.

MORE: Princes William, George attend soccer game together amid Kate Middleton cancer battle

William's return to royal duties is a needed boost for Britain's royal family.

PHOTO: Prince William, Prince of Wales is shown items by Claire Hopkins, Operations Director, right, during a visit to Surplus to Supper, in Sunbury-on-Thames on April 18, 2024 in Surrey, England. (Alastair Grant-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
PHOTO: Prince William, Prince of Wales is shown items by Claire Hopkins, Operations Director, right, during a visit to Surplus to Supper, in Sunbury-on-Thames on April 18, 2024 in Surrey, England. (Alastair Grant-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

In addition to Kate taking a pause from royal duties, her father-in-law Charles is on a reduced workload due to his own battle with cancer.

The palace has not specified the type of cancer Charles was diagnosed with, the stage of cancer or the type of treatment he is undergoing.

MORE: What's next for Kate Middleton, Prince William and their kids after cancer diagnosis

In Charles and Kate's absence, the pressure has fallen on William, as well as Charles' wife Queen Camilla, to be the most public faces of the royal family.

Buckingham Palace has not said when Charles will fully resume public duties.

Prince William returns to work amid Kate Middleton’s cancer originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com