Prince William makes chilli con carne and receives well-wishers' cards in first public duties since Kate's cancer announcement
The prince helped out at a food distribution charity in Surrey, after which he visited a youth centre in west London that benefits from the organisation's deliveries.
Thursday 18 April 2024 19:19, UK
Prince William has resumed royal duties in his first public engagement since the Princess of Wales's cancer announcement last month.
The prince visited a food distribution charity, Surplus to Supper, in Surrey, where he saw how extra food from across the local area was redistributed to small community organisations.
Photos showed him getting busy in the kitchen at the charity's hub in Sunbury Cricket Club as he made chilli con carne and chopped ingredients under the supervision of head chef Mario Confait.
The 41-year-old heir to the throne was also pictured in a hi-vis vest joining volunteers in loading prepared meals into delivery vans.
This is the prince's first public engagement since the Princess of Wales revealed she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy after doctors found cancer during planned abdominal surgery.
One of the members, Rachel Candappa, handed cards to William for Kate after which the royal showed his appreciation by saying: "Oh, cards, you're very kind."
When Mrs Candappa asked about Kate, telling him to "take care of her", William replied: "I will."
'Nations hearts were broken'
The 71-year-old volunteer had written in her card: "The nation's hearts were broken when you very courageously went on the global stage on your own to talk about your personal health issues."
Commenting on William appearing touched by her gesture, Mrs Candappa said: "He's human... remember, he's royal, but apart from royal he's a husband, a father to the children, so he needs to look after her."
Despite public attention, William's most important role is still at home
You could understand if Prince William was feeling apprehensive.
After almost a month with his family for Easter, this was the first time that we would see him in public since the Princess of Wales announced she had cancer.
This would usually have been a low-key visit to a couple of groups in west London but obviously attracted a lot more attention as everyone wanted to see how he was.
Of course William's been doing this long enough to realise he has to get on with the job and that's exactly what he did.
Undoubtedly it helped that he was visiting organisations doing work around food waste, food poverty, mental health and helping young people - all areas he's also passionate about.
Watching him at a youth centre, he was chatty and engaged.
It felt, in a way, like he was pleased to have the distraction of trying his best to draw attention to the work these amazing community groups are doing.
As you would expect most of those he met as he helped out in the kitchen of Surplus to Supper kept away from talking about anything personal.
But he was eventually given cards for the princess and also the King.
Saying a genuine thank you, you could see he wasn't going to share any more about how the princess is doing. It's not his way.
He wants to protect their privacy and will no doubt be hoping that we don't see a repeat of the hysteria we saw before Easter and people continue to leave his family alone.
Since Kate's moving video message, the conspiracy theories have largely been replaced by genuine concern for her, but with Prince William back in work and Prince Louis's birthday next week, it does naturally draw attention back to them.
We will only see in the coming weeks how much William feels he can do when it comes to his official work.
His most important roles at the moment continue to be at home, as husband and father.
She added: "When somebody's down, that's the time you need to come forward and show your appreciation, emotions and care were all in that card."
The Prince of Wales then headed to Hanworth youth centre in west London which benefits from the organisation's deliveries and unloaded the crates.
Kensington Palace said: "Reducing food waste has a considerable number of environmental benefits, including reducing emissions from landfill that contribute to climate change."
The palace then referred to William's Earthshot Prize - a global award launched in 2020 given to outstanding contributors towards benefiting the environment.
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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.
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.
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She said: "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 were said to be "enormously touched" and "extremely moved" by the public's warmth and support.
Surplus to Supper, which launched in 2017, said it had reached a milestone of saving the equivalent of three million meals that would have otherwise gone to landfill.