In his first public appearance since Princess Kate's cancer announcement a month ago, Prince William promised to "look after" his wife as he visited the food distribution charity Surplus to Supper in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey. The Prince of Wales, 41, appeared visibly moved when volunteer Rachel Candappa, 71, handed him two get well soon cards addressed to the King and Kate.
"Thank you, you are very kind," William said, and when Rachel told him to look after Kate, he placed his left hand on her shoulder and promised, "I will." Speaking afterward, Rachel revealed the text she had written inside the card, expressing the nation's support for the Princess of Wales during this challenging time.
During his visit to the charity, which sources and distributes an average of 10 tons of food per week to various organizations, William made a donation of supplies from his Adelaide Cottage kitchen, including pasta, potatoes, and tinned soup. He also assisted in the kitchen, slicing celery for a bolognese, sausage casserole, and chili con carne, joking that he was worried about cutting off his fingers.
William expressed his surprise at the amount of food and variety being reused, saying, "It's amazing the amount of food and variety." He also praised the volunteers, telling them, "You all do a fantastic job and all this food is making my tummy rumble."
The prince then joined volunteers on a delivery run to a local youth centre, the Hanworth Centre Hub in Feltham, west London. Upon arrival, he helped unload the van and inquired about the age range of the young people who visit the centre and how the staff worked with the local community. William also sat down for a chat with three young people who use the centre, asking which activities they enjoyed and expressing his admiration for their interests, such as baking and art.
William's appearance comes after a three-and-a-half-week break during the Easter holiday, during which he spent time with his wife and children as the family processed Kate's diagnosis. In a video message to the nation on March 22, Kate asked for time, space, and privacy for her family following her chemotherapy announcement.
Since revealing the diagnosis, the Prince and Princess of Wales are said to be "enormously touched" and "extremely moved" by the public's warmth and support. The family missed the Easter Sunday service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, despite attending last year.
William's last public engagement before today came on March 19, when he visited Sheffield to promote his Homewards homelessness campaign. Kensington Palace previously said that William would resume public engagements after the school holidays, on a reduced timetable as he continues to support Kate through her treatment.
Last week, William was seen taking his eldest son Prince George to an Aston Villa football match, watching his boyhood club beat Lille in the Europa Conference League at Villa Park in his first public outing since Kate's announcement. Her cancer was discovered in post-operative tests following her abdominal surgery in January.
