Prince William is set to return to his royal duties after a private summer hiatus with his family, marking his first public appearance since July. Kensington Palace announced that the Prince of Wales, 42, will visit the "Homelessness: Reframed" exhibit at the Saatchi Gallery in London on September 5. This appearance comes after a summer spent with his wife, Princess Kate Middleton, and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, as they navigated Kate's ongoing battle with cancer.
The "Homelessness: Reframed" exhibit, which runs until September 20, aims to shed light on the complexities of homelessness across the United Kingdom. It is presented in collaboration with William's Homewards program, launched in June 2023 through the Royal Foundation, and the Eleven Eleven Foundation. The exhibit offers the public an opportunity to engage with the stories of those who have experienced homelessness, emphasizing the issue's preventability and the possibility of ending it for good.
During his visit, Prince William will meet with artists whose work is featured in the exhibit and with individuals whose lived experiences inspired the artwork. He will also engage with British photographer Rankin, who contributed to the exhibit, and spend time with children from the charity Creative Kids, who participated in a workshop as part of the "Open Doors" segment of the exhibit. This segment features doors created by young people from the six key locations where the Homewards program is actively working to reduce homelessness.
This engagement marks Prince William's first public outing since he attended the UEFA European Championship soccer final in Berlin on July 14 with his son, Prince George. The Prince of Wales, who serves as President of the Football Association, has a well-known passion for soccer, making the event a blend of both work and personal interest.
The British royal family traditionally retreats from public life during the summer months, taking time to rest and recharge. This year, the summer break has been particularly significant for Prince William and Princess Kate, given the challenges they face with Kate's ongoing cancer treatment. Kate, 42, announced her diagnosis in March after undergoing major abdominal surgery earlier in the year. Although the surgery was initially thought to have addressed a non-cancerous condition, subsequent tests revealed the presence of cancer, leading to a course of preventative chemotherapy.
Kate has largely stayed out of the public eye as she continues her treatment, making only two appearances since her diagnosis-first at the Trooping the Colour event in June and then at Wimbledon in July. Despite her limited public presence, Kate has remained engaged with her role, offering updates on her health and expressing gratitude for the support she has received.
In a statement made in June, Kate shared, "I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home."
The royal family has rallied around Kate during this challenging time. A palace insider revealed that Kate would spend the late summer at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where the royal family traditionally gathers. "She won't have to be on center stage," the insider said. "Being with her family and just being herself will give her energy. There will be plenty of time to focus on her recovery."
