LONDON — Prince William returned to the audience Royal duties Wednesday after taking three weeks off while his wife, Kate, Princess of Wales, recovered from the illness Abdominal surgery. During that period, his father was King Charles III He was diagnosed with cancer Buckingham Palace said the king would step down from his public duties during treatment.
William attended an investiture at Windsor Castle early on Wednesday before attending a dinner for the London Air Ambulance Charity, where he shared the spotlight with actor Tom Cruise.
Daniel Leal – WPA Pool/Getty
William said at the charity event: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your kind messages of support to Catherine and my parents, especially in recent days.”
The prince joked: “It's fair to say that the last few weeks have been a bit medical-focused, so I thought I'd come on an air ambulance mission to get away from it all.”
William stepped down from his public duties last month to help care for Kate and their three children following unspecified abdominal surgery. Kate is not expected to resume public duties until around April.
Daniel Leal/Pool/AFP/Getty
On Monday, Buckingham Palace announced Charles' cancer diagnosis, saying it was discovered during a separate period Treatment of prostate enlargement. Royal sources said that the king does not suffer from prostate cancer, but the palace did not provide any additional information about the type of cancer he suffers from, or the type of treatment he is undergoing.
“His absence puts great pressure on other members of the royal family, who are certainly more than responsible,” said Sally Bedell Smith, author of the book. Prince Charles: The Unbearable Passions and Paradoxes of Life, to the Associated Press. “Having one of the royal family's biggest stars, the Princess of Wales, recovering from surgery” adds to that pressure, Smith said.
Working members of the Royal Family attend hundreds of events each year to celebrate national, regional and local occasions and to get to know members of the public.
The palace said Charles will continue his non-public work, such as signing and reviewing papers, while he undergoes treatment. His in-person meetings with the British Prime Minister are expected to resume later in February, according to the Associated Press.
“Lifelong beer expert. General travel enthusiast. Social media buff. Zombie maven. Communicator.”