Prince William breaks silence on Kate and King Charles' health battles
Prince William has spoken publicly for the first time about the Princess of Wales' and King Charles' health battles and thanked the nation for the outpouring of support.
The Prince of Wales today returned to work for the first time since the Princess of Wales underwent serious abdominal surgery in hospital. Mum-of-three Kate spent nearly two weeks at the London Clinic last month before returning home to Windsor to start her recovery, which will keep her away from royal duties until after Easter.
Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace on Monday delivered the shocking news that the 75-year-old monarch had been diagnosed with cancer. After a whirlwind few weeks, William got back to royal duties by presiding over an investiture at Windsor Castle and lending his support to the London Air Ambulance at a charity gala.
Prince William gives a speech during the London's Air Ambulance Charity Gala Dinner (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Arriving at the gala tonight, he was asked about Kate and the King and replied: "We really appreciate everyone’s kind messages. Thank you." To the delight of the audience, Wills entered with Hollywood megastar and fellow pilot Tom Cruise, who he said needed "no introduction". Later in a speech, he said: "I'd like to take this opportunity to say thank you, also, for the kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father, especially in recent days. It means a great deal to us all."
In a bid to lighten the mood after a testing few weeks, William cracked a joke about how he chose to attend the gala "to get away from it all". He said: "It's fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather 'medical' focus. So I thought I’d come to an air ambulance function to get away from it all! But, seriously, we gather tonight to help as many as people as possible benefit from top-class care in the silhouette of London Air Ambulance's flying lifelines. As a former pilot for East Anglia Air Ambulance, I know just how vital the work of air ambulance teams across the country is, and the truly life-saving difference it can make to deliver urgent medical care wherever injury strikes can make."
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William's heartfelt words came just hours after his brother Prince Harry flew back to California after a fleeting 25-hour trip to London to see the ailing King at his Clarence House home. The monarch spent just 30 minutes with his estranged son while the Prince of Wales made no plans to see the Duke of Sussex.
William poses with Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Royal sources said William remained focused on his family and the extra duties he will be expected to fulfil in his father's absence. The King went straight to Sandringham in Norfolk to continue his recovery, after waving to well-wishers as he was driven to Buckingham Palace to board a waiting helicopter.
Sources confirmed tonight that the King was "doing well" and on "very good form". The King has just emerged from a three-night stay following an operation on an enlarged prostate at the same hospital where the princess was being treated when it emerged doctors had discovered "a form of cancer". Aides confirmed the monarch's condition is not prostate cancer, one of the biggest killers of men in the UK.
Charles immediately started treatment at a London hospital as an outpatient while he will return to London for weekly treatments, described as precise and highly specialised. As a result, the King has postponed all his public commitments, although he continues to very much work behind the scenes on his state and constitutional duties.
William chats to Air Ambulance Pilots, Doctors and Paramedics (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)At the Windsor Castle investiture former England striker Ellen White, who was made an MBE for services to football, passed on to William her "best wishes" for the King, and sympathised with the monarchy, saying it must be a 'difficult' time for the Royal Family. David Shreeve, who co-founded the Conservation Foundation charity with TV botanist David Bellamy, was made an MBE and said after the ceremony: "I did say to him at the end that I wished both his wife and his dad good luck. He said he appreciated it," added Mr Shreeve, who was recognised for services to the environment.
William looked relaxed at the gala event for London’s Air Ambulance Charity of which he has been patron since 2020 as he mixed staff and supporters, even grabbing a photo with movie icon Cruise. The event was held in support of the charity’s largest-ever fundraising campaign - 'Up Against Time'.
William at the gala tonight (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)It aims to raise £15million by Autumn this year to replace the charity's helicopter fleet, allowing them to future-proof the service and continue to save lives. As attendees, including William's cousins Lady Amelia and Eliza Spencer, marvelled at the presence of the Mission Impossible actor, who famously performs all his own daredevil stunts, William singled him out in his speech drawing applause for his support of the charity.
The prince said: "I should also take this opportunity to give a mention to my - our - fellow pilot, Tom Cruise. Tom, huge thanks for supporting us tonight. And if you wouldn’t mind not borrowing either of the new helicopters for the next Mission Impossible, it would be appreciated. “We have all seen on our screens that - how can I put it - you seem to have a different take on 'normal wear and tear' to the rest of us. It's not the kind that buffs out, that's for sure. Anyway, my thanks to everyone. You are all, each and everyone, lifesavers."
Tonight William also met Milana Hadji-Touma, who joined the Air Ambulance Gala Committee in 2021 and in January 2022 accidentally fell from height in London.
London's Air Ambulance was dispatched and arrived at her side within minutes, being the first on the scene and the advanced trauma team found her barely alive. The crew suspected she was severely bleeding internally in her abdomen and suffering from a life-threatening pelvic fracture. She had broken her ribs on her left side, puncturing her lung, and had broken her left ankle to such an extent it was stopping the blood supply to her foot. The team also noticed that Milana was not moving her lower limbs at all. They suspected she had unfortunately suffered a spinal cord injury. Milana spent 11 months in hospital.
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Tonight she introduced the prince to the men and who helped her. "The stars aligned and they saved my life," she said. She also told the prince: "Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here given your personal situation. We are really grateful for your presence."
The Prince of Wales is set to take next week off to look after his three children - Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight and Prince Louis, five - who are on half term as Kate continues her recovery.
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