The Prince and Princess of Wales returned to their public duties on Thursday as they surprised staff at Charing Cross Hospital in west London.
Prince William, 43, and Kate, who turns 44 on Friday, are joint patrons of NHS Charities Together and wanted to show their support for healthcare workers.
The royal couple met with staff on their tea break, spending time with them to discuss the pressures they are facing during the winter virus season. The pair also spoke with volunteers managed by the charity who help to improve care for patients and take pressure off the wider workforce.
During the visit, Kate bonded with a volunteer who worked with chemotherapy patients who told them how patients and visitors are there "for hours". Kate, whose cancer is in remission, said: "I know" before touching William’s arm next to her and saying: "We know."
William also spoke of his wife's health journey in an off-the-cuff speech to NHS charity CEOs and Trustees, policy makers and philanthropists
The future King remarked: "Catherine and I just had a very nice tour round the rehabilitation unit upstairs and seen some of the supporting structures and things put together by the NHS charities together.
"Both of us had different experiences with hospitals, me working with the air ambulance and Catherine with her recent health journey, and coming here today reminds ourselves just how important all the teams are, all the staff, the patient sort of interactions.
"It's so heart-warming and it's so important that we kind of acknowledge and appreciate all that goes on in the NHS, and that very strong bond between patient and carer."
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© Ryan Jenkinson / Kensington PalaDuring the visit, William and Kate saw how work funded by the Imperial Health Charity, which supports all five of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust's hospitals, is making a difference to the workforce and patients.
The Waleses then joined a roundtable with NHS charity CEOs and Trustees, policy makers and philanthropists to discuss the important role of philanthropy in the NHS.
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© Ryan Jenkinson / Kensington PalaThe Princess "wanted to join her husband to show her support for the NHS and to thank the teams at Charing Cross for their efforts" over a difficult winter period, Kensington Palace said.
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© GettyThe couple met with patients and volunteers in an art therapy room on a ward which provides rehabilitation for patients with neurological conditions and traumas.
A musician played the harp as the couple entered and Kate commented that it was "very relaxing".
In a conversation with a patient, she said: "I was just saying that you need the medical support but actually being able to have the sort of holistic support alongside it … it must help the days go past."
Kate, who studied History of Art at university, went on to discuss how "fantastic" it was to have spaces for holistic care, adding: "Creativity and nature played such a huge part in my recovery journey."
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© Ryan Jenkinson / Kensington PalaThe royal couple stunned hard-working health heroes after arriving in the canteen. Then joined a surprise tea party for volunteers and staff to daybreak to say thank you for their hard work.
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© Ryan Jenkinson / Kensington PalaNHS Charities Together represents over 220 NHS charities based in every NHS Trust and Health Board across the UK, giving £1.5 million every day to the NHS. Through their work, NHS charities help to drive innovation, transform care and support staff wellbeing. By investing in state-of-the-art equipment, buildings, green spaces and arts, they aim to improve care for patients and also lead prevention projects in the community that help people to stay well. William and Kate became joint patrons of the organisation in December 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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© Ryan Jenkinson / Kensington PalaThe engagement comes just days away from the first anniversary of the princess’s announcement at the start of 2025 that she was in remission from cancer.
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© GettyThe Waleses greeted dozens of NHS staff and volunteers before leaving Charing Cross hospital.
William asked the crowd if they had "had a good new year", adding: "Are you all busy in work? Everyone happy? Is 2026 going to be a good year?"
Kate added: "There's some amazing work going on here. We've just seen some of it today… It makes a big difference to patients' lives."
The couple waved at the staff as they left the building.
It marked the Prince and Princess's first public appearance of 2026 after spending the Christmas break in Sandringham. William and Kate were joined by their three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, ten, and Prince Louis, seven, as they attended church on 25 December alongside the King and Queen, and other members of the family.
The young royals confidently greeted and shook hands with members of the public outside St Mary Magdalene Church, with sources telling us at HELLO! of Charlotte: "She is such a little star."
