The Prince and Princess of Wales have returned to work after the Christmas break as they surprised dedicated volunteer workers at a London hospital, with Kate bonding with volunteers over her own health journey
After a relaxing Christmas break spending quality time with family, Prince William and Princess Kate have returned to their royal duties for their first engagement of 2026. The Prince and Princess of Wales travelled to Charing Cross Hospital in West London to acknowledge the incredible work of NHS staff over a difficult winter period.
The visit highlighted the vital work of NHS Charities Together, of which William and Kate are Joint Patrons, after taking on the patronage during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Prince and Princess were greeted with smiling faces and excited murmurs as they surprised healthcare staff on their tea break, spending time with them to discuss the pressures they are facing during the winter virus season.
The Princess of Wales, who wore a burgundy suit for the occasion, 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 touched William’s arm next to her and said: “We know.”
William and Kate then met with volunteers managed by the charity who help to improve care for patients and take pressure off the wider workforce. Mealtime volunteer for Imperial Health Charity Gulsenem Vural, 21, attended the special tea party, saying of the visit: “Today has been an absolutely incredible experience that I will never forget – The Prince and Princess were so interested in hearing about everything we do to support the staff and patients at the hospital, and I’m proud to have been able to represent all of the volunteers today.”
At the end of their visit, William and Kate joined a roundtable with NHS charity CEOs and Trustees, policy makers and philanthropists to discuss the important role of philanthropy in the NHS.
Ellie Orton OBE, Chief Executive of NHS Charities Together, said of the royal visit: “It was wonderful to see the surprise on the faces of the healthcare staff and volunteers who were honoured to speak with The Prince and Princess – special moments like these give people a genuine boost at a very challenging time.
William was due to visit the hospital solo, before Kate decided to join her husband in a last minute change. Kate opted to leave her iconic engagement ring – which once belonged to Princess Diana – at home for the visit, as she has done in the past when visiting a hospital. Rings with large stones are believed to be an infection risk, as many healthcare professionals only wear plain band-style rings for this reason.
Source: Mirror
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