Prince William made his inaugural official appearance in Surrey since his wife Kate’s cancer diagnosis was disclosed in March. During the outing, he comforted a compassionate supporter, assuring them that he will look after her.

Prince William, 41, appeared touched as volunteer Rachel Candappa passed two get well cards for the Princess of Wales and the King, who is undergoing his own cancer treatment, telling her: “Thank you very much, that’s kind.”

The royal helped out in the kitchen as he visited surplus food distribution charity, Surplus to Supper, in Surrey on Thursday. And when Rachel asked about the Princess of Wales, telling him to “take care of her”, William promised: “I will.” Pulling on an apron, he said: “It smells good in here Mario.”

He later told fellow volunteers: “Mario took one look at my chopping and said ‘move on’. I’m never normally trusted with a knife, I’d cut my finger off. You all do a fantastic job and all this food is making my tummy rumble.”

The Waleses also contributed a selection of food items, including pasta, potatoes, and tinned soup sourced from the Adelaide Cottage kitchen, which were subsequently delivered to the food bank at the Hampton Hub.

William actively participated in sorting through both food and non-perishable donations, assisting in packing them and aiding volunteers in loading the crates into a van. He then joined the delivery team to the Hanworth Centre Hub in Feltham, west London, a youth center offering various services to foster a safer and more connected community.

Among its services is a mental health drop-in session tailored for individuals aged 16 to 24, where participants engage in creative and fitness activities to support their physical and mental well-being. During his visit, the Prince helped unload crates from the van and engaged in conversation with three young attendees of the center: Ella Vianni, Liv Cobb, and Maisie Allen.

One of the girls shared her enthusiasm for cooking and baking, mentioning her enjoyment in making cakes. “You’re a baker then?” He replied. “That’s a good one to be. Everyone wants a baker as a friend, it’s pretty cool.”

The Duchess shared the startling news through a heartfelt and personal video message to the nation on March 22, requesting time, space, and privacy for her family following the announcement of her chemotherapy.

“I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family,” she said, adding: “It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be okay.”