The Prince of Wales has appeared in public for the first time since the Princess of Wales shared a deeply personal video and heartfelt message about her cancer journey.
William travelled to Llanelli in South Wales on Tuesday morning for a solo visit – the day after the princess said she was looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more official engagements in the coming months.
Royal fans gathered outside Swiss Valley Community Primary School and offered the prince their well wishes to Kate, with some handing him cards for the princess as he thanked everyone for their thoughts.
Kate revealed she has completed her chemotherapy course and is focusing on doing what she can to stay cancer-free, with a “renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life”.
A video montage shot in Norfolk over the summer showed William and Kate cuddling as they held hands, and the couple enjoying precious time together outdoors with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis as they walked through woods and played on the beach.
The princess described in a voiceover how the past nine months had been “incredibly tough for us as a family”.
Heir to the throne William’s first stop of the day was to meet pupils at the school to hear how they took part in the 2024 Urdd Eisteddfod, the annual festival celebrating Welsh language and culture.
Among them was 10-year-old Ruby Davies, a second language Welsh learner, who went viral earlier in the year for her enthusiastic Eisteddfod win in the individual recital category.
Ruby gave the prince a book of postcards written by the students and friendship bracelets for George, Charlotte and Louis.
William remarked: “That’s so sweet. Did you make them together? Did you build them at home and put them all together yourself?
“Thank you so much Ruby. They’re going to love those, you’ll see them out and about.
“I’ll keep them away from Louis because he’ll try and steal all his sister’s bits.”
The prince told Ruby: “I’ve watched your video a few times Ruby. You did brilliantly, you don’t seem nervous about performing on stage at all.”
Ruby told him she was “a little bit” but also said she was “really excited”.
He added: “It was very impressive, you’re going to have to teach me how to speak Welsh.”
The prince, with his new beard looking fuller, was met with loud cheers from school children waving Welsh flags as he stepped into the main hall.
One boy informed William he had a bug on him, with the prince asking the youngster, who was a sea cadet, if he wanted to keep it, and then handing it to him.
“Good spot, it must have followed me here,” William said.
