Prince William beamed in delight today as he was seen for the first time since his wife revealed she has finished her chemotherapy, but revealed ‘there’s still a long way to go’.
The Prince of Wales, 42, who again was sporting stubble, looked delighted as he met with fan outside a school in Llanelli, west Wales.
Well-wishers waited in the chilly 16C weather to give their love to Prince William and the Princess of Wales.
He told Pauline Thomas, 74: ‘It’s good news but there is still a long way to go.’
Crowds had waited patiently for hours outside Swiss Valley school in Llanelli, west Wales, to greet the future king after the announcement that Kate was cancer free.
The Prince was beaming as he arrived in South Wales today
Prince William arrives for a visit to Swiss Valley Community Primary School to meet pupils who took part in the 2024 Urdd Eisteddfod, a week-long festival celebrating Welsh language and culture
Royal fan Sandra Peters, 79, said: ‘I told him, Bore da [Welsh for good morning], you have a beautiful family, I’m so pleased Kate is recovering.
‘He said thank you very much.
‘He was lovely, he’s so charming.’
She said: ‘I just wrote I’m so happy you’re in recovery.
‘I’m just a little old lady from Swiss Valley Park.
‘I admire your bravery, your family is all so beautiful.’
Footage shows fans saying it was ‘so nice’ to see ‘Catherine’ which William replied ‘thank you so much,’.
Another gushed she had ‘just touched the Prince’ as he shook hands with dozens of well-wishers who told him he has ‘the most beautiful family’. One person gave him an envelope addressed to ‘Our Beautiful Princess of Wales’.
Maria Derrick, 63, attended Kate and William’s wedding in London, and Prince Charles’ coronation.
William was given a card that read ‘to our Beautiful Princes of Wales’
A well-wisher gave a card to Prince William for Kate
William showed off his designer stubble after arriving at Llaneli in Carmarthenshire
William was greeted by a sea of Wales flags
William shakes hands with well-wishers in Llanelli
William looked delighted to meet a young fan
She said: ‘I’ve just had Covid for 10 days but had to get better to be here.
‘I’m so glad Kate is on the mend.’
Alan Evans met him with granddaughter Genevieve sitting on his shoulders.
Alan said: ‘I told him, we all have our burdens.
‘He replied, yes watch your neck!
‘He’s a charming man.’
Sandra and friend Jane Stoneman, 61, both gave him letters to pass on to Kate.
Jane said: ‘He’s so handsome and beautiful.
‘We’re so lucky to have him.’
Aleena Haider, 30, a cardiologist at Hammersmith Hospital, travelled 200 miles from London to see the Prince.
William meets with staff outside the Swiss Valley Community School
Inside the school, pupils waved Welsh flags to chat to the Prince of Wales
Young pupils looked delighted to meet the future king
She grew up in Swiss Valley and was a pupil at the school and her mother still lives nearby.
Aleena said: ‘It’s a feeling of pride that Prince William is coming to see the school.
‘It’s nice to have the recognition for the teachers and parents who make it such a nice place.
‘We all loved Diana as well.’
Barry Wilkins, 54, a removals man, put a giant statue of a dragon on his front lawn to welcome the Prince.
He said: ‘I’m just so glad Kate is getting well again, I’m happy for their family.
‘William is our Prince of Wales so I wanted to show our support with the dragon.’
Prince William is visiting Swiss Valley Primary School before meeting the Welsh Air Ambulance crews and then then the local Llanelli rugby team, the Scarlets.
Jane Stoneman’s dad Aubrey Gale captained the Scarlets between 1961-2.
She wrote a letter to give to the Princess.
Jane, 61, said: ‘I’ve written a get well card, how pleased I am to see she’s getting better and how much we all love her and how beautiful she is and her family.’
William, 42, was at Swiss Valley Community Primary School in Llanelli to meet pupils who took part in a major Welsh language youth festival, among them ten-year-old winner Ruby Davies, whose joyful reaction following her triumph went viral.
He revealed he had Duo Lingo, the language learning app, and was trying to learn Welsh ‘phonetically’.
Outside, the Prince met members of the public, many of whom gave him cards and asked him to pass on their good wishes to the Princess.
The day will conclude with a visit by His Royal Highness to the home of the Scarlets to celebrate the contribution of Welsh female rugby players in support of the Welsh Rugby Union’s ‘Missing Caps’ campaign and ahead of the 2025 Women’s World Cup.
William’s appearance comes just a day after his wife, the Princess of Wales, revealed she was cancer free.
Kate, 42, joined her family in a deeply personal clip, filmed in Norfolk last month, to confirm she will return to public duties following the completion of her chemotherapy course.
Her heartfelt message about her cancer journey is spoken over images showing the Waleses and their children enjoying the outdoors, walking through woods and the couple shown cuddling as they hold hands.
During one emotional moment, as the Princess is heard saying: ‘To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand’, the royal is seen walking through a field.
She holds out one of her hands to run her fingers through the tall grass, and showcases her wedding ring and her new ‘eternity band’, which she appeared to swap out for her engagement ring, that once belonged to her mother-in-law, the late Princess Diana.
After spotting the change in the royal’s chosen jewels, royal fans suggested the ring (which Kate also wore in her last appearance) is likely a gift from Prince William – and could be the sign of a ‘fresh start’ now her chemotherapy has ended.
The Prince of Wales looked relieved to be out and about in Wales
William’s visit comes a day after his wife Kate revealed she is cancer free
The Princess of Wales has once again swapped out her engagement ring for her stunning eternity band in a touching new video shared yesterday
During one emotional moment, as the Princess is heard saying: ‘To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand’, the royal is seen walking through a field
Royal fans speculated over the meaning of Kate’s eternity ring, which she now wears alongside her wedding band instead of her engagement ring which belonged to Princess Diana
It isn’t the first time Kate has showcased the jewellery – she wore the ring in a star-studded congratulatory message to Team GB following their success at the Paris Olympics.
Appearing alongside the Prince of Wales, the Princess was seen with a new band on her wedding ring finger, leading royal fans to speculate it is an eternity ring.
The thick gold ring appeared to be set with diamonds and sapphires, which would match the royal’s engagement ring that once belonged to Princess Diana.
In her heartfelt message yesterday, Kate describes the past nine months since her serious health issues began as ‘incredibly tough for us as a family’ and how the ‘cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone’, with the experience giving her a ‘new perspective on everything’.
In the video, she says: ‘Doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.
‘I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.
‘Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life.’
Kate, who is continuing to work from home, is hoping to return to a light programme of public duties for the remainder of the year, reflecting her need to make a full recovery, and aims for a handful of engagements in the coming months.
She is also working towards appearing with the royal family at the annual Remembrance Sunday service staged at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.
The princess’ Christmas Carol concert at Westminster Abbey has become a firm fixture in the royal calendar in recent years and she has begun working with her team on the project.
Kate has received messages of support from the public and said she and her husband had ‘drawn strength’ from all those helping them and ‘Everyone’s kindness, empathy and compassion has been truly humbling’.
The video, shot in August in Norfolk where the Waleses have a family home, sounded a positive note reflected in the images of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis playing in fields or enjoying a game of cards with their parents under a tree.
The Princess of Wales has shared an intimate glimpse into her family life in a moving clip in which she announced she has ‘finally completed her chemotherapy treatment’
Princess Catherine’s mother Carole featured in the emotional video
Kate Middleton’s family featured in the emotional three-minute video
Catherine appeared happy and relaxed in the video, which will delight her millions of supporters
The princess walks through the woods under dappled sunlight during the video released alongside her statement
The Prince and Princess of Wales’ children run through the woods as William walks alongside them bouncing a tennis ball on a cricket bat
Catherine announced publicly five months ago that she had been diagnosed with cancer and has been undergoing ‘preventative’ chemotherapy
William interacts with Princess Charlotte in a scene that appears in the video
Catherine hugs Charlotte during a tender exchange caught on camera
Cheeky Louis is seen climbing a tree while his mother watches on
William is seen holding a card in his hand as George and Louis look on
It ended with the princess’ words of reassurance for others who are still being treated for cancer: ‘To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright.’
Kensington Palace has not confirmed whether the princess expects to return to a full programme of duties next year. It is understood that decisions about 2025 will be taken in line with medical advice.
However sources told the Mail tonight that the Princess hopes to do a small number of engagements shining a light on some of the causes, issues and charities that are closest to her heart over the coming months.
They are only likely to be announced last minute as they will depend as and when Her Royal Highness feels able to carry them out, with sources stressing repeatedly that every ‘cancer journey is different’.
Kate announced publicly five months ago that she had been diagnosed with cancer and has been undergoing ‘preventative’ chemotherapy.
‘I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits,’ she said at the time, in a highly emotional and unprecedented video message.
The message followed the major abdominal surgery Kate had in January, where she spent two weeks at the London Clinic in Marylebone.
She made her first public appearance since the bombshell announcement in June when she joined the Royal Family to celebrate the King’s official birthday.
Her appearance at Trooping of the Colour had been in doubt after she missed the final rehearsal the weekend prior to the celebration, with confirmation that she would attend only given at 6pm the evening before.
In her second public appearance, the mother-of-three attended Wimbledon alongside her daughter, Princess Charlotte and her sister, Pippa Middleton.
She was greeted with a standing ovation as she headed into the Royal Box during the tennis tournament in July.
Kate – who enjoys taking part in sporting events and showing her support for athletes – also made a surprise appearance alongside Prince William with a star-studded message to Team GB earlier this month.