Kate makes surprise appearance with William to support NHS staff

The Princess of Wales joined the Prince of Wales at Charing Cross Hospital in London to thank NHS staff; it was their first public engagement of 2026 and came days before her 44th birthday.

The Princess of Wales made a surprise visit on Thursday to join the Prince of Wales at Charing Cross Hospital in London. The engagement, originally scheduled for William alone, was their first public appearance of 2026. Kensington Palace said Kate, who turns 44 on Friday, wanted to show support for NHS staff and to thank teams for their efforts during a difficult winter. The visit comes days before the first anniversary of her announcement last year that she was in remission from cancer. Key details: - The couple visited staff and volunteers at Charing Cross Hospital and spoke informally with people on a tea break. - They met volunteers from Imperial Health Charity, which supports the five hospitals of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. - A volunteer who works with people undergoing chemotherapy told the couple that patients and visitors sometimes sit for hours; Kate replied "I know" and touched William's shoulder. - William and Kate later joined a roundtable with NHS charity chief executives, trustees, policymakers and philanthropists to discuss the role of philanthropy in the NHS. - The pair became joint patrons of NHS Charities Together in 2020; the organisation represents more than 220 NHS charities across the UK. Summary: The visit publicly acknowledged the pressures faced by NHS staff over the winter and offered direct thanks from their royal patrons. The couple combined frontline engagement with a policy-focused roundtable on philanthropy for the NHS. Undetermined at this time.