The Prince of Wales has returned to royal duties after his wife’s abdominal operation and following the announcement of the King’s cancer diagnosis.

William, 41, as heir to the throne, will be the leading member of the Royal Family at official events across the country as his father receives treatment.

He has been hosting an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, awarding honours like CBEs, OBEs and MBEs to recipients.

Later on Wednesday, he will attend a gala fundraising dinner for London’s Air Ambulance Charity.

The King’s cancer treatment as an outpatient started earlier this week, and he returned, with the Queen, to his Sandringham home in Norfolk on Tuesday after seeing his son Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, who had flown back to the UK from California to see him.

The King has postponed all public-facing duties, although he is continuing with work on his red boxes of state papers.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Kate left hospital last Monday and returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be reunited with her three children after undergoing planned abdominal surgery on 16 January at the London Clinic.

William last carried out a major royal event more than three weeks ago, when he travelled to Leeds to make former Leeds Rhinos team-mates Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield each a CBE for raising funds and awareness for motor neurone disease.

After taking time off work, William had planned to return once Kate’s recovery had settled – the 42-year-old future queen is not expected back at official duties until after Easter.

At the same private hospital that cared for Kate, the King received treatment for an enlarged prostate and was discharged the same day as his daughter-in-law.

Read more:
A history of illness in the Royal Family
How will the King be treated?

When speaking with the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle, former England footballer Ellen White said she sent her “best wishes” to the King.

William, who is president of the Football Association, made the record-scoring Lioness an MBE for services to football.

Asked about her conversation with the prince, she said: “I sent my best wishes to the King.

“I just think, you know, it must be a difficult time for the family.

“He was really lovely. It was a really nice conversation. I’ve met him a couple of times, he definitely puts you at ease.”

Related posts:

New rail pass and vouchers for tourist attractions part of tourism recovery plan How the England and Italy players rated in the Euro 2020 final ‘It starts at the top’: PM’s burka comments highlighted amid condemnation of football racism Government U-turn over water firms dumping raw sewage after fierce backlash Second Cabinet minister suggests tax cut should be brought forward ‘when we can afford it’ More warm weather on the way as temperatures may hit 23C on Saturday ‘It’s really worrying’: Hundreds of community pharmacies ‘could close due to rising costs’ Pair arrested on suspicion of murdering two-year-old girl in Ipswich Body found in search for hiker who vanished seven weeks ago How paedophile police officer – with victims as young as 10 – was brought to justice Flood-hit areas face fresh downpours as new yellow weather alert issued ‘Touching’ to see ‘so many’ pay respects to four boys killed in crash