Take care of Kate! ‘I will’ replied William
‘Your Royal Highness, you must have had a lot of steel in you to hold it together’
PRINCE William promised to “take care” of wife Kate yesterday when he made his first public appearance since she bravely revealed that she is battling cancer.
He made the comment after being moved by a volunteer who handed him two “Get well soon” cards – one for his father King Charles, who is also being treated for cancer, and one for Kate.
The Princess, 42, told the nation, in a televised address on March 19, she is receiving cancer treatment.
Charity worker Rachel Candappa, 71, had stayed up late the night before William’s visit to a food distribution charity, so she could finish writing a heartfelt message to his wife.
William, 41, looked visibly moved when Rachel handed him the cards. He placed a hand on her shoulder and said: “Thank you, you are very kind.”
But the heir to the throne then changed the subject to something less emotive and chatted to the charity worker about spaghetti hoops.
Speaking after their talk, Rachel revealed: “I said ‘Take care of her.’ And he said ‘I will’.”
She said she was surprised to have been given the opportunity to give the cards to the future King but, after shaking hands with him, vowed: “I’m never washing my hand again!”
Rachel said she only finished writing the cards at 1am yesterday.
Her message in Kate’s card read: “Nation’s hearts were broken when you very courageously went on the global stage on your own to talk about your personal health issues.”
She praised the Princess for assuring people she “will fight this dreadful ‘C’ disease”.
And she added: “You must have had a lot of steel in you to hold it together.
“Your Royal Highness, you are going to beat this with the support of your dutiful and loving husband, caring parents and very close siblings.”
Rachel also told the Princess: “The whole world is proud of how you are focusing to keep healthy and protect your children through this difficult time.
“You have not stepped a foot wrong to date and don’t let anyone say otherwise.
“The whole nation will be behind you.”
William’s first engagement since Kate broke her health news was to give a helping hand in the kitchen at Surplus to Supper, which distributes unwanted food.
When he arrived at the charity’s HQ, at Sunbury Cricket club in Surrey, he revealed his youngest son, five-yearold Prince Louis, “loves” cricket. He then headed inside where he watched volunteers sorting out toiletries and make-up. After noticing a rose collagen mist spray, the Prince told operations director Claire Hopkins he was surprised by “how much we throw away”.
In the kitchen, the heir donned an apron to help chef Mario Colfait prepare bolognese, sausage casserole and chilli con carne. William’s job was to chop celery – but he joked he was worried for his fingers.
“It’s the biggest knife.
Hope for the best. I don’t want to mess up everyone’s lunch,” he said.
“I hope I haven’t ruined your lunch, but you can blame me.”
William later had a laugh with volunteers, telling them the chef was left unimpressed by his culinary skills.
He said: “Mario took one look at my chopping and said ‘Move on.’”
And he admitted: “I’m never normally trusted with a knife. I’d cut my finger off.”
Surplus to Supper prepares 25,000 meals a year, which are delivered to local people and care homes.
This month it will have served up a landmark three million meals that would otherwise have gone in the bin.
It also distributes three tons of surplus food every day to hundreds of food banks, charities and community groups. A team of 200 volunteers
collect it from shops, restaurants, wholesalers and manufacturers.
William had privately given the charity a box of unused food from the kitchen cupboards a this royal residence, Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.
The Prince and Princess of Wales donated a crate of pasta, potatoes and tinned soup which was set to be delivered to the Hampton Hub food bank.
Volunteers told the Prince how they sort through food and non-perishable items before they are packed and sent off in delivery vans.
He then helped load up food into the back of a van before hopping into the passenger seat to help with a local delivery.
After a three-mile journey to the Hanworth Centre Hub in Feltham, West London, William – wearing a high-vis, orange charity vest – jumped out to help unload the food. He picked up a crate of bananas and asked “Anywhere in particular?” before handing it to a charity worker.
When Ms Hopkins tried to introduce him to volunteers, the hands-on heir to the throne said “Hang on, I can’t just do one,” and went back to fetch another food crate.
William carried it inside where he was then introduced to volunteers and members of staff who work at the hub, which brings together various youth organisations under one roof.
The Prince asked what the biggest issues are that young people are facing at the moment.
Darren Beecroft, boss of youth centre Rise and Thrive, said one of the main challenges was changing youngsters’ opinions about the police.
His charity, which aims to create a safer, better-connected community, receives three deliveries a week from Surplus to Supper and distributes the food to young people and families.
The hub also works closely with local police, running sessions designed to support young people who face challenges within mainstream education and others for younger children to help keep them safe and learn new skills.
Based in the same building as a mixed martial arts club, attendees can also have training sessions to build physical strength, mental resilience and self-discipline.