Prince William is attending his first royal engagement since Kate Middleton announced she is in “remission” from cancer.
On Wednesday, January 15, the Prince of Wales, 42, was named the new patron of the College of Paramedics and attended its inaugural emergency and critical care conference in Birmingham, England.
The Summit is dedicated to supporting emergency services to make effective decisions under pressure, something William has a personal connection to following his service as a Royal Air Force Search and Rescue pilot and with East Anglia Air Ambulance. The mental health of first responders is a goal close to his heart.
Prince William goes to paramedic college.
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Kate Middleton thanks those who ‘walked by’ her and William’s cancer journey in personal message signed ‘C’
The Prince first met with leaders of the College of Paramedics and conference speakers, as well as paramedics from various fields. The College was established in 2001 as a membership organization for all UK Health and Nursing Council registered paramedics, paramedic students and those interested in the paramedic profession, with a cohort of over 20,000 members today.
In February 2024, the group received a royal charter from King Charles, father of Prince William.
William then moved on to two summit sessions on critical trauma care and techniques used during helicopter search and rescue missions. He is scheduled to give a short speech later.
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Prince William at the College of Nursing.
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It was a touching duty for William to start the year with, and it came a day after Kate announced she was in “remission” from cancer. The Princess of Wales (43) shared the news about her health after an unannounced visit to The Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
The suspension coincided with confirmation that Kate had undergone cancer treatment at The Royal Marsden and joined her husband as a patron of the famous cancer centre, after he followed in the footsteps of his late mother Princess Diana by becoming a patron in 2007.
During Tuesday’s visit, Kate spent time talking to patients and staff at the medical center and reflected on her own experience with candor (“I recognize that beep!” Kate said of the machine that indicates a patient needs treatment, Daily Mail logged in.)
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Kate Middleton talks to Peter Burton at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London on January 14, 2025.
Chris Jackson/Getty
Kate Middleton reflects on family life during cancer treatment: ‘I’m just trying to do my best’
The princess announced in March 2024 that she was being treated for cancer and was out of the public eye for most of the following months. In September, she said with “relief” that she had finished chemotherapy.
Her exact diagnosis remains undisclosed, and on Tuesday she thanked the Royal Marsden team for their care and for “taking such good care of me over the last year”, in a message shared on X.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has walked quietly by William and I’s side as we’ve been through it all,” Kate added, saying they “couldn’t have asked for more.”
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Kate Middleton talks to Katherine Field at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London on January 14, 2025.
Chris Jackson/Getty
She also expressed her desire to use her new role as patron to support research and clinical excellence, as well as to advocate for the well-being of patients and families.
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“It’s a relief to be in remission now and I’m staying focused on recovery,” Kate said of her own health. “As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis knows, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. However, I am looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you all for your continued support. C”
The surprise stop was the latest step in Princess Kate’s gradual return to royal duties, for which no time frame has been set. In November 2024, William said he hoped his wife would be with him for future trips in the new year.
“I’m hoping that Catherine will be working a bit more next year, so we might be planning some more trips,” William said after a busy week in Cape Town, South Africa, for the fourth cycle of his Earthshot environmental award.
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Source: HIS Education