Prince William Steps Out for First Time Since Kate Middleton’s Cancer Remission Announcement

Prince William is attending his first royal engagement since Kate Middleton’s announced that she’s in “remission” from cancer.

On Wednesday, Jan. 15, the Prince of Wales, 42, was announced as 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 responders in making effective decisions under pressure, which is something William has a personal connection to following his service as a Royal Air Force search and rescue pilot and with the East Anglian Air Ambulance. The mental health of first responders is a cause close to his heart. 

The Prince first met with leaders of the College of Paramedics and the conference’s speakers, as well as paramedics from a range of fields. The College was established in 2001 as a membership organization for all paramedics registered with the Health and Care Professions Council of the U.K., student paramedics and those interested in the paramedic profession, with a cohort of over 20,000 members today.

In February 2024, the group was granted a Royal Charter of Incorporation from King Charles, Prince William’s father.

William then moved to tune into two summit sessions about trauma critical care and techniques used during Search and Rescue helicopter missions. Later, he gave a brief speech, shouting out the impact of the College of Paramedics, his pride in his new patronage and a related engagement he and Princess Kate made in the fall.

“It’s great to be back in Birmingham, and for any fellow Villa fans with us today – I look forward to celebrating our win over Everton later,” Prince William began, shouting out his favorite soccer team, Aston Villa, and referencing their game later.

“I am particularly pleased to be standing here as the College of Paramedics’ new patron and to have the opportunity to join your first ever Emergency and Critical Care Conference. Thank you to everyone who has made this event possible,” he said.

“Often referred to as the ‘Swiss Army knife’ of frontline healthcare, paramedics and those in the emergency services are adaptable, multi-skilled and crucially, know how to work under pressure,” William continued. “This pressure is something I was all too familiar with during my time as a pilot for RAF Search and Rescue and for the East Anglian Air Ambulance… My time in these roles allowed me to better understand the day-to-day challenges that you all face and gave me the lifelong motivation to do all I can to support your community. It is not just another job.”

The Prince of Wales spoke of his emotional visit to Southport with Princess Kate in October 2024, making the trip to support the community grieving in the wake of a mass stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance class that July. The royal couple met with first responders who acted that day, and William emphasized this critical work. 

“Catherine and I visited Southport in the autumn as part of the Royal Foundation’s work with the Blue Light Card Foundation, providing emergency responders with psychological support,” he said. “Speaking to the paramedics and other frontline care providers on that day, was another reminder of the horrors you can be met with, but also the vital job that you do.”

The Prince of Wales urged paramedics to also remember to look after themselves and one another, and help elevate the next generation of those pursuing the paramedic profession, “to ensure a strong, capable workforce for years to come.”

“I am so proud to become patron of an organization which is committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of paramedics and fostering an environment where all paramedics can thrive,” Prince William closed the heartfelt remarks. “In this country, we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to our emergency services. As paramedics in whatever guise, your work uniquely places tremendous demands upon you and I cannot thank you enough for all that you do.”

It was a poignant duty for William to start the year with and came one day after Kate announced that she was in “remission” from cancer. The Princess of Wales, 43, shared the news about her health following an unannounced visit to The Royal Marsden Hospital in London. 

The stop coincided with the confirmation that Kate underwent treatment for cancer at The Royal Marsden and that she was joining her husband as a patron of the renowned cancer center, 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 speaking with patients and staff at the medical center and referenced her own experience with candor (“I recognize that beep!” Kate said about a machine indicating that a patient needed treatment, the Daily Mail reported.)

The Princess announced in March 2024 that she was receiving treatment for cancer and stepped outside of the public eye for most of the following months. In September, she shared with “relief” that she had completed chemotherapy.

Her exact diagnosis remains undisclosed and on Tuesday she thanked The Royal Marsden team for the care they gave her and for “looking after me so well during the past year,” in a message shared to X.

“My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything,” Kate added, saying that they “couldn’t have asked for more.” 

She also expressed a wish to use her new patron post to support research and clinical excellence, as well as advocate for patient and family wellbeing.

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“It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focused on recovery,” Kate said of her own health. “As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support. C”

The surprise stop was Princess Kate’s latest step on a gradual return to royal duties, around which no timeline has been set. In November 2024, William said he hoped his wife would be at his side for future travel in the new year.

“Hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so we’ll have some more trips maybe lined up,” William said after wrapping a busy week in Cape Town, South Africa for the fourth cycle of his environmental Earthshot Prize.