Prince William promised to “look after” the Princess of Wales as he made his first public appearance since her cancer announcement a month ago.

The Prince of Wales, 41, gave a helping hand loading food and cooking in the kitchen at food distribution charity Surplus to Supper, in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey. Volunteer Rachel Candappa, 71, handed two get well soon cards to the prince addressed to the King and Kate. William, who looked visibly moved, said: “Thank you, you are very kind”. When Rachel told the heir to the throne to look after Kate he placed his left hand on her shoulder and promised “I will”. Speaking afterwards Rachel, of Sunbury-on-Thames, said: “I said take care of her and he said ‘I will’.

William is given get well cards for Kate and the King by a volunteer ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
“I was at home at 8.30 last night and I thought I had to do something this is a chance to give a card directly to the palace officials. I didn’t think I’d be able to give the cards to William. I said ‘can I shake your hand?’, I loved it, he was very down to earth. I’m never washing my hand again.

“He pointed at the food and said ‘that’s spaghetti hoops’ and I asked ‘how do you know about spaghetti hoops and he said ‘I’ve got children’.”

Rachel also revealed text that had written inside the car that 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. With no trimmings or flowering around issues, you gave the chance just few chosen words to assure anyone who cares to listen that you will fight this dreadful “C” disease. You must have had a lot of steel in you to hold it together.

William helps out by chopping celery ( 
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Getty Images)
“Your Royal Highness you are going to beat this with the support of your dutiful and loving husband, caring parents and very close siblings. It’s no miracle not only His Majesty the King but the whole world is proud how you are focusing on to keep healthy and protect your children through this difficult times. You have not stepped a foot wrong to date and don’t let anyone say otherwise. The whole nation will be behind you.”

Founded in 2017, Surplus to Supper sources and distributes an average of 10 tons of food per week to food banks, schools, care homes, religious organisations and youth centres. At the charity William made a donation of supplies from his Adelaide Cottage kitchen – a crate of pasta, potatoes, tinned soup.

On arriving at the charity, which is based at Sunbury Cricket club, he told his hosts “Louis loves” cricket as he was introduced to them. Inside, the prince witnessed volunteers sorting out goodies including soaps, hand wash and make-up and was surprised to see a rose collagen mist spray. He told host Claire Hopkins, operations director of Surplus to Supper, he was surprised “how much we throw away” as he witnessed all goodies being reused.

The prince also helped out in the kitchen with chef Mario Colfait who was making bolognese, sausage casserole and chili con carne. He pulled on an apron called out: “It smells good in here Mario” before being handed a massive knife and asked to slice celery for the pot.

The kitchen cooks ‘culturally-appropriate’ food delivered to families in the area. William joked he was worried about slicing his off fingers. He said: “It’s the biggest knife, hope for the best” and added: “I don’t want to mess up everyone’s lunch. I hope I haven’t ruined your lunch, but you can blame me.”

Watching volunteers pack up food for the needy, he said: “It’s amazing the amount of food and variety.” Speaking about his cooking skills, he told volunteers: “Mario took one look at my chopping and said ‘move on’. I’m never normally trusted with a knife I’d cut my finger off. You all do a fantastic job and all this food is making my tummy rumble.”

William carries a crate of bananas into the youth centre ( 
Image:
Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
After he joined volunteers from a food distribution charity on a delivery run to a local youth centre. The prince hopped in a Surplus to Supper van, joining volunteers on the three-mile journey to the Hanworth Centre Hub in Feltham, west London.

On arrival, just after 1pm, the prince, wearing a high vis orange charity vest, jumped out and helped unload the van. Picking up a crate full of bananas, he asked: “Anywhere in particular?” before handing it to a volunteer.

He asked Siobhan Donoghue, CEO of Perfectly Imperfect, how she had come into contact with the Surplus to Supper team and how their work was coordinated. The prince asked about the age range of the young people who visit the centre and how the staff worked with the local community.

William also sat down for a chat with three young people who use the centre, Ella Vianni, Liv Cobb and Maisie Allen, asking which activities they enjoyed. “How are you all today?”William said as he sat down. “Bit nervous?” One of the girls told him she helped with the cooking and enjoyed making cakes.

The prince chats to some of the youngsters who use the centre ( 
Image:
Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

“You’re a baker then?” He replied: “That’s a good one to be. Everyone wants a baker as a friend, it’s pretty cool.” He asked one of the others about her art, and whether she found it relaxing. The prince had a quick chat with Ms Hopkins about her work with Surplus to Supper outside before leaving. She said afterwards: “He said we were doing a great job and he could see the difference that this model makes.”

William, 41, has spent the past three-and-a-half weeks with his wife and children during the Easter holiday, as the family took time to process Kate’s diagnosis. In a video message to the nation on March 22, Kate asked that time, space and privacy be afforded to her family following her chemotherapy announcement.

She said: “I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be okay.”

Since revealing the diagnosis, the Prince and Princess of Wales are said to be “enormously touched” and “extremely moved” by the public’s warmth and support. The family all missed the Easter Sunday service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, following the announcement, despite attending last year.

William’s last public engagement before today came on March 19, when he visited Sheffield to promote his Homewards homelessness campaign. Kensington Palace previously said that William would resume public engagements after the school holidays, on a reduced timetable as he continues to support Kate through her treatment.

William was seen taking his eldest son Prince George to an Aston Villa football match last week, watching his boyhood club beat Lille in the Europa Conference League at Villa Park in his first public outing since Kate’s announcement.Her cancer was discovered in post-operative tests following her abdominal surgery in January.