Prince
William
returned to royal duties on Wednesday for the first time since his father, King Charles III, announced his cancer diagnosis and his wife Kate was hospitalized for abdominal surgery.
William held
an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle
and was also due to attend a fundraising dinner for London's Air Ambulance Charity in the evening.
The heir to the throne, 41, temporarily stepped away from public duties last month to help care for Kate and their children following her operation for an undisclosed condition.
The Princess of Wales, formerly Kate Middleton, is not expected to resume public duties until April.
But Charles' cancer diagnosis earlier this week
is putting additional pressure on the royal family
, and the king has suspended his own public appearances to focus on treatment and recovery.
While receiving treatment for
an unspecified form of cancer
, Charles III will continue behind-the-scenes work, such as
reviewing and signing state documents.
"His absence is putting a lot of pressure on the other members of the royal family, who are certainly up to the task," said Sally Bedell Smith, author of
"Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life
. "
“And having one of the royal family's biggest stars, the Princess of Wales, recovering from surgery”
magnifies those tensions.
Charles' illness comes at
an awkward time for the House of Windsor.
William collects the prize from the floor for Suzanne Hutchinson, from a charity, awarded as an Honorary Member of the British Empire.
Photo: AP
The king, who ascended the throne just 17 months ago,
has pledged to reduce the cost of the monarchy,
in part by keeping
limited the number of “working royals”
whose public duties are funded by taxpayers.
But
with two of the most visible family members sick,
it will be harder for the family to keep up.
Hundreds of events every year
In addition to the widely publicized pomp and ceremony of royal processions and state visits, the Windsors attend
hundreds of little-known events
each year to recognize the achievements of average people and mark local events such as
the openings of libraries and community centers
.
Royal appearances are appreciated by
hundreds of charities
, giving visibility and credibility to their good works among potential donors.
William honors Ellen Convery, a former soccer player.
Photo: AP
The king, 75, was seen in public for the first time since his cancer diagnosis on Tuesday, when he left his offices at Clarence House after a brief reunion with his youngest son, Prince Harry.
Harry arrived in London from California less than 24 hours after Buckingham Palace announced the king's cancer diagnosis.
The meeting has raised hopes that the pair can repair their troubled relationship after Harry
publicly criticized the royal family for
unconscious racism and complained about the way palace officials treated his biracial American wife,
former actress Meghan Markle. .
Harry and Meghan, once seen as royal family stars who could help the Windsors connect with a younger generation,
stepped back from royal duties in 2020
and now live in California.
With reporting by Danika Kirka, AP