Prince William returned to royal duties following King Charles III’s cancer announcement and Kate Middleton’s hospitalization for abdominal surgery. During a charity gala dinner, the 41-year-old future king expressed gratitude for the public’s support, saying, “The past few weeks have been, shall we say, medically focused, so I figured I’d come to an air ambulance function to escape it all,” adding a touch of humor. Earlier in the day, he had presided over an investiture at Windsor Castle. The queen, a former air ambulance pilot, joined the event, engaging with fellow pilots and meeting celebrities like Tom Cruise. William’s remarks marked the first time he publicly addressed his family’s recent health struggles.