As patrons of NHS Charities Together, Prince William and Kate have long supported healthcare initiatives. On Wednesday, William will make a solo visit to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading to witness the impact of the charity’s funding since the COVID-19 pandemic.
During his visit, the future King, 42, will tour the hospital’s Health and Wellbeing Centre and Garden, which offers various activities and services to promote staff health and well-being. These include a free gym, wellness classes, and a green space for relaxation. He will also meet hospital staff who have benefited from these resources, as well as those who worked through the pandemic.
NHS Charities Together launched its Urgent COVID-19 Appeal in March 2020, raising over £15 million within the first five days and ultimately securing more than £160 million to support patients, hospital staff, and frontline volunteers.
William and Kate were appointed patrons of NHS Charities Together in December 2020 and previously visited the Royal Berkshire Hospital during their UK-wide royal train tour that same month.
The hospital holds particular significance for Kate, as it is where she and her siblings, Pippa Matthews and James Middleton, were born. Kate herself was welcomed into the world there on 9 January 1982 by her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.
During the couple’s 2020 visit, Graham Sims, chairman of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, greeted Kate with a warm “Welcome back.”
Kate is currently making a gradual return to royal duties as she continues her recovery from cancer. In January, she shared the hopeful news that she is in remission.
Last week, she and William made a joint visit to Pontypridd in South Wales ahead of St David’s Day, where they tried their hand at baking Welsh Cakes. Kate also revealed she has been learning to forage at their Norfolk home and even offered to share her homemade plum jam recipe with young volunteers at a community garden.
The couple’s engagement in Wales followed reports of a family holiday in Mustique during the February half-term.
Meanwhile, news of William’s upcoming visit emerged just hours after the launch of Meghan Markle’s new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. The eight-episode show features the Duchess of Sussex alongside celebrity guests, chefs, and friends as she shares her tips on hosting, cooking, and entertaining.
