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Kate Middleton and Prince William stepped out for their first royal engagement of 2026 on Thursday, Jan. 8
The Prince and Princess of Wales visited health workers at Charing Cross Hospital in London
William highlighted the crucial work by health workers during the winter months
Kate Middleton is starting 2026 with a surprise!
The Princess of Wales, 43, joined Prince William for an unannounced visit to health workers at Charing Cross Hospital in London on Thursday, Jan. 8. wearing a maroon suit with a burgundy blouse, coordinating shoes and a brown handbag
William, also 43, and Kate, are joint patrons of NHS Charities Together and spent time talking to health workers about the pressures they face during the winter virus season, and met volunteers managed by the charity who help to improve care for patients and take pressure off the wider workforce.
Ryan Jenkinson / Kensington Palace
Kate Middleton at Charing Cross Hospital
NHS Charities Together represents over 220 NHS charities based in every NHS Trust and Health Board across the U.K., giving £1.5 million every day to the NHS. Through their work, NHS charities help to drive innovation, transform care and support staff well-being.
By investing in state-of-the-art equipment, buildings, green spaces and arts, they aim to improve care for patients and also lead prevention projects in the community that help people to stay well.
After chatting to staff, William and Kate took part in a roundtable conversation with NHS charity CEOs and Trustees, clinicians, patients and volunteers as well as policymakers and philanthropists, to discuss the benefits of giving to the NHS as part of the healing journey, as well as the change this can drive for healthcare.
Ryan Jenkinson / Kensington Palace
Kate Middleton and Prince William at Charing Cross Hospital
During his previous engagement with the charity, William went to the hospital where Kate was born, in Reading, England. His March 2025 visit marked five years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and during his outing, he paid tribute to the charity for the work it had done to help staff and patients.
The charity had generated $200 million to support patients, hospital staff and volunteers on the frontline of the health crisis over the years of the epidemic.
Ryan Jenkinson / Kensington Palace
Kate Middleton meets patients at Charing Cross Hospital
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Thursday’s outing is the first time William and Kate have been seen in public since Christmas Day, when they walked to and from church in Sandringham with other members of the royal family and their children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.
They are believed to have spent much of the Christmas and New Year break at their home at Anmer Hall on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.
The children returned to their school on Jan. 7. On Friday, Jan 9, the family will celebrate Princess Kate’s 44th birthday.
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‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source uk.news.yahoo.com ’
