Prince William, with a radiant smile, has resumed his royal duties for his first official engagement of 2025 – just a day after wife Kate announced she was in remission from cancer.
The Prince of Wales journeyed to Birmingham to attend the inaugural emergency and critical care conference held by the College of Paramedics.
A visibly relaxed William was seen engaging warmly with paramedics before delivering a speech at the significant event. His attendance at the conference coincides with his recent patronage of the College of Paramedics.
As a former air ambulance helicopter pilot, William served three years with the RAF Search and Rescue Force, undertaking rescue missions from RAF Valley in Anglesey since autumn 2010. He later joined the East Anglian Air Ambulance, responding to emergencies for two years before stepping down in July 2017 to concentrate on his Royal responsibilities.
Established in 2001, the College of Paramedics plays a crucial role in advancing the paramedic profession by advocating for professional standards, learning and development, and prioritising the mental health and well-being of its members.
In February last year, the college received the prestigious Royal Charter of Incorporation from the King and now boasts a membership exceeding 20,000.
It welcomes all UK paramedics registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, student paramedics, and those interested in the paramedic field and healthcare delivery, reports the Mirror.
Prince William has shown a keen interest in the welfare of the profession and in 2018, he established an emergency responder senior leaders board following research by King’s College London and the Open University.
This research, commissioned by the prince’s Royal Foundation, highlighted the necessity for emergency services to unite in protecting their workforce’s mental health.
Today marks the prince’s first official engagement of 2025, occurring just one day after Princess Kate announced her cancer is in remission.
Following an emotional visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea on Tuesday, Kate shared a heartfelt written message expressing her optimism and stating “there is much to look forward to”.
This is the first occasion Kate has publicly used the term ‘remission’ regarding her battle with cancer.
The princess expressed her gratitude in a heartfelt message, signed with the initial C: “It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.”
She also extended her appreciation to the Royal Marsden for its outstanding care, saying, “looking after me so well”. “My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything. We couldn’t have asked for me,” she further added.
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