Kate joined Prince William for a visit to Charing Cross Hospital on Thursday, January 8, which began as his solo engagement.
The palace said she “wanted to join her husband to show her support for the NHS and to thank the teams at Charing Cross for their efforts”.
The visit marked the couple’s first public engagement of 2026.
Kate, who turns 44 tomorrow, was last seen in public on Christmas Day when she joined Prince William and their children for the traditional royal walk to church at Sandringham.
This engagement comes just days before the one-year anniversary of her public announcement that she was in cancer remission.
During their visit to the hospital, the royal couple met with volunteers from Imperial Health Charity.
One volunteer told the couple that patients often spend long hours in treatment.
The Princess responded: “I know.”
She then looked to Prince William and added: “You know,” while gently placing a hand on his shoulder.
Kate wore a burgundy trouser suit, while Prince William opted for a v-neck jumper, shirt, tie, and jacket.
The couple also spent time with healthcare staff in a break room funded by Imperial Health Charity.
They spoke with staff about the challenges of working through the “winter virus season.”
Imperial Health Charity supports all five hospitals within Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
William and Kate are joint patrons of NHS Charities Together and took part in a roundtable during their visit.
Discussions focused on the role of philanthropy in supporting the NHS.
NHS Charities Together represents more than 220 NHS charities across the UK.
The royal couple became joint patrons of the organisation in 2020, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Their appearance also comes after a recent house move from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park.
Forest Lodge is a Grade II-listed home with eight bedrooms and offers more space for the family.
The move signals a fresh start for the couple in 2026 following a challenging year marked by Kate’s cancer treatment.
A spokesman for Kensington Palace said the princess wanted to join her husband to personally thank NHS staff.
He said she wanted to “thank the teams at Charing Cross for their efforts” over a difficult winter period.
Their visit was designed to “acknowledge the incredible work of NHS staff over a difficult winter period.”
