Prince William is in the West Midlands today where he is carrying out a series of engagements and visiting projects that are supporting people’s mental health and wellbeing
Prince William has surprised children by dropping by their school after they sent him an invitation which he initially had to turn down.
The Prince of Wales is in the West Midlands today, where he is carrying out a series of engagements and visiting projects that are supporting people’s mental health. And his first stop of the day is St Michael’s School in Rowley Regis, where he is learning about student-led initiatives that are available to pupils to support their mental health.
Back in October to mark World Mental Health Day, pupil Freddie Hadley sent a personal letter to William inviting him to the school today after informing him about the Matrix Project. In the letter, Freddie explained that it saw a group of 11 to 14-year-old boys meet every week to develop ideas and projects to shine a spotlight on male mental health.
He then invited William to the school for the launch of a campaign, saying he would love for the prince to be there as a VIP. Unfortunately, William and wife Kate were unable to make it at the time due to a prior engagement, but today, William dropped by to see the pupils.
There he learned about all of the projects that the pupils had set up to support mental health and then joined in with a session of the Matrix Project. He also joined a wider well-being led project, where he learned how pupils had been designing their own calm kits.
Today’s engagements in the West Midlands mark the second public outings for William since wife Kate revealed her cancer diagnosis and treatment before Easter. Last week, he returned to duties and gave a helping hand loading food and cooking in the kitchen at food distribution charity Surplus to Supper, in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey.
Volunteer Rachel Candappa, 71, handed two get well soon cards to the prince addressed to the King and Kate. William, who looked visibly moved, said: “Thank you, you are very kind”. When Rachel told the heir to the throne to look after Kate he placed his left hand on her shoulder and promised “I will”. Speaking afterwards Rachel, of Sunbury-on-Thames, said: “I said take care of her and he said ‘I will’.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, William and Kate released a new photo of their youngest son Prince Louis to mark his sixth birthday. The unedited close-up image, showing Louis grinning at the camera as he lies barefoot on a blanket on the grass, was taken in the last few days at Windsor by Kate, who announced last month that she is undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer.
It was posted on Kensington Palace’s social media accounts, some six weeks after the furore surrounding the Mother’s Day portrait which the princess admitted editing. William and Kate thanked royal fans for the birthday messages they received for their youngest child. The post read: “Happy 6th Birthday, Prince Louis! Thank you for all the kind wishes today.”The image was followed by a camera emoji and attributed to the Princess of Wales.
