Prince William returned to royal duties today for the first time since the Princess of Wales revealed her cancer diagnosis - and let slip a fun fact about his youngest son Prince Louis.
The Prince of Wales, 41, gave a helping hand loading food and cooking in the kitchen at food distribution charity Surplus to Supper, in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey. The future king smiled, joked and appeared relaxed as he toured the organisation, learning about its work supplying food banks and other organisations with toiletries, meals made on-site and donated produce. The charity is based within Sunbury Cricket Club and shook hands with volunteers as he arrived to help out at the charity. And given his sporting surroundings, he told how "Louis loves" cricket.
Louis turns six on Tuesday and once before hinted at his love for the sport in pictures released to mark his fourth birthday almost two years ago. In the portraits, taken by Kate, the youngster could be seen clutching a cricket ball. Meanwhile, his older brother Prince George is also known to be keen on cricket and joined William for a special day out at the home of the sport Lords last year to watch England take on Australia in the Ashes.
Meanwhile during today's engagement, William promised to "look after" the Princess of Wales, a month after his wife revealed she is having preventative chemotherapy. 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'.
"I was at home at 8.30 last night and I thought I had to do something this is a chance to give a card directly to the palace officials. I didn't think I'd be able to give the cards to William. I said 'can I shake your hand?', I loved it, he was very down to earth. I'm never washing my hand again."
Founded in 2017, Surplus to Supper sources and distributes an average of 10 tons of food per week to food banks, schools, care homes, religious organisations and youth centres. At the charity William made a donation of supplies from his Adelaide Cottage kitchen - a crate of pasta, potatoes, tinned soup.
The prince also helped out in the kitchen with chef Mario Colfait who was making bolognese, sausage casserole and chili con carne. He pulled on an apron called out: "It smells good in here Mario" before being handed a massive knife and asked to slice celery for the pot.
The kitchen cooks 'culturally-appropriate' food delivered to families in the area. William joked he was worried about slicing his off fingers. He said: "It's the biggest knife, hope for the best" and added: "I don't want to mess up everyone's lunch. I hope I haven't ruined your lunch, but you can blame me."
Watching volunteers pack up food for the needy, he said: "It's amazing the amount of food and variety." Speaking about his cooking skills, he told volunteers: "Mario took one look at my chopping and said 'move on'. I'm never normally trusted with a knife I'd cut my finger off. You all do a fantastic job and all this food is making my tummy rumble."
After he joined volunteers from a food distribution charity on a delivery run to a local youth centre. The prnince hopped in a Surplus to Supper van, joining volunteers on the three-mile journey to the Hanworth Centre Hub in Feltham, west London.