How Prince William has continued to put on a brave face during royal duties to mask his personal pain over Kate's cancer diagnosis

After months of the public demanding an explanation and speculation on her whereabouts the Princess of Wales shocked the world on Friday when she appeared on our TV screens and candidly told us about her cancer diagnosis.

Throughout it all Prince William has masked his personal pain and put on a brave face during royal duties.

In February, he spoke to Holocaust survivor Renee Salt at the Western Marble Arch Synagogue in central London where he took part in discussions about the rise in anti-Semitism in Britain.

It was his first public appearance after pulling out of the memorial service for his godfather, the late King Constantine II of Greece, which was reportedly when he found out about his wife's diagnosis.

Then, just three days before Kate's emotional video announcement, William attended a conference to help end homelessness in the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield.  

In February, Prince William spoke to Holocaust survivor Renee Salt at the Western Marble Arch Synagogue in central London

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, gave William a bouquet of flowers for Kate as they stood with Rabbi Daniel Epstein

During his visit to the Western Marble Arch Synagogue, William was seen holding Ms Salt's hand, as the 95-year-old said to him: 'I'm sorry, I'm sure that if your wife would've been well, she would've been here. I miss her so much. Give her my best wishes, please.' 

She spoke of her experiences at a Nazi concentration camp, prompting William to ask: 'How did you manage?'

She replied: 'It wasn't easy. Somehow I survived.' William held her hand when she described how her family were affected by the rise in antisemitism in recent months.

William told her: 'I'm so sorry it's got to this stage, it will get better.'

He added: 'We were going to come closer to the Holocaust memorial day but unfortunately we had to move it but glad to be able to meet today.'

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, gave William a bouquet of flowers for Kate as they stood with Rabbi Daniel Epstein, who has headed up the Marble Arch synagogue since 2021 with his wife Illana.

Three days before Kate's emotional video announcement, William also attended a conference to help end homelessness in the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield. 

Three days before Kate's emotional video announcement William attended a conference to help end homelessness in the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield

Returning to duties for the first time after his wife's abdominal surgery and his father's cancer diagnosis the Prince of Wales hosted a gala dinner for the Air Ambulance service and gave a speech

When the topic of childhood was raised by Sheffield City Council chief executive Kate Josephs, William immediately remarked about the success of Kate's early years projects.

Holding his palms out and smiling, he said: 'Venturing into my wife's territory here. She needs to be sat here to hear this.'

The sweet remark was touching at the time but even more so now that we know why Kate was unable to attend.

Returning to duties for the first time after his wife's abdominal surgery and his father's cancer diagnosis the Prince of Wales hosted a gala dinner for the Air Ambulance service and gave a speech.

Despite everything going on in his personal life he still managed to crack a joke, he said: ‘I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you, also, for the kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father, especially in recent days. It means a great deal to us all.

‘It’s fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather “medical” focus. So I thought I’d come to an air ambulance function to get away from it all!’