Prince William’s 14-word update on Princess Kate during surprise school visit

William visited St Michael’s Church of England High School in Rowley Regis, Sandwell, to meet pupil Freddie Hadley, 12.
Prince William issued an update on Princess Kate when he made a surprise visit to a school this afternoon.

The heir to the throne visited St Michael’s Church of England High School in Rowley Regis, Sandwell, to meet pupil Freddie Hadley, after the 12-year-old sent a handwritten letter last year inviting the Prince to see the mental health initiatives there.

The Prince of Wales told a staff member at the school that Kate would have been keen to attend the event had she not been undergoing preventative chemotherapy.

He said: “I am sorry Catherine can’t be here as well. She would have loved to.”

Before that, he praised Freddie for his letter, telling a member of staff: “Lots of people write letters but Freddie’s was a really well-written letter. I promised I would come.”

Prince William on a surprise visit to St Michael’s Church of England High School today

Today marked the first time that William has made a royal visit since news of the Princess of Wales’s cancer diagnosis and treatment was publicly announced last month.

Posting his letter on Twitter on World Mental Health Day last October, Freddie told the Prince about the work he and his friends had been doing at the school.

And to his surprise, the Prince of Wales replied, saying: “Good afternoon Freddie, I’m so sorry Catherine and I can’t be with you and the rest of the students at St Michael’s today.

“Tackling mental health challenges and stigmas head-on is so important, please keep up this important work.”

Following the letter, William asked his team to secretly set up a visit to the school next time he was planning public engagements in the West Midlands.

The schoolboy and his classmates were visibly shocked as the royal wandered into their classroom to undertake the first of three visits in the area.

School staff were able to keep the visit a secret by telling Freddie he was instead being visited by the Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands.

And Freddie still did not realise who was actually visiting him until he saw William step out his motorcade as it approached the school.

The Prince told Freddie: “So this is the young lad who started it all off. Very nice to see you, thank you for your letter.”

To which he replied: “You’re very welcome.”