Prince William has quietly returned to public life for the first time after Kate Middleton revealed her cancer diagnosis.

The Princess shared the news of her cancer with the world on Friday 23 March in a moving video message, with many around the world left stunned by the clip. While the form of cancer was not disclosed, Kate offered the world a moving insight into her reaction to the diagnosis, and how she told her family of the news she was unwell. At the time, Kate asked for ‘some time, space and privacy’ while she completed her treatment.

Royal sources suggested that she and William would take a break from public duties over the Easter holidays to spend time with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The couple have since stayed out of the public eye - but now, the Prince of Wales has made tentative steps back into the spotlight.

On Wednesday 10 April, the Prince of Wales broke his silence following Kate’s video message for the first time, sharing a note on Instagram paying tribute to England Lioness Rachel Daly as she announced her retirement from football. A keen football fan, William wrote: ‘Thank you for so many unforgettable performances with @Lionesses, @racheldaly3. Plenty more goals for Villa now!’ The message was signed off with a ‘W’, indicating the personal nature of the note.

It’s the second indication in recent days that Prince William may be taking tentative steps back into public life. According to the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden, William was seen enjoying a drink in a pub in North Norfolk over the weekend with his mother-in-law Carole. An insider told Eden there was no sign of Kate during the brief visit, saying, ‘It was all very low-key, with no great fanfare. He just walked in and through the pub. He appeared to be with Carole Middleton.’