The Prince of Wales stepped out in Surrey for his first official engagement since his wife Kate's cancer diagnosis was revealed in March, and reassured one kind-hearted well-wisher that he will take of her.
Prince William, 41, appeared touched as volunteer Rachel Candappa passed two get well cards for the Princess of Wales and the King, who is undergoing his own cancer treatment, telling her: "Thank you very much, that's kind."
The royal helped out in the kitchen as he visited surplus food distribution charity, Surplus to Supper, in Surrey on Thursday. And when Rachel asked about the Princess of Wales, telling him to "take care of her", William promised: "I will."
William tested out his culinary skills as he helped head chef Mario Confait to prepare a bolognese sauce...
Pulling on an apron, he said: "It smells good in here Mario."
© GettyHe later told fellow 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.
© GettyHe added: "You all do a fantastic job and all this food is making my tummy rumble."
© GettyThe Waleses had also donated a crate of pasta, potatoes, tinned soup, taken from the Adelaide Cottage kitchen, which was later delivered to the food bank at the Hampton Hub.
William helped to sort through food and non-perishable donations, packing them up and helping volunteers to load the crates into the back of a van, before jumping in the passenger seat to help out with a local delivery to Hanworth Centre Hub in Feltham, west London, a youth centre which provides a range of services to create a safer and better-connected community.
© GettyIts services include a mental health drop-in session for 16 to 24-year-olds, where young people take part in creative and fitness activities to support their physical and mental health.
The Prince helped to unload crates from the van, before sitting down to chat with three young people, who use the centre - Ella Vianni, Liv Cobb and Maisie Allen.
© GettyOne of the girls told him she helped with the cooking and enjoyed making cakes.
"You're a baker then?" He replied. "That’s a good one to be. Everyone wants a baker as a friend, it's pretty cool."
© GettyWilliam's return to work comes after spending the Easter holidays with the Princess of Wales and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, as the family took time away to process Kate's diagnosis.
The Waleses did not join King Charles and Queen Camilla for the Easter Sunday service in Windsor, but last week William took son George, ten, to an Aston Villa match.
© GettyThe Princess revealed the shock news in a personal and moving video message to the nation on 22 March, where she asked that time, space and privacy be afforded to her family following her chemotherapy announcement.
"I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family," she said, adding: “It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be okay."
Kate's cancer was discovered in post-operative tests following her abdominal surgery in January.
Kensington Palace previously said that William would resume public engagements after the school holidays, on a reduced timetable as he continues to support Kate through her treatment.
