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Prince William reveals selfless gesture for wife Catherine

The future king has revealed the sacrifice he made for his wife Catherine as she underwent chemotherapy.

Prince William meets Olympians at Gateshead swimming pool

Prince William has revealed the touching reason he missed the Paris Olympic Games as he met with England’s swimming team.

The Prince of Wales, 42, said he did not want to bring Covid home to his wife Catherine, who was battling cancer.

Olympian Tom Dean asked: “Did you manage to get out there [to Paris]?”

Prince William waves upon his arrival to visit to Birtley Community Pool to celebrate its reopening and highlight the importance of access to swimming in Birtley, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom. Picture: Getty Images
Prince William waves upon his arrival to visit to Birtley Community Pool to celebrate its reopening and highlight the importance of access to swimming in Birtley, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom. Picture: Getty Images

The royal answered: “No, I was so keen to come but I have to say after reading someone’s interview about Covid (looking at Olympian Adam Peaty – who tested positive during the games) I decided, because my wife was obviously having chemo, that I didn’t want to risk bringing Covid home, so Adam very kindly reminded me that that was still a thing! But we watched the whole thing. We were glued to it every day.”

Prince William with British Olympians and Paralympians Adam Peaty (R), Tom Dean (L), Maisie Summers-Newton (front R) and Louise Fiddes (2nd L). Picture: Getty Images
Prince William with British Olympians and Paralympians Adam Peaty (R), Tom Dean (L), Maisie Summers-Newton (front R) and Louise Fiddes (2nd L). Picture: Getty Images

William also revealed that swimming was a family passion.

“Catherine and I both adore swimming. George loves scuba diving,” the prince aid.

“He was 10 years old, we took him under, thinking he’d freak out, but he absolutely loved it. It’s just introduced him to the world of water.”

Prince William chats with schoolchildren after his visit to Birtley Community Pool. Picture: Getty Images
Prince William chats with schoolchildren after his visit to Birtley Community Pool. Picture: Getty Images

A day earlier, Catherine shared an emotional hug with a teenage cancer sufferer at Windsor Castle.

In a moving meeting, the Prince and Princess of Wales met with 16-year-old budding photographer, Liz Hatton, who is battling a rare and aggressive cancer with doctors giving her between six months to three years to live.

Princess Catherine embraces a teenage cancer sufferer at Windsor Castle. Picture: Instagram
Princess Catherine embraces a teenage cancer sufferer at Windsor Castle. Picture: Instagram

The royal couple also met with Liz’s parents at the late Queen’s beloved residence on the same day Prince William held an investiture ceremony, which the teen was invited to photograph as part of her “bucket list”.

“A pleasure to meet with Liz at Windsor today. A talented young photographer whose creativity and strength has inspired us both,” the Prince and Princess of Wales wrote on social media.

“Thank you for sharing your photos and story with us,” they wrote, adding a love heart emoji, sharing Liz’s photos across their social media accounts.

Prince William and Princess Catherine with 16-year-old cancer sufferer Liz Hatton and her family. Picture: Instagram
Prince William and Princess Catherine with 16-year-old cancer sufferer Liz Hatton and her family. Picture: Instagram

The couple signed the post “W&C,” using the initials of their first names to signal that the message came directly from them and not their communications team.

Prince William reportedly became aware of the teen through the London Air Ambulance Charity, where he serves as patron.

In May, Liz’s mother Vicky Hatton shared her daughter’s “photography bucket list” to X in a post that has since received thousands of likes and shares.

The 16-year-old’s interest in photography also connects her to Princess Catherine in a meaningful way as the princess is well known for her photography, describing herself as an “enthusiastic amateur photographer”.

The princess, alongside her family, released a video message where she revealed how “incredibly tough” her cancer diagnosis had been on her family. Picture: Kensington Palace
The princess, alongside her family, released a video message where she revealed how “incredibly tough” her cancer diagnosis had been on her family. Picture: Kensington Palace

She serves as patron of The Royal Photographic Society and often hops behind the camera to take pictures of her children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, for their birthdays or other major family moments.

The Windsor Castle meeting marked another step in Princess Catherine’s return to public life after spending much of this year out of the spotlight as she faced her own cancer journey.

After undergoing abdominal surgery in January, the princess later revealed she had been diagnosed with an unnamed cancer and that she was undergoing chemotherapy. She announced in September that she had completed treatment.

Originally published as Prince William reveals selfless gesture for wife Catherine

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/kate-returns-to-work-with-emotional-meeting/news-story/8168e4e5659d0180187a304c668addbb