The Princess of Wales made a surprising appearance just a day prior to her birthday by accompanying the Prince of Wales on a visit to show her support for NHS personnel in London.

Catherine joined Prince William, who was initially scheduled to attend alone, at Charing Cross Hospital on Thursday, marking their first public outing of 2026.

As she approaches her 44th birthday on Friday, the princess expressed her desire to accompany her husband to demonstrate her appreciation for the NHS and to extend thanks to the teams at Charing Cross for their hard work during a challenging winter, as stated by Kensington Palace.

This visit comes shortly before the first anniversary of Catherine’s announcement at the beginning of 2025 regarding her remission from cancer.

The royal couple interacted with volunteers from Imperial Health Charity, who assist in enhancing patient care and alleviating the workload for the broader healthcare staff.

One volunteer, who provides support to individuals undergoing chemotherapy, shared insights about her role with William and Catherine.

Pointing to patients and visitors, she remarked, “People will sit there for hours.”

In response, Catherine acknowledged, “I know,” while gently touching William’s shoulder and adding, “you know.”

The princess last made a public appearance on Christmas Day, when she joined William and their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—alongside the rest of the royal family for their customary church walk at Sandringham in Norfolk.

William and Catherine serve as joint patrons of NHS Charities Together, and the Palace indicated that this visit aimed to “recognize the extraordinary efforts of NHS staff during a challenging winter.”

The couple surprised healthcare workers during their tea break, engaging them in conversation about the challenges faced during the winter virus season.

Staff were gathered in a break room sponsored by Imperial Health Charity, which is part of NHS Charities Together and provides support to all five hospitals under the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust through grants, arts initiatives, and volunteer efforts.

Later, William and Catherine attended a roundtable meeting with executives, trustees, policymakers, and philanthropists from NHS charities to discuss the impact of philanthropy on the NHS.

The couple became patrons of NHS Charities Together in 2020 amidst the peak of the Covid pandemic. This organization represents over 220 NHS charities across all NHS Trusts and Health Boards in the UK.