Prince William, the Prince of Wales, has expressed gratitude to the British public for their heartfelt messages and support during a challenging time for his family. His wife, Kate, recently underwent surgery, and his father, King Charles, was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate. William, aged 41, stepped back into his royal duties, becoming the central figure for the family, especially in light of his brother Prince Harry’s return to the United States following a brief visit to see their father.

Speaking at a gala dinner for London’s Air Ambulance Charity, William said, “I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you…for the kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father, especially in recent days. It means a great deal to us all.” This event marked his second public appearance of the day. He had taken time off to care for his three children while Kate, 42, recovered from her planned abdominal surgery, which necessitated a two-week hospital stay.

With Kate’s recovery and the king’s ongoing treatment, William and Queen Camilla are expected to shoulder additional public responsibilities to uphold the monarchy. Royal author Robert Hardman pointed out that William’s increased state duties are a continuation of the substantial role he took on during Queen Elizabeth’s later years when her mobility was limited.

“In that regard, it’s not that different, but obviously there’s the burden of expectation,” remarked Hardman. “On many occasions, he will have to stand in, acting in a quasi head of state capacity, much like Prince Charles did when the queen was infirm.”

Prince Harry, now 39, has maintained his distance from much of the royal family since stepping down from his duties. Recently, he briefly visited Britain to meet with his father following the news of his diagnosis. There were no plans for him to meet with his older brother William during his trip. Harry soon returned to California, where he lives with his wife Meghan and their two children.

In the face of his health issues, King Charles plans to continue with his private monarch duties and manage state affairs. Buckingham Palace has not provided further specifics about his health, other than clarifying that it is not prostate cancer. The palace assured that the king remains “wholly positive” and is eager to resume his public responsibilities soon.