Prince Williamhas returned to the hospital where his wife,Kate Middleton, was born for a somber anniversary.
It has been five years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Prince of Wales wanted to pay tribute to a health charity that helps staff and patients.
The hospital where Princess Kate, 43, was born in January 1982 is also the place where the U.K.’s first COVID-19 victim died in March 2020.
Prince William during his visit to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, England, on March 5, 2025.Ryan Jenkinson / Kensington Palace
Ryan Jenkinson / Kensington Palace
NHS Charities Together, of which William is a patron, raised more than $19 million (£15 million) in the first five days of its appeal that started in March 2020. It went on to bring in $200 million (£160 million) to support patients, hospital staff and volunteers on the frontline of the health crisis.
During his visit, Prince William spoke to staff and volunteers, telling them, “Everyone in the NHS is there to care for others, so the last person who gets looked after is the individual. And I’ve seen when I’ve worked with doctors and nurses, when I’ve worked with paramedics, they always put it down the line because they don’t want to put their workload on someone else.”
“For me, looking into the nation’s mental health over the last few years, unless there’s almost enforced breaks in someone’s career, as part of your career development, we’re never going to get to that point where you can look after their mental health because you always rely on the individual to put their hand up,” he added.
Prince William meeting staff at the Royal Berkshire Hospital on March 5, 2025.Ryan Jenkinson / Kensington Palace
Prince William’s office at Kensington Palace said the funds are thought to have helped nearly two-thirds of NHS staff with counseling, rest areas and projects in the community.
The Prince and Princess of Waleslast visited the hospital in December 2020during a 1,250-mile trip around the U.K. to check in withdifferent communitiesas each area faced the unprecedented crisis.
An overwhelming 90% of the projects are continuing in hospitals like the Royal Berkshire, including the Oasis Health and Wellbeing Centre and Garden which was set up there.
Prince William is welcomed to the Royal Berkshire Hospital on March 5, 2025.Ryan Jenkinson / Kensington Palace
The Prince of Wales used his time at the hospital on March 5 to tour the center and its garden and see the range of activities that help staff with their own health and mental health. He met some of those who have been using the wellbeing center and open green space, as well as staff who were working at the hospital during the pandemic.
During his royal visit, William also saw some poignant reminders of the human cost of the pandemic. Two of the health trust’s members of staff, Dr. Peter Tun and nurse Julie Edward, died during the crisis and trees have been planted in the garden in their memory.
Prince William and Princess Kate met staff at the hospital at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2020.Matthew Childs - WPA Pool/Getty
Matthew Childs - WPA Pool/Getty
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton,Meghan Markleand more!
NHS Charities Together, of which Kate is also a patron, also went on to part-fund one of the country’s first Long Covid Clinics, which look to help those suffering with the long-term effects of the disease.
source: people.com
