William appears at major royal event - hours after Kate's photo apology
Prince William has stepped out at one of the major royal events of the year - and for the first time since his wife the Princess of Wales issued a personal apology following a photo editing row .
The Prince of Wales joined Queen Camilla, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh at the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey this afternoon - hours after his wife's apology. Kate usually attends the annual service but is missing this year as she is still recovering from abdominal surgery and isn't expected to resume royal duties until at least Easter. Meanwhile, King Charles is also not in attendance as he undergoes cancer treatment.
William alongside Queen Camilla during the Commonwealth Day service (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Earlier today, Kate issued an apology on social media and publicly took the blame for editing a photo of her and her three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, to mark Mother's Day on Sunday. The photograph of Kate and her children, taken by William, was the first to be issued since the princess's abdominal surgery and was released by the Palace to mark Mother's Day. But several of the world's biggest international photo agencies said the photograph issued of Kate and her three children had been "manipulated" and issued a kill notice and said they had each deleted the image from their individual libraries
Kate, in a rare, personal statement released on social media, said: "Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C." Despite calls for the original to be published, Kensington Palace said it would not be reissuing the unedited photograph of Kate and her children.
William alongside Queen Camilla sings the national anthem (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)William was seen leaving Windsor to head to the service earlier and was joined by Kate in the car. Kate is not attending the service, but is understood to have a private appointment. He then arrived at Westminster Abbey moments before Camilla at the Commonwealth Day service amid the debacle over the digitally altered photo he took of his family. But the BBC One cameras filming the live televised service directed its focus instead on the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh being greeted by clergy. William, dressed in a dark blue suit, could later be seen speaking to guests in the welcoming line up.
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He then chatted with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal as they waited near the Great West Door for the Queen to finish meeting people in the welcoming line. The prince greeted Edward with a friendly pat on the arm and a kiss on both cheeks, before standing in conversation with his aunts and uncle. As Camilla approached, William was seen to say "hello" to his stepmother before moving forward to kiss her on both cheeks. They smiled and chatted as they stood side by side ready for the national anthem to be played.
The annual Commonwealth celebration today drew on the theme of resilience, at a time when the royal family has faced a barrage of health troubles. Since the King's cancer diagnosis was announced on February 5, he has postponed all public-facing duties but is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers and holding some in-person meetings.
William arrived solo for the service (Samir Hussein/WireImage)Charles is receiving regular treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer and has recorded a video message for Commonwealth Day. His address highlights how 'diversity' was the Commonwealth's core 'strength', and the union of 56 member countries was a "precious source of strength, inspiration, and pride" to him.
The King said in his video message, which featured in the service: "In recent weeks, I have been most deeply touched by your wonderfully kind and thoughtful good wishes for my health and, in return, can only continue to serve you, to the best of my ability, throughout the Commonwealth."
He added: "My belief in our shared endeavours and in the potential of our people remains as sure and strong as it has ever been. I have no doubt that we will continue to support one another across the Commonwealth as, together, we continue this vital journey."
The King also talked about how the Commonwealth is united by the "many challenges we face" and said people are strenghtened by sharing perspectives and experiences. He explained: "As I have said before, the Commonwealth is like the wiring of a house, and its people, our energy and our ideas are the current that runs through those wires. Together and individually we are strengthened by sharing perspectives and experiences, and by offering and borrowing the myriad ways we have each tackled the challenges of our time.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh at the ceremony today (AFP via Getty Images)"This is true both at the level of nations and, indeed, at the local level. We recognise today that our diversity is our greatest strength." He went on: "Wherever we live, we are united by the many challenges we face, whether it be climate change, the loss of nature, or the social and economic changes that new technologies are bringing."
Camilla afterwards attended the annual Commonwealth Day Reception at Marlborough House in London, to meet foreign ministers, UK parliamentarians and high commissioners. Among the 2,000 guests were Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Scotland, the president of Malta, foreign ministers, high commissioners, senior politicians and dignitaries from across the Commonwealth, faith leaders and schoolchildren and young people from throughout the UK.
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