AMP in the post
It’s been some time since Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, carried out an official engagement together following their summer break.
Back Together
While royal family fans expected William to host an event in Liverpool on World Suicide Prevention Day, Catherine joined him in a surprise appearance.
Royal family fans were pleased to see the couple stepping out together, just two days after they were seen dropping off Prince George for his first day at Eton College.
Town & Country reported that they arrived at Everton Football Club’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, where the couple met sports figures including Dame Kelly Holmes, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Dame Laura Kenny to promote suicide prevention in sport.
AMP in the post
The New Toolkit
The BBC reported that the event involved launching a new online toolkit created by the Royal Foundation.
The initiative aims “to make suicide prevention as much a part of sport as warm-up, training and performance.”
The initiative has been backed by more than 70 organisations, including the Football Association, the Premier League, Team GB and British Cycling.
The project provides practical guidance to help people spot warning signs and support those in need.
AMP in the post
William Speaks
In his speech, Prince William noted that suicide is one of the biggest causes of death for men under the age of 50 and acknowledged that current “initiatives are fragmented” and “support is inconsistent, particularly at grassroots level.”
Others Speak Out
Other notable people who spoke about the project included former Premier League footballer Alan Shearer, who said, “For me, this is obviously very personal.”
He added that it’s not always easy to “know when someone is struggling, but we can all be better at asking, listening and helping them find the right support.”
Dame Kelly Holmes also explained why she believes the initiative is so important. She pointed out that while general mental health has been discussed for a decade, suicide still carries a lot of stigma.
“It’s critical that we realise this is a thing, and that in line with mental health talk, this has always been something, but now we should start bringing that to the forefront,” she said.
Hill Dickinson Stadium was chosen as the venue because it features a special “talking bench” in memory of former player Gary Speed, who took his own life in 2011.
Fans React
The Royal Foundation spent two years consulting with the NHS, Mind and Samaritans while putting the toolkit together. However, royal family fans were also excited about Princess Catherine’s unexpected arrival.
They were pleased to see the Princess of Wales back on public duty, particularly alongside Prince William. When GB News shared footage from the day on YouTube, viewers praised the couple and the work they are doing around mental health.
One viewer wrote, “1,000% Team Wales.”
Another person commented, “A very fine project that will save thousands of young lives…”
Yet another viewer wrote, “Absolutely. This is an excellent role for a future monarch to take.”
What Comes Next
It’s quite possible that royal watchers will see more joint appearances from the Prince and Princess of Wales as the season progresses. William and Catherine continue to step up on important national issues.
Are you glad to see Princess Catherine alongside Prince William in support of an extremely important cause? Let us know in the comments, and then come back here for all your royal family news and updates.