'Your kindness means a great deal'

PRINCE William thanked people last night for their messages of support for his father King Charles and wife Kate as they battle health problems.

- Richard Palmer

He told a glamorous fundraising gala in London, which was attended by Hollywood star Tom Cruise: "It means a great deal to us all." The Prince of Wales, 41, returned to official duties after three weeks off looking after Kate, 42, and their three children.

He is expected to deputise for King Charles in the future as the monarch, 75, undergoes cancer treatment.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry, 39, returned to Heathrow yesterday for his flight back to Los Angeles after visiting his father on Tuesday.

William hosted last night's gala for London's Air Ambulance, a charity created with the help of the Daily Express in 1989.

It followed an investiture at Windsor Castle, where he paid tribute to nurses caring for Kate after her abdominal surgery.

Trish Spruce, who has played a key part in recruiting overseas nurses to Britain as associate director of people services and recruitment at Yeovil Hospital, Somerset, received an MBE from the Prince.

She said: "Prince William said that Catherine had two Filipino nurses looking after her and they were amazing and kind."

Joked