"It's fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather medical focus...'

William thanks nation for its support for family. Harry back in US after 25-hour visit for Charles

- RUSSELL MYERS

PRINCE William has thanked the nation for the outpouring of support for his wife Kate and his father the King amid their health battles.

The Prince of Wales yesterday returned to work for the first time since Kate had serious abdominal surgery in hospital.

She spent nearly two weeks at the London Clinic last month before returning home to Windsor to start her recovery, which will keep her away from royal duties until after Easter.

And on Monday, Buckingham Palace delivered the shocking news that King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer.

After a whirlwind few weeks, William got back to royal duties by presiding over an investiture at Windsor Castle and then lending his support to the London Air Ambulance at a charity gala.

To the delight of the audience, Wills, 41, entered the latter with Hollywood megastar and fellow pilot Tom Cruise, 61, who posed for pictures with crew members, paramedics and former patients.

The prince said: "I'd like to take this opportunity to say thank you, also, for the kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father, especially in recent days.

"It means a great deal to us all." In a bid to lighten the mood after a testing time, William joked: "It's fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather 'medical' focus. So I thought I'd come to an air ambulance function to get away from it all! "But, seriously, we gather tonight to help as many people as possible benefit from top class care in the silhouette of London Air Ambulance's flying lifelines.