KING CALLS FOR MORE KINDNESS IN TIME OF NEED

Charles reflects on nation's support for himself and Kate amid cancer battles

- Emily Ferguson

'We all benefit from those who extend hand of friendship'

IN a heartfelt Easter message to the nation the King will today stress the importance of extending the "hand of friendship...especially in a time of need".

His words will carry an extra poignancy as both he and the Princess of Wales continue their cancer treatment.

Charles suggests the depth of support that he and Kate have received is helping their recoveries.

In the monarch's first public address since the Princess revealed that she too had cancer, his recorded message will be broadcast in his absence at today's Royal Maundy Service in Worcester Cathedral, which the Queen will lead.

Camilla was handed well-wishers' posters expressing their love for the recovering Royals as she toured a farmers' market in Shrewsbury yesterday.

In today's address her husband will stop short of directly referring to his own health battle and to his daughter-in-law's. But his words will be interpreted as an acknowledgment of the challenges the pair have both faced over recent months. He will talk of how Jesus set an "example of how we should serve and care for each other". Charles will stress that as a nation "we need and benefit greatly from those who extend the hand of friendship to us, especially in a time of need".

Both Charles and Kate have received an outpouring of good wishes since they made their cancer diagnoses public. The Princess was said to be "extremely moved" by the backing given following her emotional video message, where she revealed she has begun preventative chemotherapy.