Even in the midst of crisis, the royal family keep calm and carry on!
Just days afterPrince HarryandMeghan Markleannounced theirshocking exit as senior members of the royal family,Prince WilliamandKate Middletonstepped out for their first joint outing of 2020.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge traveled to Bradford on Wednesday to visit a number of community projects in one of the U.K.’s most diverse cities. They appeared to the chimes of bells from the city hall, which dominates Centenary Square.
Kate Middleton and Prince William.Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty Images
One royal fan stationed near the couple’s drop-off spot tells PEOPLE, “They looked really happy.”
Rukhsar Parveebn, 20, a politics student from Leeds, says that there was no hint from the couple of the internal turmoil of recent days. “[William] didn’t let it show that the drama had been going on,” she tells PEOPLE. “I love the royal family and I was really impressed with him.”
Prince William and Kate Middleton.Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
Dawn Eaton, 55, from Huddersfield – who said she had gone to London for the funeral of William’s mother Princess Diana 22 years ago – says that William “seemed okay” despite the upheavals of the week.
Adds Julie Astbury, 52: “He has got to carry on, business as usual. His mother was always my favorite and we have gone on to William and Harry and their children. It’s sad. But we don’t know what goes on behind closed doors.”
Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
Prince William.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
The royal couple will first visit City Hall to join a group of young people from across the community to hear about life in Bradford. They will then meet representatives from local employers and businesses who are helping young people into employment.
The royal couple also toured the kitchen of MyLahore’s flagship restaurant, British Asian restaurant chain which has taken inspiration from Lahore, the Food Capital of Pakistan where Kate and William visited Lahore during their recent tour of Pakistan. They had some laughs blending and tasting Kulfi milkshakes.
Kate Middleton.Chris Jackson/Getty
Prince William and Kate Middleton.Chris Jackson/Getty
William and Kate’s appearance comes just two days afterWilliam traveled to Sandringham for a family summitwithQueen Elizabeth,Prince CharlesandPrince Harryto discuss Harry and Meghan’s decision to step down as senior royals. Kate was not present at the summit— nor was Charles’s wife, Camilla, orPrince Philip, all of whom, like Kate, married into the family. She remained in London with her three kids.
Prince William and Kate Middleton.Danny Lawson/PA Images/Getty
After a 90-minute discussion, the Queen released the following statement: “Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family,” the Queen said in a statement. “My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.
“Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives. It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK. These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days.”
Kate Middleton.Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty
Prince William.Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty
A family friend tells PEOPLE that the couple felt they had no choice but to manage things the way they did, even as they went against the family’s “never complain, never explain” mantra.
“This is not how they wanted to handle this, but Meghan and Harry’s hand was forced,” says the friend. “There is so much bad blood in that family — it’s toxic.”
The friend adds, “If relationships had been better, things would have been different.”
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DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/POOL/AFP via Getty
source: people.com
