Prince of Wales visits Seaham and Newcastle during royal visit

Prince William began his trip to the North East today (Tuesday, April 30) by visiting Earthshot Prize finalist firm Low Carbon Materials, which makes low-carbon construction materials in Seaham, County Durham.

During the visit, the Prince of Wales greeted well-wisher Andrea Newton and her grandson, while also speaking to staff about how the company is trying to move forward for the future.

Here are photos of Prince Williams' visit to Seaham and Newcastle:

Pictures: PA MEDIA

Later in the day, the Prince of Wales opened James’s Place – a centre offering free, life-saving treatment to suicidal men in Newcastle.

The visit came on the same day that his father, King Charles, returned to public duties after the positive effect of his cancer treatment.

The King spoke of his “shock” at being diagnosed with cancer as he met fellow patients on his return to public-facing duties.

Charles candidly described the experience of being told he had the disease when he visited University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in central London to learn about the latest treatments and chat to staff providing the pioneering care.

He also reassured those who asked about the state of his health, saying: “I’m well.”

He was joined on the visit by the Queen, and went on impromptu walkabouts, meeting staff who had stopped to catch a glimpse of the royal couple.

King Charles III, patron of Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support, meets with patient Huw Stiley during a visit to University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre, London (Image: PA MEDIA)

After his diagnosis was announced on February 6, King Charles postponed all public engagements but continued with his duties as head of state behind palace walls, conducting audiences and Privy Council meetings.

These royal visits comes after a previously unseen portrait of the Prince and Princess of Wales was released by Kensington Palace on Monday (April 29) in celebration of the couple’s 13th wedding anniversary.

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Kate, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, married future king William in 2011.

The photograph by Millie Pilkington – who took the most recent picture of the King and Queen to mark Charles’s return to public duties – shows William and Kate on their wedding day.

The black and white image was posted on the Waleses’ social media accounts on Monday, captioned “13 years ago today!”.