Prince William visits a hospital in Liverpool

Prince William was given an extremely warm welcome as he arrived in Liverpool for a day of engagements in Merseyside on Thursday.

Dapper William, who looked smart in a suit, arrived to formally open the Urgent Care and Trauma Centre (UCAT) at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool.

The Duke, who was greeted by hundreds of wellwishers clambering to capture a snap of the royal, met clinical staff and toured the emergency, major trauma, resuscitation and observation units at the hospital, before meeting some of the elderly patients at the frailty assessment unit. 

Prince William’s appearance comes after Prince George was back in class today after a female suspected stalker was arrested for attempting to break into his £20,000-a-year prep school twice in 24 hours.

The future king was swept into Thomas’s Battersea in a convoy of blacked-out Range Rovers – but it appeared that Prince William and Kate stayed at home.

Although it’s not clear whether the Duchess of Cambridge, who is expecting her third child, was due to attend today, she was forced to pull out of planned public engagements this month due to severe morning sickness.  

Prince William, who looked dapper in a suit, was mobbed by fans as he arrived in Liverpool for a day of public duties, including opening the Urgent Care and Trauma Centre (UCAT) at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool and watching a water polo session

Prince William's appearance comes after Prince George was back in class today after a female suspected stalker was arrested for attempting to break into his school

Prince William’s appearance comes after Prince George was back in class today after a female suspected stalker was arrested for attempting to break into his school

Prince William waves as he arrived to formally open the new Urgent Care and Trauma Centre (UCAT) at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool.
The newly redeveloped Trauma Centre includes the addition of a charity funded air ambulance helicopter landing pad

Prince William waves as he arrived to formally open the new Urgent Care and Trauma Centre (UCAT) at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool.The newly redeveloped Trauma Centre includes the addition of a charity funded air ambulance helicopter landing pad

This new unit includes the addition of a charity funded air ambulance helicopter landing pad. 

He also met staff and service users at the Life Rooms in Walton, a community hub run by mental health trust Mersey Care.

The centre offers group and one-to-one advice sessions on finances, addiction, and employment and offers a space for groups to meet.

The work of the trust was highlighted to William when he, along with his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, and brother Prince Harry, spearheaded mental health campaign Heads Together to encourage people to speak about their problems.

William later paid a visit to the Guinea Gap Leisure Centre in Wallasey, Wirral, on Thursday, where met divers from the Merseyside Sub-Aqua Club and watched children showcasing Swim England’s Learn to Swim programme, before viewing the water polo session.

William and Kate announced last week they were expecting their third child.

She was forced to pull out of planned public engagements due to severe morning sickness. 

The Duke was greeted by hundreds of wellwishers clambering to capture a snap of the royal

The Duke was greeted by hundreds of wellwishers clambering to capture a snap of the royal

The Duke of Cambridge was in high spirits as he arrived to formally open the new Urgent Care and Trauma Centre (UCAT) at Aintree University Hospital

The Duke of Cambridge was in high spirits as he arrived to formally open the new Urgent Care and Trauma Centre (UCAT) at Aintree University Hospital

Prince George, pictured with his father on his first day at school, was back in class today after a female suspected stalker was arrested

Prince George, pictured with his father on his first day at school, was back in class today after a female suspected stalker was arrested

Prince William’s appearance today comes after Prince George was back in class today after a female suspected stalker was arrested for attempting to break into his £20,000-a-year prep school twice in 24 hours.

The future king was swept into Thomas’s Battersea in a convoy of blacked-out Range Rovers – but it appeared that Prince William and Kate stayed at home.

The 40-year-old woman was detained by undercover police officers yards from the gates yesterday afternoon.

Teachers were on red alert after the same woman had been able to briefly talk her way into the building posing as a legitimate visitor a day earlier.

She escaped when challenged by staff but was spotted again loitering nearby triggering her arrest on suspicion of attempted burglary.

The woman was being questioned at a south London police station last night and one line of inquiry is that she is a ‘fixated individual’ who has become obsessed with the glamorous Royal couple.

A major review was launched last night following a scare experts have called an ‘unacceptable breach of security’

The prince, four, who is third in line to the throne, was not present at the time of either security scare because as a new starter he leaves at lunchtime.

Today he arrived in a black Range Rover driven by an unknown man and with a female passenger. The gates to the courtyard were briefly lifted to allow the prince into school before the 4×4 drove away.

George’s car was tailed by a second Range Rover which appeared to be driven by a plain clothes police officer. His parents did not appear to be there.

Parents remained tight-lipped about the security scares.

One parent said: ‘The school have been very clear. We have all been told not to say anything or talk about anything.’ Others ignored questions about safety at the school.

The woman was sitting outside Queenswood restaurant in Battersea Square with two men, one believed to be an undercover police officer, when the arrest operation began.

At 2.20pm, an unmarked police car sped into the square followed by a police van which stopped outside the restaurant.

Three police officers, two male and one female, spoke briefly to the woman. She was then searched by the female officer before stepping into the back of the van.

She remained composed throughout and did not remonstrate with the officers.

One eyewitness, who was eating at the restaurant, said: ‘She was just sitting there really quietly with two men in ordinary clothes either side of her. She was completely calm and passive. She seemed completely unfazed.’

Commanders at the Metropolitan Police’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Unit launched an immediate review of the security operation surrounding his studies.

But the incident will raise fears of what could have happened had the woman been a terrorist.

One former senior officer last night described the shocking breach as ‘very worrying’, but added: ‘Schools are not fortresses.’

The prince only started his studies last Thursday when he was photographed being dropped off at the school by his father, the Duke of Cambridge.

The Duchess of Cambridge, who is pregnant with her third child and has been suffering from a severe form of morning sickness, told parents she will meet them at the gates when she, too, is able to do the school run. 

 

 

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