PRINCE William and Princess Kate have been visiting Merseyside.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are to meet with healthcare workers in Liverpool to thank staff for their efforts during the winter months.
William and Kate will also meet individuals working in mental health support services across the county.
William and Kate looked relaxed as they arrived to officially open the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
It is their first official engagement since the Duke of Sussex’s memoir, Spare, was published.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were questioned about the Duke of Sussex’s controversial autobiography as they opened a leading hospital – but one visitor told the future king to “keep going”.
A poll has found Harry’s popularity has dropped since its publication.
The couple toured the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital and smiled, joked and posed for a large number of selfies with NHS staff they thanked for their efforts during the winter months.
When they first arrived, a man in an outside area reserved for the media shouted out a question, and, in the blustery conditions, appeared to say: “Do you ever plan to comment on Harry’s book sir?”
They ignored the question and, after being welcomed by senior figures from the hospital, began their tour of the critical care ward, meeting nurses and other staff looking after seriously ill patients.
At the end of the visit they met hospital volunteers in the building’s atrium and went on an extensive walkabout, shaking hands, praising staff and posing for selfies with the excited NHS workers.
One elderly woman, who had an appointment at the hospital, stood against a barrier waiting to talk to the future King and when he stopped she grasped his hand.
The 81-year-old, who only gave her first name Sylvia, said “Keep going Will, scousers love you”, and he replied, “I will do”.
Hospital staff member Nikki Langley, who works in administration, was left overjoyed when a smiling William posed for a selfie with her and three colleagues, the five all crowding into the image.
A few minutes later she asked Kate for a picture and the princess joked “I’m going to be told off by William” before posing with Ms Langley, who said afterwards: “It was a nice surprise, a very nice surprise. I wasn’t surprised they stopped for a selfie.”
The King also carried his first official engagement since the publication of his son’s book, visiting the community of Aboyne, close to the late Queen’s Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire, to tour the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed and meet local hardship support groups.
A YouGov poll has found the popularity of Harry has fallen since his book was published with 68% of 1,691 adults, polled on Tuesday and Wednesday, having a negative opinion about him while 24% thought positively.
The online research data group said the figures meant the duke had his lowest ever net favourability rating of minus 44, down from minus 38 last week, which had been his previous record low.
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