PRINCE William and Princess Kate have been visiting Merseyside.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will meet healthcare workers in the Wirral and Liverpool to thank staff for their efforts over the winter months.
William and Kate will also meet people who work in mental health support services throughout the county.
William and Kate looked relaxed as they arrived to officially open the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
It is his first official engagement since the memoirs of the Duke of Sussex, Spare, were published.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were questioned about the Duke of Sussex’s controversial autobiography when they opened a major hospital, but a visitor told the future king to “get on with it.”
A survey found that Harry’s popularity has declined since his publication.
The couple toured the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital and smiled, joked and posed for a plethora of selfies with NHS staff who they thanked for their efforts over the winter months.
When they first arrived, a man in an outside area reserved for the media shouted a question and, in the stormy conditions, seemed to say, “Do you ever plan to comment on Harry’s book, sir?”
They ignored the question and, after being greeted by senior hospital figures, began their tour of the critical care ward, meeting nurses and other staff who care for seriously ill patients.
At the end of the visit, they met hospital volunteers in the building’s atrium and went on an extensive walk, shaking hands, praising staff and posing for selfies with excited NHS workers.
An old woman, who had an appointment at the hospital, stood against a barrier waiting to speak to the future King and when he stopped, she took his hand.
The 81-year-old, who gave only her first name, Sylvia, said: “Keep going, Will, the scousers love you,” to which he replied: “I will.”
Hospital staff member Nikki Langley, who works in administration, was overjoyed when a smiling William posed for a selfie with her and three colleagues, all five of whom crowded into the picture.
A few minutes later, he asked Kate for a photo and the princess joked: “William is going to tell me off” before posing with Ms Langley, who said afterwards: “It was a pleasant surprise, a very pleasant surprise. I wasn’t surprised they stopped to take a selfie.”
The King also made his first official engagement since the publication of his son’s book, visiting the community of Aboyne, near the late Queen’s Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire, to tour the Aboyne and Mid Deeside community shed and meet with local support groups.
A YouGov poll found that Harry’s popularity has fallen since his book was published with 68% of 1,691 adults, surveyed on Tuesday and Wednesday, having a negative opinion of him, while 24% think positively.
The online research data group said the figures meant the Duke had his lowest ever net favorability rating of minus 44, up from minus 38 last week, which had been his previous record low.
