Veteran royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun: “Royals realise that every single thing they do sends a message in one way or another. It wasn’t just a question of appearing with George at an occasion that was enjoyable.
“It was a question of sending a signal that it was business as usual – as far as that was reasonable to be expected. If Catherine had been there, it would have been fantastic, but no one is expecting that.
“People wouldn’t expect that after her video message, which I think is the bravest ever on a health issue by a public figure in Britain.”
The commentator described William’s appearance as “important, simply in the sense that it was what one would call normal”.
He added: “Obviously, with the royal family very little is actually normal at the moment.
“He is clearly looking after the children as far as feasible. I mean, it’s it’s a burden William has.
“It sent this message that things some things are going on, more or less as normal.”
