Prince William's rare royal move on first overnight trip since Kate's cancer diagnosis

P?rince William, who is also the Duke of Cornwall, spent Thursday visiting the region at the start of his first overnight trip since Kate's cancer diagnosis.

William headed to Newquay, Cornwall, and visited the Duchy of Cornwall's first ever innovative housing project, to help address homelessness, in Nansledan.

He then headed to Fistral Beach, where he ditched the suit jacket over his unbuttoned shirt on a warm and sunny UK day.

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The Duke of Cornwall met with local organisations helping to keep the protect the beach, widely regarded as one of the best surfing beaches in the UK.

Prince William met members of Holywell Bay and Newquay Surf Life Saving Clubs before watching demonstrations on the sand and chatting to lifeguards from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, an organisation marking its 200th anniversary this year.

The royal also folded up his sleeves and took part in a game of beach volleyball, as well as posing for selfies and photos with some of the nippers.

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Previously, members of the royal family didn't stop to take photos but it's something Prince William and Kate have slowly been changing.

?However, one thing that's still a very rare occurrence is giving out autographs, with royal writing often only used in official documents and guest books.

But Prince William broke with that tradition to sign the cast of nine-year-old Felix Kanes ¨C a member of Hollywell Bay Surf Life Saving Club, who had his arm in a sling.?

The duke also met with members of the public as crowds gathered along the beach for the visit.

On Friday, Prince William will make his first official visit to the Isles of Scilly since becoming Duke of Cornwall in September 2022.

The now 41-year-old inherited the title from his father following Queen Elizabeth's death, along with the title Prince of Wales after he became heir to the throne.

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Prince William is understood to have visited the Isles of Scilly a number of times previously while on holiday with his wife and their three kids.

However, during this first official visit as Duke of Cornwall, he'll visit St Mary's Harbour ¨C the maritime gateway to the Isles of Scilly ¨C and meet representatives from local businesses operating in the area.

Prince William will also pay a visit to St Mary's Medical Centre, which may perhaps be even more poignant as the royal's wife and father simultaneously battle cancer.

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