Princess of Wales Makes Surprise Appearance at Everton as Prince William Launches Suicide Prevention Toolkit

The Princess of Wales made an unexpected return to royal duties on Thursday, joining Prince William at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool for the launch of a new suicide prevention initiative aimed at the sporting world.

Kate had not originally been expected to attend. William was due to host the event alone, but the Princess chose to join him, making this their first joint royal engagement since the summer break.

The appearance also comes as the royal family faces renewed attention over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s position following their return to the UK and a letter sent by King Charles to senior stakeholders across the country.

The initiative, called On Your Side, has been created to help people working and participating in sport recognise warning signs, feel more confident starting difficult conversations and connect those struggling with appropriate support before they reach crisis point. The Royal Foundation says the toolkit was developed with the British Standards Institution and mental health charity Chasing the Stigma, with input from more than 200 experts and partners.

Kate joins William for major mental health initiative

At the Everton event, William was joined by a number of prominent figures from the sporting world, including presenter Gabby Logan, Dame Kelly Holmes, Campbell Hatton and former footballer Jill Scott.

The Prince has also worked with high-profile sporting figures including England captain Harry Kane, Formula 1 driver George Russell, former England footballer Alan Shearer, and cycling champions Sir Jason Kenny and Dame Laura Kenny to promote the new resource.

The toolkit is designed for use across the sporting sector, from grassroots clubs to elite organisations, and is intended for athletes, coaches, staff, volunteers, families and supporters. The Royal Foundation describes it as the most comprehensive suicide prevention resource created specifically for sport.

The Princess appeared in a light blue Edeline Lee trouser suit with a white blouse, coordinating with the colours associated with Everton. She accessorised the outfit with a £185 Laura Lombardi Portrait chain necklace and a pair of Issy Star earrings, sold in memory of teenager Issy Phipps, who died by suicide three years ago.

Her appearance gave the occasion an added personal dimension as she joined William in conversations about the importance of breaking down the stigma surrounding suicide.

A poignant meeting with Gary Speed’s mother

One of the most emotional moments came when William and Kate met Carol Speed, the mother of former professional footballer and Wales manager Gary Speed.

Speed died by suicide in 2011 at the age of 42. At Everton, William and Kate sat with Carol on the Gary Speed memorial bench, which has been placed at the club as a point of connection for people who may need mental health support.

William asked Carol whether her son’s death had helped mark a turning point in how people, particularly men, talk about suicide and mental health.

Carol spoke about the stigma that surrounded the subject at the time of Gary’s death and how conversations around mental health have become more open since then.

Kate stressed the ability of sport to bring people together and draw attention to issues that can otherwise be difficult to discuss. William also highlighted how hard it can be for people, especially men, to find the words to talk about suicidal thoughts or emotional struggles.

The message behind the new initiative is straightforward: sometimes the first person to notice that someone is struggling is not a medical professional, but a friend, teammate, coach or colleague.

William calls for action across sport

In his speech, William argued that sport has a unique ability to create connections.

Every week, large numbers of people gather at stadiums, sports halls, gyms, clubhouses and community centres. Those environments, he said, can provide opportunities to notice changes in someone’s behaviour and start a conversation before a crisis develops.

The toolkit is intended to turn that opportunity into practical action by helping people identify warning signs, approach difficult conversations with greater confidence and guide others towards support.

William has made mental health and suicide prevention a significant part of his charitable work. The Royal Foundation previously launched the National Suicide Prevention Network in 2025, bringing together 20 organisations from across the UK to strengthen cooperation and access to support.

The new sports-focused initiative builds on that work by targeting an environment where the foundation believes there is considerable potential to reach people who might not otherwise seek professional help.

The Royal Foundation’s research found strong willingness within sport to support suicide prevention, but also identified stigma, particularly among men and elite athletes, alongside gaps in skills, knowledge and resources.

Campbell Hatton and Kelly Holmes share personal experiences

Among those attending the launch was boxer Campbell Hatton, whose father, professional boxer Ricky Hatton, died a year ago. A coroner recorded that it could not be established with certainty whether Ricky intended to take his own life.

Campbell has previously spoken about his own struggles with alcohol, substance abuse and mental health. He said that after stepping away from boxing, his darkest periods included suicidal thoughts, and that his family eventually intervened following his father’s death.

Returning to boxing, he said, had played an important role in his recovery.

Dame Kelly Holmes also spoke openly about her own experience. The former Olympic athlete and medallist revealed that she had once reached out for help during the early hours of the morning because of suicidal thoughts and said that seeking support had saved her life.

She praised William and Kate for using their platform to support the initiative, arguing that while conversations about mental health have become increasingly normalised, suicide remains a subject that still needs to be discussed more openly.

Sporting organisations pledge to use the toolkit

The campaign is not limited to the launch event.

The Football Association, of which William is Patron, is committing to embed the toolkit throughout its organisation and across its community and grassroots football network.

The Premier League and British Cycling are also set to prioritise suicide prevention within their organisations, while Team GB will make the resource available to athletes and staff.

More than a dozen other sporting organisations have signed up as champions of the initiative, agreeing to incorporate practical, evidence-based suicide prevention approaches into their work.

A short film promoting the toolkit has also been produced, featuring sporting figures including Harry Kane and George Russell. William provides the voiceover, encouraging people not to assume they need to be experts before reaching out to someone who may be struggling.

The Royal Foundation says the toolkit will be available through Chasing the Stigma’s Hub of Hope, described as the UK’s largest mental health directory.

Alan Shearer recalls the loss of Gary Speed

For former England footballer Alan Shearer, the launch carried a deeply personal significance.

Shearer was close friends with Gary Speed, who had also been his Newcastle teammate. The two had seen each other only hours before Speed’s death in 2011 and had been discussing plans for a holiday together.

With the initiative being launched at Everton, a club closely associated with Speed, Shearer said the occasion was particularly poignant.

His message echoed William’s central point: people cannot always know when someone is struggling, but they can become better at asking questions, listening and helping someone find the right support.

The aim of On Your Side is therefore not to turn athletes, coaches or supporters into mental health professionals. Instead, it is designed to give people practical guidance and greater confidence to begin conversations that might otherwise never happen.

The wider royal backdrop

Kate and William’s appearance comes during a busy period for the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Earlier this week, the couple accompanied their eldest son, Prince George, on his first day at Eton College. They travelled from their home at Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park to the school, where William and his brother, Prince Harry, were both educated.

Their Liverpool appearance now marks the couple’s first joint royal engagement since their summer break.

It also comes shortly after King Charles sent a letter to more than 100 senior stakeholders, reiterating that Harry and Meghan are not working royals and that their HRH styles remain on hold.

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said the couple were surprised by the letter and had not been informed about it beforehand. Palace sources disputed that account, saying Harry and Meghan had received the letter before it was made public, although they were not consulted about its contents.

The Palace has maintained that the decision is consistent with the Sussexes’ stated wish to remain private citizens while in the UK and with the arrangements reached after the 2020 Sandringham Summit.

Against that backdrop, Kate’s decision to accompany William to Liverpool offered a notable public display of support — but the focus of the day remained firmly on William’s long-running work to encourage more open conversations around mental health and suicide prevention.

The Royal Foundation says the wider goal is to make suicide prevention part of everyday practice across sport, helping people recognise when something is wrong, start a conversation and connect those in need with support before they reach crisis point.