Kate shares revelation about Prince William during solo public appearance

The Princess of Wales has met with people recovering from addiction during a solo public appearance north-east of London.

Kate, who is patron of the Forward Trust, a charity that supports recovering addicts, visited its Forward Growing initiative at Garon Park in Southend, Essex, to mark Addiction Awareness Week, which runs from Saturday until Friday.

At the greenspace, people on the Forward Trust’s treatment and recovery service in the area are encouraged to engage with the natural world.

The princess was shown the Forward Trust’s garden, where service users have a go at gardening to help them in their recovery.

Liam King, who leads conservation at the park, told Kate about the plants being grown.

Kate then revealed: “I should have my husband here; he knows a lot (about gardening), he’s really passionate.”

She described the planting area at Garon Park as a “fantastic space” as she chatted with people in recovery.

When asked by Mr King if she does any gardening, the princess said “a little bit”.

Last November, ahead of the 2026 Addiction Awareness Week, Kate called for the “stigma” faced by those with addictions to end and for society to show “compassion and love” to those dependent on drugs, alcohol or gambling.

Kate said society’s experience of addiction was “shaped by fear, shame and judgement” and urged people to have open conversations and bring the issue “out of the shadows,”.

“Addiction is not a choice, or a personal failing, but a complex mental health condition that should be met with empathy and support. But still, even now in 2025, people’s experience of addiction is shaped by fear, shame and judgement. This needs to change,” she said.

“The stigma surrounding those who face addiction allows it to thrive behind closed doors, impacting families and communities, and ultimately ruining lives. Many of us will know someone who is struggling with an addiction.

“Now is the moment to show our compassion and love to help them, or their friends and family, to reach out to organisations like The Forward Trust for support.”

Kate launched the first Addiction Awareness Week in 2021 on behalf of the trust.