William pledges to serve with 'humility and great respect'

William and Kate, both 40, will continue with their campaigning work on issues such as the mental health crisis facing young people and giving all of Briain’s children a better start in life

but supporting the people of Wales will also become a special part of their responsibilities.

In a statement, Kensington Palace said: “His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and the First Minister of Wales spoke by telephone earlier today."

“His Royal Highness thanked the First Minister for his fitting tribute, on behalf of the people of Wales, to Her Majesty the Queen."

“HRH expressed his and the Princess of Wales’s honour in being asked by His Majesty the King to serve the Welsh people. They will do so with humility and great respect.'

“The Prince acknowledged his and the Princess’s deep affection for Wales, having made their first family home in Anglesey including during the earliest months of Prince George’s life."

“The Prince and Princess will spend the months and years ahead deepening their relationship with communities across Wales."

“They want to do their part to support the aspirations of the Welsh people and to shine a spotlight on both the challenges and opportunities in front of them."

“The Prince and Princess look forward to celebrating Wales’s proud history and traditions as well as a future that is full of promise."

“They will seek to live up to the proud contribution that members of the Royal Family have made in years past."

“Their Royal Highnesses look forward to travelling to Wales very soon, and to meeting the First Minister and other leaders at the earliest opportunity.”

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You

can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Their call came a day after William offered an olive branch to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex by inviting them to join him and Kate on a walkabout at Windsor to see flowers left for the

Queen and to speak to the public.

Relations between the two couples are still strained but friends hope that their joint grief will help to bring them closer together over the next few days.

It is understood it was William’s idea to invite Harry and Meghan at the last minute to join them on the walkabout on Saturday afternoon.

However, it has been reported the camps required extended negotiations beforehand which delayed their arrival by 45 minutes.

A senior Palace source said: “The Prince of Wales invited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to join him and the Princess of Wales earlier."

"The Prince of Wales thought it was an important show of unity for the Queen at an incredibly difficult time for the family.”

It is believed the Sussexes had not previously made any plans to meet with the Waleses, despite staying in Frogmore Cottage, just 700 yards from William and Kate’s Adelaide Cottage.

However both William and Harry raced to Balmoral on Thursday after it became clear the Queen’s health was faltering.

Kate, Princess of Wales, was heard speaking movingly to mourners in Windsor telling them: “We’re all having to be brave’.

See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive.