The Princess of Wales made an unexpected appearance at Everton’s stadium in Liverpool today as she joined the launch of her husband’s new suicide prevention toolkit.

Prince William had originally been expected to lead the event on his own, but Kate’s last-minute decision to attend made it the couple’s first joint royal engagement since their summer break, as well as since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to the UK.

The Prince of Wales unveiled the initiative at Hill Dickinson Stadium alongside representatives from across the sporting world, with presenter Gabby Logan, Dame Kelly Holmes, Campbell Hatton and Jill Scott among the notable guests in attendance.

Bringing further star power to the campaign, the future king worked with high-profile names including England captain Harry Kane, Formula 1 driver George Russell, footballer Alan Shearer and cycling champions Sir Jason and Dame Laura Kenny to develop the new On Your Side “toolkit”.

The practical guide is designed to help people recognise warning signs more clearly, while giving them the knowledge and confidence to step in with timely support.

Kate matched William, who wore a navy suit and tie, in a light blue blazer and coordinating trousers from Edeline Lee, teamed with a white blouse to pay homage to Everton’s home colours. She also sported her £185 Laura Lombardi Portrait chain necklace.

Their outing comes after the King ruled out any role for Prince Harry and his wife Meghan within the Royal Family after they moved back to Britain from the US two weeks ago.

In a letter, the monarch told more than 100 ‘senior stakeholders’ across the country that his son and daughter-in-law are not working royals, with a reminder that their HRH titles remain on ice.

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess said they were ‘surprised’ by the King’s unprecedented letter in a statement issued to the media, claiming the couple had not been told about it in advance.

Palace sources told the Daily Mail that this is ‘incorrect’, insisting Harry and Meghan had received the letter before it was released publicly. However, they were not consulted on its contents.

The Palace made the point the letter was in full accordance with the Sussexes’ stated wish to remain ‘private citizens while in the UK’ and in keeping with the ‘Sandringham Summit’ agreement of 2020, after which the couple set up a new life in the US.

This prompted a jaw-dropping briefing to the Telegraph , which read: ‘The Duke is understood to have taken particular issue with the notion that the couple were to be treated as private citizens. If that were the case, it was claimed, such formal guidance would not be required.

‘The Sussexes prefer the term “public figures”, and would have liked an acknowledgement that, on a personal level, they remained members of the Royal Family, despite no longer receiving public funding.’ Buckingham Palace declined to comment, feeling the letter is sufficient. 

Earlier this week, Kate and William, both 44, accompanied their eldest son on his first day of school at Eton College. 

They travelled with their son the short distance from their home, Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park, to the renowned private school, which has educated a string of prime ministers and Hollywood stars.

George is following in the footsteps of his father and uncle, the Duke of Sussex, who both attended the college, located just across the River Thames from Windsor Castle in the town of Eton.

In a speech at Everton football club today, on World Suicide Prevention Day, William will say: ‘My hope is that every sporting organisation in the country will look at what is being launched today and ask a question: “What more can we do?” 

‘Because the opportunity before us is enormous. Sport has the ability to reach people who may never walk through the door of a mental healthcare service. 

‘People who may never seek support themselves and may be struggling in silence. The sporting community can change that.’

William’s initiative is the result of a collaboration between his charitable arm, The Royal Foundation, the British Standards Institution and the charity Chasing the Stigma. 

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Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 50 in the UK – and while the campaign is designed to help both sexes, it is hoped that sport will provide a new way of reaching those men who traditionally find it difficult to talk about their emotions or reach out for help.

As well as the practical guide, which will be distributed to sporting organisations both grassroots and professional the length and breadth of the country, stars including Kane and Russell recorded a special film with the prince showcasing the power of having a conversation about suicide.

Leaders from major sports organisations will also announce details of their commitments to the initiative.

The Football Association, of which the prince is Patron, will commit to embedding the toolkit across its entire organisation, as well as its community and grassroots football network.

The Premier League and British Cycling will announce their commitment to prioritising suicide prevention across their organisations, and Team GB will use the resource with all athletes and staff.

In addition, over a dozen other sports organisations have signed up to become champions of the toolkit, committing to embedding practical, evidence-based suicide prevention techniques across their organisation, using the resource to strengthen their approach and help inspire wider action across all sports.

A video promoting the toolkit was screened for the first time earlier, featuring England captain Harry Kane and other leading competitors urging the sporting world to adopt the online resource.

The future king has written a foreword for the toolkit, in which he said: ‘Through my work on mental health, I have met people whose lives have been changed forever by suicide.

‘But I have also met people whose lives have been saved because someone stepped in to help. Each of their experiences has had a profound impact on me.’

William goes on to write: ‘Whatever your role – athlete, coach, parent, official or supporter – you may be the person who notices that someone is struggling.

‘You could be the one who starts an honest conversation, and who helps that person to find the support they need.

‘This toolkit gives you clear, practical guidance to do exactly that. I hope that On Your Side encourages everyone in sport, in every discipline and at every level, to make suicide prevention part of your game plan.’

Hazel Detsiny, Executive Director of The Royal Foundation, said: ‘This toolkit is the first of its kind, uniting the sector across all sports and at every level, with the aim of bringing about meaningful change.

‘Sport can be a powerful force for connection and support, and everyone engaged in sport has the power to make a difference to those at risk of suicide.

‘Research commissioned by The Royal Foundation shows that the sports sector has the potential to be a powerful platform for suicide prevention but is hampered by stigma – particularly among men and elite athletes – as well as gaps in skills, knowledge and resources.

‘The findings show strong goodwill and pockets of effective practice across sport, but that the sector’s scale and diversity mean activity is often siloed, inconsistent, and unevenly resourced. At grassroots level, many clubs lack clear guidance on how to recognise risk and respond appropriately.’

The toolkit explains how to create safe and supportive environments where people feel able to speak up and support others in distress, including outlining appropriate language and providing conversation starters.

It also hopes to make suicide prevention part of everyday practice, including policies and ways of working.

Footballer Alan Shearer suddenly lost his best friend and ex-Newcastle teammate, Gary Speed, in 2011.

The two men had seen each other just hours before his death and had been planning a holiday together when Wales manager Speed apparently took his own life at the age of just 42.

He said: ‘For me this is obviously very personal and it feels particularly poignant that it is being launched at Everton, a club that meant so much to Gary Speed. 

‘We can’t all know when somebody is struggling but we can all be better at asking and listening and helping someone find the right support. 

‘That’s what On Your Side is all about, giving people across sport practical advice to help start those conversations. Prince William has done a huge amount around mental health and support.

‘You don’t have to be an expert, you don’t have to have all the answers, but I hope that everyone in sport will use the toolkit. We can all be on the same side.’

A spokesman for the Prince of Wales said it was well known that he has worked for many years to support changing the national conversation on mental health and this was a development of that.

‘The prince is very passionate about sport and truly believes in its ability to bring people together,’ they said.

He has already invested £1 million of his charity’s funds to set up a national suicide prevention network.

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support