Kate makes rare declaration of ‘love’ for William at royal reception,
The Princess of Wales made a rare public declaration of ‘love’ for her husband, the Prince of Wales, during yesterday’s reception for Cancer Research UK at St James’s Palace.
Catherine, 44, was speaking to Ronan Keating and his wife, Storm, when the former Boyzone star asked after Prince William, who skipped the event.
‘Please say hi to William,’ the 49-year-old Irish singer told Catherine.
Storm, 44, added the future King is ‘such a gent’ before Ronan declared: ‘We love him’.
Catherine, who wore a £1,600 red midi dress with white hearts from Rodarte, then made the pair laugh when she replied: ‘So do I.’
During a more serious conversation with Sebastian Bowen, the widower of ‘bowel babe’ Dame Deborah James, Catherine seemingly hinted at her husband’s quiet support after she was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in early 2024.
Deborah, who died after a multi-year battle with incurable bowel cancer, was honoured by Prince William for her incredible fundraising and campaigning weeks before she passed away on June 28, 2022.
When Sebastian appeared to thank William for a sympathetic conversation that he apparently had with the couple’s two children, the princess replied: ‘He’s good like that.’
The Princess of Wales made a public declaration of ‘love’ for her husband, the Prince of Wales, during yesterday’s reception for Cancer Research UK at St James’s Palace
Catherine, 44, was speaking to Ronan Keating and his wife, Storm, when the former Boyzone star asked after Prince William , who skipped the event
Catherine also praised the late cancer campaigner for the ‘impact of her work’.
She listened intently as Sebastian told her how it had been ‘bittersweet’ to smash fundraising targets for research and clinical trials into the disease that his wife had dreamed of achieving.
After photos and videos of Catherine with Ronan and Sebastian were shared online, royal fans gushed that the Prince and Princess of Wales make a ‘great team’, even though William did not attend the reception.
‘This is so sweet,’ one person wrote on X, while another said: ‘These are the sort of stories I love to hear & read about.’
Catherine, 44, was supporting King Charles, 77, as they marked the charity’s 125th anniversary at St James’s Palace yesterday.
Charles and his daughter-in-law, who share the unenviable bond of being diagnosed with the disease, were joined by Queen Camilla and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester in honour of Cancer Research UK’s milestone anniversary.
His Majesty and the Princess were diagnosed within weeks of each other in 2024.
While the King is still undergoing an undisclosed form of treatment, Catherine revealed she underwent a period of chemotherapy, which finished in the late summer of that year.
In January 2025, the future Queen announced that she was happily in remission, but has since spoken of the huge toll it has taken on her physically and warned that her return to public duties would be slow and measured.
Alongside researchers, clinicians, and volunteers from Cancer Research UK, high-profile guests at yesterday’s event included fellow cancer survivors Davina McCall, Hannah Fry, Adele Roberts, and the former Boyzone singer, who lost his mother to the disease.
Dame Deborah’s widower, Sebastian, also attended the event as fans praised him for keeping his wife’s legacy alive on X.
‘I love that Dame Deborah’s husband came to the reception,’ one person wrote. ‘The way their family carries on her name is beautiful to see.’
Reflecting on his conversation with Catherine, Sebastian said: ‘I told her I was incredibly touched that they, as a family, had been so supportive and thought about them all the time.
The future King and Queen looked regal at the state banquet in honour of US President Donald Trump’s visit last September
William sweetly offering his hand to Catherine as they attended a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace last month
William’s quiet gesture of support when they attended the ceremonial welcome during the German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s visit to the UK last December
Fellow cancer survivor Davina McCall was among those seen speaking with the Princess of Wales at the reception
The reception was held to launch Cancer Research UK’s 125th anniversary year
‘It was deeply touching and moving for me and my family to have had the opportunity to meet them and ongoing support and given to the fund both privately and publicly.’
Dame Deborah’s father, Alistair James, also spoke to the royals.
After chatting to Camilla, he said: ‘She congratulated us on everything we had achieved with the fund.’
He also met the princess and said afterwards: ‘It is the first time I’ve met Catherine, she was genuine and warm. I’ve met William and I have a lot of respect for both of them.’
Meanwhile, TV presenter Davina McCall said her exchange with the Princess of Wales at the Cancer Research UK reception was ‘really wonderful’.
Davina was introduced to the princess by Dr Ian Walker, executive director of policy, information and communications at the charity, on Tuesday evening.
She later said: ‘It was a really wonderful exchange, and they (the King, Queen and princess) are all wonderful.
‘I can’t imagine what it must be like having gone through something like cancer, and then sort of having to tell people about it, when possibly it would have been much easier and nicer not to have to share it with the world.
‘And I’ve got to say, after my brain tumour, I didn’t massively want to have to do that myself.’
She later added: ‘But it really helped me get through it by sharing it, and other people relating, or feeling like I could help.’
Davina underwent surgery in 2024 to remove a benign brain tumour.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in October last year and had surgery to remove a lump, but said in April that she had now received the ‘all clear’.
After Charles asked her about her cancer, Davina was heard saying ‘I’m so grateful’ and told him ‘anything is possible’.
She also chatted at length with Catherine and, on meeting the princess, said ‘it’s such an honour’.
The reception included immersive installations showcasing the work of the charity, including its past impact, current work and future innovation.
