Kate Middleton and Jessie J Share Emotional Embrace After Bonding Over Their Cancer Journeys: ‘I Wanted to Give Her a Hug’

The women shared a poignant moment at The Royal Variety Performance on the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 19

Kate Middleton and pop singer Jessie J are bonding over their cancer journeys.

The princess, 43, and Jessie, 37, shared a special moment during Wednesday, Nov. 19’s Royal Variety Performance, held at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Kate embraced the “Price Tag” singer, who later revealed the hug was prompted by their shared experience of cancer.

“Mum to mum, who has just recently gone through cancer, I just wanted to give her a hug,” Jessie later explained of the moment, per The Independent.

“We acknowledged that it’s something that is not easy to go through, especially in the public eye,” she added.

Kate Middelton and Jessie J.Jonathan Buckmaster-WPA Pool/Getty
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The Royal Variety Performance was particularly special for Princess Kate and her husband, Prince William, also 43, as it marked their first red carpet appearance in two years, as Kate reduced her royal duties while undergoing treatment for cancer in 2024.

And they both pulled out all the stops for the occasion, with Kate looking lovely in a dark green velvet gown by Talbot Runhof while her husband also sported velvet, this time in a black tuxedo.

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Jessie, real name Jessica Cornish, revealed in June that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and wanted to “be open and share it” with her fans. She also shared details of the mastectomy she underwent via social media.

The star later shared that she was due to undergo a second operation for which she had postponed her autumn tour; however, that operation was subsequently postponed.

Kate Middleton and Prince William.Chris Jackson/Getty
Meanwhile, Princess Kate achieved another milestone this week when she delivered her first speech since sharing her cancer diagnosis with the world in March 2024. During the speech, Kate referenced her treatment, thanking those who had held “the fort” for her, “particularly over the last couple of years.”

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The Princess of Wales revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy in a personal video message shared on March 22. The news came after weeks of speculation regarding Kate’s health following her “planned abdominal surgery” in January.

Kate Middleton and Jessie J.Jonathan Buckmaster-WPA Pool/Getty
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London, and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous,” she said in the emotional video, sharing that after she underwent tests following the surgery, it was determined that “cancer had been present.”

In June 2024, Kate was seen for the first time since her diagnosis in a new photo of herself in the woods of her home, accompanied by a personal letter saying she had been “blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months.”

“It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times,” she added.

In September 2024, Kate announced had completed chemotherapy.