Jessie J reveals Princess Kate’s warm words about fighting cancer in emotional meeting

When Jessie J met the Princess of Wales at the Royal Variety Performance last month, it wasn’t just a meeting between pop royalty and the future queen — it was a quiet moment of understanding between two women who have faced down the same fear.

Speaking on Good Morning America this week, the 37-year-old singer described her emotional encounter with Princess Kate, 43, recalling how the pair shared a few heartfelt words – and a rule-breaking hug – backstage at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

‘She just said, “Thank you, I know you’ve gone through a tough time,”‘ Jessie explained.

‘I said, “I know you have too. I just wanted to acknowledge that — mum to mum, cancer survivor to cancer survivor. I see you, and I feel you. Can I give you a hug?” She said, “Of course you can.”‘

Jessie, who revealed earlier this year that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, said she was grateful for how warmly the Princess received the gesture. ‘I’m grateful she received it in the way it was meant,’ she added.

Speaking on This Morning earlier this week, Jessie reflected on breaking royal protocol to embrace the Princess.

‘I was briefed not to,’ she admitted with a laugh, ‘but I just saw a mum that has also gone through cancer publicly, and I just wanted to give her a hug. I didn’t see her as the Princess of Wales — well, obviously I did — but I saw a human being who’s had to face the same storm.’

In January, Princess Kate announced she was in remission from an undisclosed form of cancer, while Jessie underwent a mastectomy in June as part of her treatment for breast cancer.

Last year, Princess Kate missed out on attending the Royal Variety Performance as she was still recovering from cancer.

During a visit to a hospital in Essex in July, she candidly spoke about her experience.

‘You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment, treatments done, then it’s like, “I can crack on, get back to normal”. But actually the phase afterwards is really difficult, you’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer, but you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to,’ she shared.

‘You have to find your new normal and that takes time…and it’s a rollercoaster, it’s not one smooth plane, which you expect it to be. But the reality is it’s not, you go through hard times,’ she added.

In March 2024, it was announced that she’d been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy.

After stepping out of the spotlight for a few months, she later returned to the Trooping the Colour in June and three months later announced she intended to return duties after her treatment had ended.

Meanwhile, Jessie announced in June that she’d been diagnosed with ‘early breast cancer’ a few months prior.

After undergoing a full mastectomy, she received the all-clear in August, and later said she was feeling ‘cautiously confident’ but still needed another surgery and ‘to heal’.

The singer, born Jessica Cornish, has been open about her health journey — from undergoing a mastectomy in June to postponing her U.S. tour while awaiting further surgery.

She’s also continued to share moments of strength and vulnerability with fans, often framing her recovery through the lens of motherhood. J

Jessie and her partner, basketball player Chanan Safir Colman, share two-year-old son Sky.

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