In a moving display of solidarity, singer Jessie J has revealed the heartfelt words of support shared with the Princess of Wales during a private backstage moment last month.
A Moment of Shared Understanding
The 37-year-old pop star met Princess Kate, 43, at the Royal Variety Performance at London's Royal Albert Hall. Speaking on Good Morning America, Jessie J described the encounter as a profound connection between two mothers who have faced a cancer diagnosis.
"She just said, 'Thank you, I know you've gone through a tough time,'" the singer recalled. "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.'"
Breaking Protocol with a Hug
Jessie J, born Jessica Cornish, admitted she had been briefed not to hug the future Queen but felt compelled to offer the gesture of comfort. "I was briefed not to," she told This Morning 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."
She emphasised that in that moment, she saw beyond the royal title. "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." The singer, who was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year, said she was grateful the Princess received her hug warmly.
Parallel Journeys in the Public Eye
The meeting brought together two women on similar, yet uniquely public, health journeys. In March 2024, Kensington Palace announced that the Princess was undergoing preventative chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer. She later announced she was in remission in January 2025.
Princess Kate has spoken candidly about the challenges of recovery, describing it as finding a "new normal" and a "rollercoaster." She missed last year's Royal Variety Performance during her treatment.
Meanwhile, Jessie J revealed her own "early breast cancer" diagnosis in June 2025. She underwent a mastectomy that month and received the all-clear in August, though she requires further surgery. The singer has postponed her U.S. tour and has been open about her recovery, often framing it through her experience as a mother to her two-year-old son, Sky.
The emotional backstage exchange highlights the unspoken bond between those who have endured cancer, transcending their very different public roles.
