Prince William surprises Rebel Ball with tribute to Dame Deborah James
Prince William made a surprise appearance by video at the inaugural Bowelbabe Fund Rebel Ball in London.
The pre-recorded message played for guests at the Hurlingham Club at an evening held on what would have been Dame Deborah James's 45th birthday, as reported by Hello! Magazine.
In it, Prince William paid tribute to Dame Deborah as “incomparable” and an “amazing woman”. The wording matters. He knew her story well. He had visited her at home to present her damehood in person, weeks before her death.
The evening was hosted by television presenter Gaby Roslin. Music came from Sophie Ellis-Bextor and the West End cast of Disco Inferno. Dame Deborah’s children, Hugo, 19, and Eloise, 16, joined a pledge moment during the night.
Dame Deborah, known online as Bowel Babe, was from Woking, Surrey. She was 35 when she was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer in December 2016. She died in 2022, aged 40.
She launched the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK in May 2022 with an initial target of £250,000. She was honoured for her tireless campaigning to raise awareness of bowel cancer.
The Fund backs research into early detection and personalised medicine, treatment tailored to the individual patient. According to the charity, donations have so far supported 16 projects worth over £20.3 million, as stated by the Bowelbabe Fund.
What makes this stand out is the continuity. Four years after that home visit, William returned to the same story. The ball, inspired by Dame Deborah, raises money for cutting-edge cancer research in her name.
