Jessie J Shares Her Heartfelt Reasons for Hugging Kate Middleton During Their Cancer Journeys

Jessie J and the Princess of Wales.
Credit :

Neil Mockford/WireImage; Jonathan Buckmaster-WPA Pool/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Jessie J shares why she hugged Kate Middleton at the Royal Variety Performance despite being briefed “not to”
• The women, who have both been open about their cancer journeys, shared an emotional moment at the event in London
• The singer said, “I just wanted to give her a hug — mom to mom, human to human”

Jessie J has revealed details about her heartfelt encounter with Kate Middleton at the recent Royal Variety Performance, where she deviated from established protocol to embrace the Princess of Wales.

In a segment aired on the U.K. morning show This Morning on December 3, the 37-year-old singer reflected on the emotional hug shared with the 43-year-old royal during the November 19 event. Both women have publicly navigated their own cancer journeys, creating a shared bond.

“I was briefed not to, but…I just saw a mom that has also gone through cancer publicly, and I just wanted to give her a hug,” Jessie explained. “It was as simple as that. I didn’t see her as the Princess of Wales; I mean obviously I did, and I was respectful…I said to her, ‘Can I give you a hug?’ and she received it.”

Jessie added, “I just said [to her], ‘It’s inspiring.’ I know the days that she has maybe gone through, and I just wanted to give her a hug — mom to mom, human to human.”

This appearance marked Kate’s first red carpet event with Prince William in two years, as she had significantly limited her public engagements during 2024 while undergoing treatment for cancer.

In March 2024, the Princess of Wales shared a personal video message announcing her chemotherapy treatment following a planned abdominal surgery in January. She later confirmed completing her chemotherapy in September 2024 and later announced that she was in remission in early 2025.

Jessie, on the other hand, disclosed her breast cancer diagnosis in June of the same year, providing regular updates on her treatment journey via social media. She has spoken about her mastectomy and was scheduled for a second operation, which ultimately got postponed.

Jessie J and Kate Middleton.

Jonathan Buckmaster-WPA Pool/Getty

In her health update on This Morning, Jessie reported feeling “good.”

“It’s been a lovely chance to really show that side of my personality, that I am the kind of person that in hard times … put your umbrella up and just keep walking through the rain,” Jessie remarked. “My blessings outweigh anything that’s happened. The beauty of all of this is that I’ve had quality time with my mom, I’m more present as a parent…I’m here.”

She noted that her experiences have led to essential discussions with friends about health, saying, “I’ve had these beautiful connective talks with people, and my friends have checked their breasts and gone, ‘I found something, and I’m going to get it looked at,’ that would never have happened before.”

Reflecting on her own diagnosis, Jessie stated, “I would never have thought that I would have found a lump and it be cancer, but it was. And you face it, and we move through positivity, and I’m just grateful that I didn’t have chemotherapy. My story was very simple in the best way it could have been.”