Kate Middleton visits the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust on May 16, 2023 in Bath, England.Photo:Kin Cheung - WPA Pool/Getty
Kin Cheung - WPA Pool/Getty
Kate Middletononce donated some of her locks to a charity that creates wigs for young people experiencing hair loss due to cancer treatment or other conditions years before she announced hercancer diagnosis.
The Princess of Wales' bouncy brown hair has long been a hallmark of her style, and theroyal quietly donated seven inches of her tressesto the U.K. charity The Little Princess Trust in 2017. Six years ago, theSunday Expressreported that Kate, 42, had seven inches of her hair cut during an appointment at Kensington Palace and suggested to her stylist that they make good use of the locks being chopped.
“It’s lovely to think that somebody, somewhere — probably more than one person — has received a wig containing Princess Kate’s hair,” Helen Creese, a spokesperson for the charity, told PEOPLE at the time. “It’s a really lovely thought and it’s fantastic for raising awareness, plus it’s gorgeous hair — we all lust after that hair!”
Kate Middleton at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships on July 16, 2017.Karwai Tang/WireImage
Karwai Tang/WireImage
The Princess of Wales announced on March 22 that she was undergoing “preventative chemotherapy” after tests following herabdominal surgeryin January “found cancer had been present,” and asked for privacy for her young family as she completes treatment. The next day, she received a special message from Mila Sneddon, 8, whodeveloped a friendshipwith the royal during her treatment for leukemia a few years ago.
“She will be brave because I was, and she will fight it like I did,” Mila toldThe Mirrorafter Princess Kate’s announcement sent shockwaves around the world.
Mila’s mother Lynda Sneddon added, “[Kate] is a mom, a wife, she is young, beautiful, athletic and she is facing this. It shows cancer doesn’t discriminate, it can affect anyone at any time. We wish her a peaceful and speedy recovery.”
Lynda also sent a thoughtful message toPrince William,Prince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince LouisonX, writing, “We extend our love, support and well wishes to William, George, Charlotte and Louis, and wish Catherine a peaceful speedy recovery #YouAreNotAlone.” The hashtag referred to the last line of Princess Kate’sself-written speechto announce the news about her health.
Mila’s mother’s social media post accompanied a photo of her daughter meeting Princess Kate, who was then known as the Duchess of Cambridge, in May 2021 at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The two connected after Mila participated in Kate’s Hold Still photography project in 2020. Mila was shown in a photo separated from her father while receiving chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After learning that pink was the little girl’s favorite color during a phone call in August 2020, Kate kept her promise to wear the shade when they met — and she kept her promise,popping in a pink dresswhen she met Mila in May 2021. The youngster adorably wore a tiara to see the royal, who shared warm words of support.
“I want to give you a big, squeezy cuddle,” Kate told her at the time. “I love your dress. Can you give it a twirl?”
Kate Middleton meets with Mila Sneddon at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on May 27, 2021.Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty
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Fast forward to the present, and Mila’s mother toldThe Mirrorthat Princess Kate announced her cancer diagnosis on Mila’s second anniversary in remission.
“Mila turned to me and told me she wanted to make and send Kate a card. So Mila will make contact in her own private way,” Lynda told the outlet. “Kate showed Mila such compassion, care and support both during and post-treatment, so it’s been very emotional to see she is now facing her own health struggles.”
PEOPLE Magazine, April 8, 2024.
As the Princess of Wales focuses on making a full recovery, her family will be there to support her.
“She has the inner strength, the support of her husband and her extraordinary family, so she can focus on what’s important, which is her getting back to strength,” Ailsa Anderson, a former spokeswoman for the lateQueen Elizabeth, tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week’scover story.
source: people.com
