Kate’s rare public declaration of ‘love’ for Prince William after Ronan Keating’s wife Storm gushes the future King is ‘such a gent’ during Cancer Research UK reception

The Princess of Wales made a rare public declaration of ‘love’ for her husband, the Prince of Wales, during Cancer Research UK’s reception at St James’s Palace yesterday.

While Catherine, 44, was speaking to Ronan Keating and his wife Storm, the former Boyzone star asked the name of Prince William, who missed the event.

“Please say hello to William,” the 49-year-old Irish singer told Catherine.

Storm, 44, added that the future King was “such a gentleman” before Ronan said: “We love him.”

Catherine, wearing a £1,600 red midi dress with white hearts from Rodarte, replied: “Me too,” making the pair laugh.

During a more serious conversation with Sebastian Bowen, widow of ‘gut baby’ Dame Deborah James, Catherine appeared to hint at her husband’s quiet support after he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in early 2024.

Deborah, who died after a years-long battle with incurable bowel cancer, was honored by Prince William for her incredible fundraising and campaigning work in the weeks before her death on June 28, 2022.

When Sebastian appeared, apparently to thank William for his sympathetic chat with the couple’s two children, the princess replied: ‘He’s nice that way.’

While Catherine, 44, was speaking to Ronan Keating and wife Storm, the former Boyzone star asked the name of Prince William, who skipped the event.

Catherine also praised the late-stage cancer campaigner for the ‘impact of his work’.

He listened carefully as Sebastian told him how ‘bittersweet’ it was to surpass fundraising goals for research and clinical trials for the disease his wife had dreamed of achieving.

After photos and videos of Catherine with Ronan and Sebastian were shared online, royal fans enthused that the Prince and Princess of Wales made a ‘great team’, even though William did not attend the reception.

‘This is so sweet,’ one person wrote to X, while another said: ‘These are the kind of stories I love to hear and read.’

Catherine, 44, was supporting King Charles, 77, as he celebrated the charity’s 125th anniversary at St James’s Palace yesterday.

Charles and his bride, who share the unenviable bond of being diagnosed with the disease, were joined by Queen Camilla and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester to mark Cancer Research UK’s landmark anniversary.

Her Royal Highness and the Princess were diagnosed within weeks of each other in 2024.

While the King was still undergoing an undisclosed treatment, Catherine revealed that she had undergone a period of chemotherapy, which ended at the end of the summer of that year.

In January 2025, the future Queen announced that she was in a happy recovery, but has since spoken out about the huge toll it has taken on her physically and warned that her return to public duties will be slow and measured.

High-profile guests at yesterday’s event included researchers, clinicians and volunteers from Cancer Research UK, as well as fellow cancer survivors Davina McCall, Hannah Fry, Adele Roberts and the former Boyzone singer, who lost his mother to the disease.

Dame Deborah’s widow Sebastian also attended the event and fans praised him for keeping his wife’s legacy alive in X.

‘Glad Dame Deborah’s husband came to the reception,’ one person wrote. ‘It’s lovely to see the way their family carries his name.’

Recalling his conversation with Catherine, Sebastian said: ‘I told her I was incredibly impressed by how supportive they were as a family and that they were always thinking of them.

The future King and Queen looked stunning at the state banquet held in honor of US President Donald Trump’s visit last September

William sweetly extends his hand to Catherine while attending the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace last month

William’s silent gesture of support as he attended the welcoming ceremony of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during his visit to the UK last December

Among those who spoke to the Princess of Wales at the reception was cancer survivor Davina McCall

The reception was held to mark the launch of Cancer Research UK’s 125th anniversary

‘Having the opportunity to meet them, provide ongoing support and be given to the fund both privately and publicly was deeply moving and moving for me and my family.’

Dame Deborah’s father Alistair James also spoke to the royal family.

After chatting to Camilla, he said: ‘She congratulated us on everything we achieved with the funding.’

He also met the princess and said afterwards: ‘I met Catherine for the first time, she was friendly and warm. I met William and I have great respect for them both.’

Meanwhile, TV presenter Davina McCall said her meeting with the Princess of Wales at the Cancer Research UK reception was ‘really wonderful’.

Davina was introduced to the princess on Tuesday evening by Dr Ian Walker, the charity’s chief executive of policy, information and communications.

She later said: ‘It was a really wonderful change and they (the King, the Queen and the princess) are all wonderful.

‘I can’t imagine what it’s like to have gone through something like cancer and then have to tell people about it, even though it would be so much easier and nicer not to have to share it with the world.

‘And I have to say, after my brain tumour, I didn’t really want to have to do it myself.’

She later added: ‘But sharing it, connecting with other people or feeling like I could help really helped me get through it.’

Davina had surgery to remove a benign brain tumor in 2024.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in October last year and had surgery to remove a lump, but said in April that ‘everything is fine’ now.

After Charles asked her about her cancer, Davina was heard saying: “I’m so grateful” and telling him “anything is possible”.

He also had a long chat with Catherine and said ‘it’s a great honour’ when he met the princess.

The reception featured impressive installations showcasing the charity’s work, including its past impact, current work and future innovations.