Jessie J, whose real name is Jessica Cornish, has shared the heartfelt reason behind her breaking royal protocol by embracing Kate Middleton during the Royal Variety Performance last month. The duo's conversation followed Cornish's performance at the Royal Albert Hall, where the Prince and Princess of Wales were also entertained by the West End cast of Paddington The Musical and Laufey.
During their interaction, Cornish and Middleton shared a tender hug over their shared experience with cancer. The singer revealed in November that when she hugged Kate, they acknowledged that cancer is "not an easy journey" to navigate in the public eye.
Now, Cornish is opening up about her chat with Kate and how special it was. During an episode of This Morning on Wednesday, she revealed that when she spoke to Kate, who was diagnosed with cancer last year, she was "briefed not to" hug her. "I saw a mom who had also gone through cancer publicly, and I just wanted to give her a hug," said the "Domino" singer, who was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in April. "It was as simple as that. I didn't see her as the Princess of Wales. Obviously, I did, and I was respectful."
Cornish continued, "I said to her, 'Can I give you a hug?' And she accepted it. I just said, 'It's inspiring.' I know the days she may have gone through, and I just wanted to give her a hug, mom to mom, human to human."
Kate was diagnosed with an unknown form of cancer in March 2024. After the diagnosis, she faced a nine-month treatment regimen that included "preventative chemotherapy." In January, she confirmed that she is officially in remission for cancer. She shared the news on the same day that she made a surprise visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital, where she was treated.
Kate has also spoken about how the cancer has taken a toll on her family, including her and Prince William's three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, seven. "It is a life-changing experience both for the individual patient and for the families – and sometimes it goes unrecognized," Kate said in July during a visit to Colchester Hospital in Essex.
Meanwhile, Cornish has also spoken openly about her cancer diagnosis. On her Instagram Story in June, she said that her breast cancer was "all gone" after she had a mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery. During her recent appearance on This Morning, the "Do It Like a Dude" singer gave an update on her health, noting that she is doing well. She called her story "very simple in the best way it could have been," since she didn't have to undergo chemotherapy to treat the cancer.
"The beauty of all of this is that I've had quality time with my mom, I'm more present as a parent. My boobs look better," she said. "I'm here. And I've been able to have these beautiful connection talks with people." Cornish shares her two-year-old son, Sky, with her boyfriend, basketball player Chanan Colman. The couple first linked up in 2021.
