Prince William pays special tribute to Dame Deborah James with surprise message

Prince William pays special tribute to Dame Deborah James with surprise message Prince William surprised guests at the inaugural Rebel Ball, held in memory of 'incomparable' cancer campaigner Dame Deborah James, with a special tribute to her Prince William surprised guests at a party celebrating the legacy of ‘incomparable’ cancer campaigner Dame Deborah James. The Prince of Wales sent a video message to the inaugural Rebel Ball, which raised money for Dame Deborah’s Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK, praising her last legacy. Dame Deborah was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 at the age of 35 and in the final weeks of her life in May 2022, she set up the Bowelbabe Fund to raise money for vital research into the disease. In the days before she died, William surprised her at her parents’ home in Surrey after clearing his diary to personally present her with a damehood. During his video message last night at the Rebel Ball, held on what would have been Dame Deborah’s 45th birthday, guests including her children Hugo, 19, and 16-year-old Eloise, heard the prince’s tribute. He said: “Tonight is about honouring the legacy of Dame Deborah James, an amazing woman who achieved and continued to achieve so much in pursuit of saving and improving lives. “I had the privilege of meeting Deborah back in 2022, and presenting her with her damehood in her parents' garden. We talked then about her incredible achievements, her ambitions and her desire to leave a lasting legacy through the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK. “What struck me was Deborah's positivity and humour in the face of adversity - what she liked to call 'rebellious hope'. “Fuelled by that positive spirit, the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK has achieved so much over the last four and a half years, as it continued to invest in pioneering research that's giving more people more time with the ones they love. “Tonight would have been Deborah's 45th birthday, and I know she would have wanted everyone dancing, celebrating and making memories. I hope you all have a wonderful evening celebrating the legacy of the incomparable Dame Deborah James.” The ball was hosted by TV presenter Gaby Roslin with musical performances from Sophie Ellis Bextor and the cast of the West End show ‘Disco Inferno’. Special guests included First Dates barman Merlin Griffiths, who was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in 2021 and appeared on the Bowelbabe Fund’s ‘Toilet Talk’ series to encourage more people to have honest and open conversations about the disease. So far, the Bowelbabe Fund has raised more than £21million and has supported 16 research and cancer awareness projects, including the development of the Bowelbabe Vaccine, a pioneering cancer vaccine to boost immune power against bowel cancer and global research team PROSPECT, which is working to better understand the rise of bowel cancer in people under 50. Sebastien Bown, the husband of Dame Deborah, said: "Deborah channelled her rebellious hope into a force for good, doing everything she could to change lives for the better. She was driven by an unwavering determination to raise vital funds for cancer research because she understood first-hand the difference it can make in helping give more people more time with the ones they love. "On what would’ve been Deborah’s 45th birthday, we wanted to honour her memory, and the Rebel Ball captured so much of what made her special: her energy, her courage and her ability to bring people together behind a cause she believed in. "The money raised will support the work she was so passionate about, helping to drive progress for people affected by cancer. On behalf of everyone who knew and loved Deborah, I’d like to say a huge thank you for the generosity and support. “We’re also incredibly grateful to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales for his kind words about Deborah and continued support of the Fund and its work." While chief executive of Cancer Research UK, Michelle Mitchell, said: "Deborah never believed in standing still when there was more to do, and the funds raised through the Rebel Ball will help ensure her extraordinary legacy continues to drive progress and bring hope to people affected by cancer.”