Prince William remembers ‘amazing woman’ Dame Deborah James

Prince William reflected on Dame Deborah James’ “rebellious hope.”

Just a day ago, Prince of Wales celebrated the legacy of late Dame Deborah James at the Rebel Ball event, who was a British cancer campaigner and was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 which ultimately led to her death in 2022.

However, Prince William described her as “an amazing woman who achieved and continued to achieve so much in pursuit of saving and improving lives.”

“What struck me was Deborah’s positivity and humor in the face of adversity, what she liked to call ‘rebellious hope’. Fueled 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 continues to invest in pioneering research that’s giving more people more time with the ones they love," William added.

It is worth noting here that Dame was born on October 1, 1981 and is affectionately known as Bowelbabe.

“Tonight would have been Deborah’s 45th birthday and I know she would have wanted everyone dancing, celebrating and making memories,” Prince William further added.

Moreover, Dame's husband Sebastien Bowen wrote in a statement, paying tribute to his wife, “Deborah channeled 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.”

“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,” the statement concluded.

It is pertinent to mention here that the event generated nearly $420,000 (£316,000) in support of Cancer Research UK’s Bowelbabe Fund.