It’s an honour Duke delivers James’s damehood
The Duke of Cambridge has delivered a damehood to the home of Deborah James to honour her campaign to raise awareness of bowel cancer.
The Duke, who is president of the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton, Surrey, where Dame Deborah received treatment, spent time with her husband and children.
The visit came the day after it was confirmed that the Queen was “pleased to approve that the honour of damehood be conferred upon Deborah James” for her “tireless campaigning”.
The podcaster and campaigner, who has raised £5 million for Cancer Research, is receiving palliative care.
Dame Deborah, 40, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016, and has documented her treatment in newspaper columns, on social media, on television and on the You, Me and the Big C podcast.
She shared six photographs of the Duke’s visit.
She wrote: “Prince William actually came to our family house today! I am utterly honoured that he joined us for afternoon tea and champagne, where he not only spent a generous amount of time talking to my whole family but also honoured me with my damehood.
It’s quite surreal having a royal pop in at home.”
She added: “He’s welcome back any time!”