‘I saw a mum who had also gone through cancer publicly’: Jessie J reveals the story behind her touching hug with the Princess of Wales at the Royal Variety Performance

The Princess of Wales shared a hug with singer Jessie J at the Royal Variety Perfomance on November

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It was one of the most touching royal images of the year: Kate Middleton in a warm embrace with the popstar Jessie J at the Royal Variety Performance in November. A display of solidarity and affection between two mothers who have very publicly faced a battle with cancer.

Now, the ‘Price Tag’ singer, whose real name is Jessica Cornish, has revealed why she broke protocol to hug the Princess. ‘I was briefed not to, but I just saw a mum who has also gone through cancer publicly, and I just wanted to give her a hug, and it was as simple as that,’ Cornish told This Morning. ‘I didn’t see it as the Princess of Wales.’

‘I was briefed not to, but I just saw a mum who has also gone through cancer publicly, and I just wanted to give her a hug,’ the singer said of the warm embrace she shared with the Princess

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After receiving Catherine’s permission, the Princess and the popstar embraced each other following a night of performances at the Royal Albert Hall. Cornish explained that she empathised with the difficulties that the Princess of Wales – who debuted a velvet gown by Talbot Runhof on the red carpet – may have faced during her chemotherapy treatment, adding: ‘I know the days that maybe she has gone through, and I wanted to give her a hug: mum to mum, human to human.’

Cornish, 37, was diagnosed with early breast cancer in June and started sharing her treatment journey with her fans. ‘Cancer sucks in any form, but I’m holding on to the word “early”,’ she said in a video message at the time. ‘I just wanted to be open and share it,’ she explained, ‘because selfishly, I do not talk about it enough. I’m not processing it because I’m working so hard.