Kate Middleton’s Letter To Cancer Patient Helps Grieving Parents

A letter Kate Middleton sent to a brave young cancer victim back in 2011 is helping his parents grieve after he lost his battle to the disease.

Fabian Bate perished earlier this month after being treated for acute lymphosblastic leukemia for over eight years. Both Prince William and Kate Middleton met Fabian when they visited a London hospital around 36 months ago.

Middleton had only been the Duchess of Cambridge for six months when she visited the hospital, but she deployed the charisma and patter that has now become her trademark.

Kate Middleton was clearly touched by her meeting with Fabian and the rest of the Bate family because she then took it upon herself to write an emotional letter to them all.

The family have now released the letter, which Middleton wrote on personalized notepaper from St. James’ Palace, to the public.

“Despite your enormous, demanding, course of treatment, I was so touched by your strength of character and delighted to hear the news that one of your big sisters will be able to donate bone marrow to you later this year.”

“This must be a troubling time for you, your parents and sisters, but I left the Royal Marsden assured by how incredibly talented, kind and clever the team are. Keep up the good work on the blog and, in the meantime, I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.”

Darrell and Lydia, Fabian’s parents, have admitted that the support he received from Kate Middleton and Prince William gave him inspiration as he continued to battle the illness. Fabian was originally diagnosed with the disease back in 2006.

Fabian Bate will now be buried alongside the letter as well as some of his favorite toys too. The family have confirmed that a planned service for Fabian will take place on November 24.

52-year-old Darrell has now been talking to the Daily Mirror about how he and his 53-year-old wife Lydia have been affected by the letter.

“I want Kate to know it wasn’t just a letter, it was a message that meant so much. It has stayed with him and it’s saying with him now he’s departed. It is the only one in the world, it has the uniqueness — it is very personal and special.”

“It was synonymous with what Fabian went through, he would not have got it otherwise. It would be amazing to think that Kate and William knew that the letter she wrote three years ago is now sitting next to his body in rest.”

Fabian Bate has also been survived by his three older siblings, his 18-year-old brother Ben, 20-year-old sister Oleander, and 14-year-old sister Cassia.

[Image via RP Online]