Duchess Catherine has expressed her grief over the death of young cancer patient Fabian Bate, who was also penpals with the Duchess.
Fabian, 12, sadly lost his battle with leukaemia this past week – on Remembrance Day, when Duchess Catherine and the Royal family were commemorating fallen troops.
A royal spokesman said this weekend: “The Duke and Duchess are sad to hear the news and their thoughts are with Fabian’s family.”
Duchess Catherine, 32, first met the brave young boy on an official visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in 2011 when he was aged nine, and the pair kept in touch afterwards.
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Duchess Catherine wrote a letter to the youngster after meeting him saying how she was touched by his “strength of character” and his “positive energy”.
Fabian’s parents Lydia, 53, and Darrell, 52, have told the UK’s Mirror of how their young son drew strength from the Duchess’ letters.
“Just having the memory that the future King and Queen are rooting for you is pretty awesome to have in your armoury and for keeping your child going in the dark times,” Darrell told theMirror.
“I want Kate to know that it wasn’t just a letter, it was a message that meant so much. It has stayed with him and it is staying with him now that he is departed.”
Fabian was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2006, and underwent three years of gruelling chemotherapy treatment before going into remission. Tragically, the cancer returned more aggressive than ever and he underwent a bone marrow transplant with tissue donated by his sister Cassia.
Duchess Catherine’s touching first letter to the young battler read:
“Despite the enormously demanding course of treatment you are undergoing, 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 your sisters, but I left The Royal Marsden assured by how incredibly talented, kind and clever the team at the hospital 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.”
Since that initial letter, Duchess Kate and Prince William both sent two more letters to say that he was very much still in their thoughts as they kept up to date with his progress and his course of treatment.
His parents have also revealed that the letter will now be laid to rest alongside young Fabian.
“It was synonymous with what Fabian went through, he would not have got it otherwise,” Darrell said. “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 at rest.”
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