Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, shares support for Dame Deborah James as charity single tops iTunes charts
THE Princess of Wales has supported a charity single released in honor of Sun columnist Dame Deborah James.
The charity cover of Blood Brothers’ Tell Me It’s Not True by Dame Debs’ close friend Natalie Rushdie has topped the iTunes chart since its release on Monday.
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Just a week before her death, Sun columnist Dame Debs asked Natalie to sing her favorite song at her funeral, as the friends last saw each other at Ascot.
Months later, Deborah’s parents, Heather and Alistair, asked Natalie to record the single.
The title already has the support of the Prince of Wales, who told The Sun last week: “Dame Debs would be so proud.
“She inspired the nation. Her legacy will be that countless lives have been saved from colon cancer.
“I wish Natalie all the best with her single release to raise money for such an important cause.”
It is the Prince of Wales’ latest message of support and comes after he praised her for raising a staggering £11.3million in the weeks before and months after her death.
The prince was so touched by Dame Debs’ story that he was the driving force behind her role as a dame and visited her family at home in Woking to bestow the honor – after The Sun launched a campaign to raise awareness of the incredible effort to pay tribute to the 40-year-old.
And yesterday, Kate joined Wills in sharing how “important” it was for her husband to continue to support Dame Debs’ incredible legacy.
Natalie, who was invited to the Royal Boxe at Wimbledon yesterday with her husband Zafar, said after introducing herself to the princess, Kate was quick to wish her luck.
“I introduced myself and said, ‘I want to thank you and Prince William for supporting and fighting for the single,'” says Natalie.
“The Princess of Wales said she loved what we were doing and added that Deborah was a wonderful woman.
“She said it’s really important for William to get behind the single and continue to support Deborah’s campaign.”
The couple discussed recording the track at the notorious Abbey Road Studios in north London, and Natalie told The Sun Kate was thrilled to hear how many people had campaigned for it – and put their time into raising money for Dame Debs’ Bowelbabe to collect funds.
Natalie adds: “She wished me luck, that was so nice.
“I don’t usually get nervous, but I was so nervous talking to her.
“She looked so beautiful and was incredibly warm and kind with her time.”
Knowing that the Princess of Wales and Prince William have bestowed their royal seal of approval on Natalie’s single would be “beyond Debs’ wildest dreams”.
“She would be over the moon, just stunned and honored to learn that Kate and Wills are continuing to support their fundraising campaign to fund research into new treatments for cancer.
“She was an incredibly special friend and person and she continues to inspire so many.
“Please listen to the single and help us take Dame Deborah to number one on the charts.”
“She was determined to make a difference and make sure other people didn’t have to succumb to their fate – and she continues to make that difference a year after her death.
All proceeds from the single go directly to the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK.
The single is available on all major streaming platforms.
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