Jessie J broke royal protocol to hug Kate Middleton—here's why
Jessie J recalled breaking royal protocol by hugging Kate Middleton at the Royal Variety Performance in London.
The interaction happened after the singer performed at the Royal Albert Hall along with other artists for the Prince and Princess of Wales last Nov. 19.
Jessie J shared she hugged Middleton after sharing their respective journeys with cancer.
“I just saw a mom that has also gone through cancer publicly, and I just wanted to give her a hug,” the “Price Tag” hitmaker told The Morning on Wednesday, Dec. 3. “It was as simple as that. I didn't see her as the Princess of Wales. I mean, obviously I did, and I was respectful.”
She said she did the gesture despite being "briefed not to."
“And I said to her, ‘Can I give you a hug?’ And she received it,” she recalled. “I just said, ‘It's inspiring.’ I know the days that she has maybe gone through, and I just wanted to give her a hug, mom to mom, human to human.”
Middleton announced she was battling an unknown cancer in March 2024 and confirmed being in remission in January this year.
In June, Jessie J revealed she had been diagnosed with early breast cancer. She underwent breast cancer surgery later that month. She was supposed to undergo another operation, but it was postponed to a later date.
