The Duke of Cambridge has presented podcast host Deborah James with a damehood at her family home - popping in and enjoying a glass of champagne in the sun. The 40-year-old, known online as Bowel Babe, was honoured for her 'tireless campaigning' to raise awareness of bowel cancer.
Dame Deborah posted pictures of Prince William with herself and her family on Instagram and said it was 'such a special day'. She wrote: "Prince William actually came to our family house today!!
"I am utterly honoured that he joined us for afternoon tea and champagne, where he not only spent a generous amount of time talking to my whole family but also honoured me with my damehood.
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"It's quite surreal having a royal pop in at home, and yes you can imagine the cleaning antics and preparation went off the scale – but it was all irrelevant because William was so kind and he put us all at ease.
"He is clearly passionate about improving oncology outcomes as the President of the Royal Marsden. It was such a special day for my whole family, making memories to last a life-time. He's welcome back any time!"
On Twitter, she shared pictures of Prince William sitting around a table with her and her family enjoying a drink in the sun. She wrote: "What an generous honour, to have William in my family home, with champagne giving me a Damehood. Not sure life could get more surreal."
Dame Deborah has raised more than £5.2 million for Cancer Research UK through her Bowelbabe fund on Just Giving. Having set her original target at £250,000, she has now raised more than 20 times her goal.
Dame Deborah reached the £5 million milestone on Friday after donations from more than 240,000 supporters, including William and his wife Kate. Her Just Giving page said it is 'raising money to fund clinical trials and research into personalised medicine for cancer patients and supporting campaigns to raise awareness of bowel cancer'.
She said she was 'completely lost for words' after reaching the phenomenal amount. TV presenter Lorraine Kelly responded to the news, saying: "This is just wonderful – tears and laughter – love you @bowelbabe."
The presenter of popular BBC podcast You, Me And The Big C disclosed on Monday that she had moved to hospice-at-home care to treat her terminal bowel cancer. She wrote on Instagram: "Nobody knows how long I’ve got left but I'm not able to walk, I'm sleeping most of the days, and most things I took for granted are pipe dreams.
"I know we have left no stone unturned. But even with all the innovative cancer drugs in the world or some magic new breakthrough, my body just can’t continue any more."
Dame Deborah, a former headteacher, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 and has kept her more than 500,000 Instagram followers up to date with her treatments.
On Thursday night, Number 10 confirmed that James was to be made a dame, saying: "The Queen has been pleased to approve that the honour of damehood be conferred upon Deborah James.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "If ever an honour was richly deserved, this is it. Deborah has been an inspiration and her honesty, warmth and courage has been a source of strength to so many people. Through her tireless campaigning and by so openly sharing her experience she has not only helped in our fight against this terrible disease, she has ensured countless others with the Big C have not felt alone.
"I hope this recognition from Her Majesty – backed I'm sure by the whole country – will provide some comfort to Deborah and her family at this difficult time. My thoughts are with them and Deborah should know she has the country’s love and gratitude."
Damehoods are usually handed out by members of the royal family, including William, at investiture ceremonies which take place at royal palaces including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.
