Prince William Honors Bowel Cancer Fundraiser With Heartfelt Tribute at Rebel Ball

Quick Smiles:

• Prince William honors the legacy of cancer campaigner Deborah James with a moving video tribute at the Rebel Ball.
• The Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK continues to support life-changing research thanks to Deborah’s spirit of “rebellious hope.”
• Her husband Sebastien Bowen shares that the funds raised will help give more families precious time together.

October 1, 2026, would have been Deborah James’ 45th birthday. She bravely fought cancer and became known worldwide as the Bowelbabe. Prince William appeared via video at the Rebel Ball. The event honored Deborah and the work she did to establish the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK.

“What struck me was Deborah’s positivity and humor in the face of adversity, what she liked to call ‘rebellious hope’. Fueled by that positive spirit, the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK has achieved so much over the last four and a half years, as it continued to invest in pioneering research that’s giving more people more time with the ones they love,” Prince William said.

Prince William has personally been touched by cancer. Both his father, King Charles, and his wife, Kate Middleton, have faced their own battles with the disease in recent years, undergoing treatment with quiet courage.

Deborah James’ work helped serve as an inspiration to so many who face the brutal disease. And for those who don’t feel they can talk openly. Her husband, Sebastien Bowen, released a statement on her birthday, obtained by People.

“Deborah channeled her rebellious hope into a force for good, doing everything she could to change lives for the better. She was driven by an unwavering determination to raise vital funds for cancer research because she understood firsthand the difference it can make in helping give more people more time with the ones they love,” he said.

Sebastien added that his wife spoke bravely about her bowel cancer. She did her best to spread awareness so that others would get screened.

“The Rebel Ball captured so much of what made her special: her energy, her courage and her ability to bring people together behind a cause she believed in. The money raised will support the work she was so passionate about, helping to drive progress for people affected by cancer,” Bowen added.

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