The Duchess of Cambridge has followed up her recent visit to the Royal
Marsden Hospital by writing a letter to one of its young patients.

Fabian Bate, 9, was stunned last week after receiving a
handwritten note from Kate just three weeks after their initial
meeting at the Surrey children’s hospital – where she was opening a new £18
million centre with husband Prince William.

The youngster has since posted the note – written on St. James’ Palace
letterhead and dated October 13th – on his personal blog.

“I was so touched by your strength of character,” she writes. “I will keep my
fingers crossed that your heath goes from strength to strength.”

Kate also promised to keep Fabian in her ‘thoughts and prayers’ during his
battle with leukemia – an illness he was diagnosed with in 2006.

“For us as a family it was a massive boost to know that we have someone at
Kate’s level sharing our journey,” Fabian’s dad Darrell Bate
told People.

“The thought that someone in her position would take that personal interest
is a real hope-builder.”

And with the Royal note arriving on the same day Fabian returned from an
eight-day stint in hospital, the timing couldn’t have been better.

“It came special delivery with a Buckingham Palace postmark,” said Darrell.
“We realized it wasn’t your average tax bill!”

The 49-year old also admitted that meeting Kate had given his son a welcome
distraction from his illness.

“This is something to talk about with our family and friends,” he said. “It’s
a real morale booster and it was really quite personalized to him and he has
something to cherish for years to come.”

By Jason Chester and Emily Barker / Starlounge Photos: AFP / Getty
Images

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