- .The Duchess met Fabian Bate at the Royal Marsden hospital in 2011
- .After her visit she penned a hand-signed letter to the young cancer patient
- .She spoke movingly of how she was touched by his 'strength of character'
- .The 12-year-old lost his eight-year battle with leukemia on Tuesday
- .His parents said that Kate's letter inspired him and gave him strength
- .Recalled that Fabian would often say that William had told him to be brave
The Duchess of Cambridge has expressed her grief over the death of a 12-year-old cancer patient she met on a visit to the Royal Marsden hospital.
Catherine spent time with leukemia sufferer Fabian Bate, then aged nine, when she and William attended the opening of a new children's wing at the hospital in 2011.
Shortly after the visit, the Duchess, 32, penned a hand-signed letter to the young boy that spoke movingly of how she had been touched by his 'strength of character' and 'positive energy'.
Touched: The Duchess of Cambridge with Fabian Bate, then aged nine, at the Royal Marsden Hospital in 2011. Catherine spent time with the boy when she and William attended the opening of a new children's wing
Moving: Shortly after meeting Fabian, the Duchess penned a hand-singed letter to the leukemia patient. In it, she spoke of how she had been touched by his 'strength of character' and 'positive energy'
Source of strength: Prince William with Fabian, his parents Darrell and Lydia, and sisters Cassia (left) and Oleander during the 2011 visit. Fabian often said that William had told him to 'be brave' when they met
Today Mr and Mrs Bate have revealed how their son, who died at home in Hampton Court, Greater London, on Tuesday, drew strength from her words in the years since their meeting.
Mr Bate, 52, told the Daily Mirror: 'Just having the memory that the future King and Queen are rooting for you is pretty awesome to have in your armoury and for keeping your child going in the dark times.'
In her note, written on St James’s Palace headed notepaper, Kate said: 'This must be a troubling time for you, your parents and your sisters, but I know I left the Royal Marsden assured by how incredibly talented, kind and clever the team at the hospital are.
'Combined with your belief and positive energy, you couldn’t be in better hands.'
Prince William and Kate made the visit to the Surrey hospital in October 2011. The Duke of Cambridge took over as president of the Royal Marsden following his mother’s death in 1997.
Kate also expressed delight at the news that Fabian’s two older sisters Cassia, now 14, and Oleander, now 20, had been found to be a bone marrow match.
Inspiring: Fabian, pictured right in 2012, died at home in Hampton Court surrounded by his parents, brother and two sisters, Cassia (left) and Oleander (right), on Tuesday after an eight-year battle with leukemia
Sorrow: A spokesman for the royal couple said: 'The Duke and Duchess are sad to hear the news and their thoughts are with Fabian's family'. Above, Catherine with Fabian during the 2011 hospital visit
Tribute: Mr Bate, pictured with Fabian, wife Lydia and daughters Cassia (left) and Oleander, said today that his son has been laid to rest with the 'very personal and special' letter he received from the Duchess
She added: 'I will keep my fingers crossed that your health goes from strength to strength over the months ahead.'
After the first letter, the royal couple sent two more letters to Fabian to let him and his family know that they were updated on his progress and treatment and that he was in their thoughts.
A spokesman for the royal couple said yesterday: 'The Duke and Duchess are sad to hear the news and their thoughts are with Fabian's family.'
Mr Bate said today that his son, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2006, has been laid to rest with the 'very personal and special' letter.
'I want Kate to know that it wasn't just a letter, it was a message that meant so much. It has stayed with him and it is staying with him now that he is departed.'
He added that his son would often remember that William, 32, had told him to be brave during the visit.
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