Since sharing her “shock” cancer diagnosis on Friday, Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, has received messages of support and sympathy from prominent figures amid their own battles with cancer, such as her father-in-law King Charles and actor Olivia Munn. The ailing royal also received well-wishes from a young girl to whom she has a special connection: Mila Sneddon, now 8 years old, who was diagnosed with leukemia when she was four, and was visited by Kate multiple times from 2021 onward.
“She will be brave because I was and she will fight it like I did,” said Sneddon, according to The Mirror.
Kate originally wanted to meet Sneddon after selecting a photo of her for her Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020 digital exhibition and book of photographs chronicling Great Britain during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the picture, a kindergarten-aged Sneddon is looking at her father through a window while receiving chemotherapy. Kate was moved by the photo, and spoke on the phone with the girl.
“I have to make sure I go and try to find myself a pink dress,” she said on that call after learning that Sneddon’s favorite color was pink. “Hopefully, when one day, hopefully, Mila, we’ll get to meet, and then I’ll remember to wear my pink dress for you.”
Indeed, she chose a pink color-blocked shirt dress in 2021 to meet Sneddon in person. Sneddon also wore pink, sporting a lighter pink princess dress, complete with a tiara. Later that year, Sneddon also read a prayer at Kate’s first Westminster Abbey Christmas carol concert.
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Sneddon celebrated the milestone of two years in remission on the very same day Kate announced her diagnosis, according to the girl’s mother, Lynda Sneddon.
“Mila turned to me and told me she wanted to make and send Kate a card,” Lynda said. “So Mila will make contact in her own private way. Kate showed Mila such compassion, care, and support both during and post-treatment, so it’s been very emotional to see she is now facing her own health struggles.”
“Cancer is a club that no one wants to be in,” Lynda said. “We are very sad to hear she has joined the club but we are completely behind her and we wish her the very best. We have nothing but admiration for her to have been able to come out and publicly tell her story.”
Mila added, “I hope she feels better soon and I wish her a speedy recovery.”