The Princess of Wales met 8-year-old Mila Sneddon amid her own cancer journey in May 2021
An 8-year-old former cancer patient is sharing a heartfelt message with Kate Middleton amid the royal’s diagnosis with the disease.
Mila Sneddon, who previously met and developed a relationship with the Princess of Wales while diagnosed with leukemia in 2021, has voiced her support for the royal after she announced she has cancer on Friday.
“She will be brave because I was, and she will fight it like I did,” Mila told The Mirror.
The young girl’s mother, Lynda, added to the outlet, “[Kate] is a mom, a wife, she is young, beautiful, athletic and she is facing this. It shows cancer doesn’t discriminate, it can affect anyone at any time. We wish her a peaceful and speedy recovery.”
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Lynda further supported Princess Kate, writing, “We extend our love, support and well wishes to William, George, Charlotte and Louis, and wish Catherine a peaceful speedy recovery #YouAreNotAlone.”
Alongside her message, Lynda posted a photo of her daughter speaking with Kate during their first meeting in May 2021 at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Kate and Mila developed a friendship after the child participated in the royal’s Hold Still photography project in 2020. At the time, she was seen in a photo separated from her family while undergoing chemotherapy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mila was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age four. She was declared cancer-free two years ago, The Mirror reported.
“Kate’s statement came out on Mila’s two-year anniversary in remission,” Lynda told the outlet. “Mila turned to me and told me she wanted to make and send Kate a card. 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.”
During her cancer treatment, Mila and the princess kept in contact on the phone, and in December 2021, she participated in the Christmas carol concert hosted by Kate at Westminster Abbey.
For Kate’s birthday in January 2022, Mila posted birthday wishes to her on X, which the princess replied to, writing, “Thank you Mila!”
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In her video message on Friday, Kate shared that she received her cancer diagnosis following post-operative tests after her January abdominal surgery. She is now undergoing treatment.
“Cancer is a club that no-one wants to be in,” Lynda added to The Mirror. “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.”
