Jessie J on why she broke royal protocol to hug Kate Middleton

Jessie J is opening up about the emotional embrace she shared with Kate Middleton at the Royal Variety Performance last month.

The “Price Tag” singer discussed her decision to hug the Princess of Wales during the Nov. 19 event – and break royal protocol in the process – while on the UK show “This Morning” on Wednesday.

“I was briefed not to, but I just saw a mom that has also gone through cancer publicly, and I just wanted to give her a hug,” Jessie, 37, explained. “It was as simple as that.”

“I didn’t see her as the Princess of Wales, I mean obviously I did, and I was respectful. I said to her, ‘Can I give you a hug?’ and she received it,” she continued. “I just said, ‘It’s inspiring.’ I know the days that she has maybe gone through, and I just wanted to give her a hug – mom to mom, human to human.”

Middleton’s appearance at the Royal Variety Performance marked her first red carpet event with Prince William since announcing her cancer diagnosis in March 2024.

At the time, the Princess of Wales released an emotional video message saying that she was to undergo chemotherapy following a “planned abdominal surgery” two months earlier.

However, the mom of three later revealed that she had finished her cancer treatments in September 2024 and was officially in remission in January 2025.

“As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal,” Middleton, 43, said earlier this year. “I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead.”

As for Jessie, she announced her early breast cancer diagnosis to the world in June 2025 and has regularly shared updates connected to her mastectomy with fans online.

The “Threw It Away” singer, whose new album “Don’t Tease Me With A Good Time” was released Friday, shared her latest update during her appearance on “This Morning” this week.

“It’s been a lovely chance to really show that side of my personality, that I am the kind of person that in hard times, put your umbrella up and just keep walking through the rain,” Jessie, who said she was feeling “good,” shared.

“My blessings outweigh anything that’s happened,” the mom of one added. “And the beauty of all of this is that I’ve had quality time with my mom, I’m more present as a parent [and] I’m here.”

The Grammy-nominated singer went on to emphasize how her cancer journey has helped her to “connect” with other women and spread awareness.

“Also, I’ve been able to have these beautiful connective talks with people, and my friends have checked their breasts and gone, ‘I found something, and I’m going to get it looked at,’ that would never have [happened] before,” she revealed.

“I would never have thought that I would have found a lump and gone and it be cancer, but it was,” Jessie concluded. “And you face it, and we move through positivity, and I’m just grateful that I didn’t have chemotherapy. My story was very simple in the best way it could have been.”