Skip to main contentSkip to footer

Martin Kemp shares never-before-seen personal photo of Princess Kate as he sends her love amid cancer treatment

The musician and EastEnders actor took to Instagram following the royal's shock cancer diagnosis  

Princess Kate needed to recover from surgery before undergoing chemotherapy
Millie Jackson
Freelance Writer
Share this:

Musician and actor Martin Kemp has shared a touching, personal photograph of his family with the Princess of Wales following her cancer diagnosis

The cosy photograph, taken last year, showed a smiling Princess Kate, alongside all four members of the Kemp family: Martin, his wife Shirlie, their daughter Harley Moon, and son, radio DJ Roman Kemp, who recently announced his surprising departure from Capital Breakfast in late February.  

Uploading the photo on Saturday on Instagram, Martin wrote: "Sending so much Kemp love to the Princess of Wales and all her family". His wife Shirlie also wished the couple "much love and healing" in a comment.

Martin Kemp shares personal photo with family and Princess Kate© Instagram
Martin Kemp shares personal photo with family and Princess Kate

Kate and the Kemps

The photo was taken outside Martin and Shirley's Hertfordshire home, where Princess Kate made a short film with their son Roman discussing men and suicide as part of her Shaping Us campaign about the importance of early years in shaping adulthood.  

On a frosty walk through the gardens of his parents' home, Kate spoke with Roman about the campaign. She said: "This isn't just about raising kids. It’s about shaping our futures, and shaping not only the adults we become but shaping our society, creating a happier, healthier, more nurturing world for us all to live in".

WATCH: Princess Kate discusses new "Shaping Us" campaign with Roman Kemp

Last year, Roman told The Times: "We were sitting at the kitchen counter, with my mum and dad and my sister with all the dogs, and Kate was there with us. The funniest thing was she didn't have any shoes on because she was respectful enough to take her shoes off at the door

"That really stuck in my head because you never see royalty with no shoes". 

The Capital Breakfast host has become a strong voice in campaigning for men's mental health awareness following his BBC documentary Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency, which prompted Kate to reach out to him. 

Princess Kate speaks with Roman Kemp at The "Together At Christmas" Carol Service at Westminster Abbey in December 2023© Getty
Roman called the Princess "down to earth" when he met her last year

Kate's brave video message

Last week, Princess Kate shared a video message with the public to thank them for their support during her absence from public duties during what have been an "incredibly tough couple of months". 

Prince William's wife revealed that she has been undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer, ending weeks of speculation to the countless conspiracy theories about her whereabouts. 

LISTEN: We discuss intrusion into Kate's medical records and bizarre conspiracy theories

In the video, the Princess asked for "time, space and privacy" while her family comes to terms with the diagnosis, and has since been flooded with messages and well-wishes from the public. 

The Princess' work on mental health and the early years

Mental health has long been an interest for the Princess, and tied to this is her work with the early years sector. Over the past decade, Kate has seen first-hand how some of today's hardest social challenges have their roots in the earliest years of a person's life, hence the launch of her Shaping Us campaign in 2023, designed to raise public understanding of the crucial importance of the first five years of a child’s life. 

She remains a committed champion of issues related to children's mental health and emotional wellbeing, while her husband William is particularly focused on men's mental health. The royals constantly try to highlight the need for open and honest conversations about the subject of mental health, to help people heal but to also combat the stigma around it.

In her video message Kate mentioned how her work brings her immense "joy", but how she will only be able to return to work once she has fully recovered. 

It was previously thought that the mother-of-three would be back on the royal circuit after Easter, but this is now unlikely given her cancer treatment.

LOVE THE ROYALS? JOIN THE CLUB!

Princess Kate wearing black and white polka dots and a hat

If you are reading this, the chances are you are obsessed with all things royalty – which is just as well because so are we! So obsessed, in fact, we’ve launched a club solely dedicated to covering them. So welcome to The HELLO! Royal Club. We would love you to join us there…

What is it?

Interactive community offering behind-the-scenes access, exclusive royal interviews, unmissable royal insights, and an illustrious royal Inner Circle.

Member benefits

  • Two weekly newsletters, one from Emily Nash
  • Video posts and audio notes from Emily Nash and the HELLO! Royal team
  • Access to our royal community and opportunity to interact with club writers and members
  • Participate in polls, comments and discussion threads
  • Access to our Ask Me Anything sessions with our journalists
  • Invitations to in-person and virtual events
  • A subscription to the digital edition of HELLO! Magazine (Worth £82 annually)*
  • Future ‘Inner Circle’ benefits

By royal decree

You are royally invited to join The HELLO! Royal Club – and then to go forth and spread the word to your fellow royal fans. See you in the club!

More Royalty

See more