Prince William delivers surprise video tribute at Rebel Ball in memory of Dame Deborah James

# What happened Prince William surprised guests at the Rebel Ball with a recorded message honoring Dame Deborah James. The event, staged on what would have been her 45th birthday, raised almost £317,000 for the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK.

# The Prince's message In his video address the Prince of Wales said he had the privilege of meeting Deborah in 2022 and presenting her with a damehood at her parents' home in Surrey. He described her as "an amazing woman who achieved and continued to achieve so much in pursuit of saving and improving lives."

William highlighted Deborah's positivity and humour in the face of illness, quoting her phrase "rebellious hope." He pointed to the Bowelbabe Fund's work over the last four and a half years, saying it had invested in pioneering research "that's giving more people more time with the ones they love." He closed by noting that Deborah would have wanted people "dancing, celebrating and making memories."

# The Rebel Ball and who attended

Deborah's children Hugo, 19, and Eloise, 16, attended the ball along with family and supporters. Sebastien Bowen, Deborah's husband, described the evening as capturing her energy and courage and thanked attendees for their generosity.

# What the money supports Since Deborah set up the Bowelbabe Fund in the final weeks of her life in May 2022, the fund has raised more than £21 million. The fund has supported 16 research and cancer awareness projects. Two named initiatives receiving support are the development of a Bowelbabe Vaccine intended to boost the immune response against bowel cancer and the global research team PROSPECT, which is investigating the rise of bowel cancer in people under 50.

# Why this matters Dame Deborah James became a public figure after a 2016 diagnosis with bowel cancer at age 35. In her final weeks she chose to create a fund aimed at directing donations straight into research and awareness. The Rebel Ball functioned both as a fundraiser and as a public moment to keep the fundraising momentum and research investment in view.

# What was said by family Sebastien Bowen emphasized Deborah's determination to change lives and thanked the public and the Prince for supporting the Fund. The family framed the evening as a celebration of Deborah's spirit and a practical way to continue financing the projects she set in motion.

# Bottom line The Rebel Ball combined fundraising, public tribute and cultural performances to mark Deborah James's birthday and generate further support for the Bowelbabe Fund. The Prince of Wales's surprise message reinforced the public profile of Deborah's campaign and the Fund's ongoing research commitments.