Prince William backs powerful tribute in honour of Dame Deborah James

03 July 2023 , 18:30

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Dame Deborah and Natalie (Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Roy)

Prince William is backing a tribute song in honour of ‘bowel babe’ Dame Deborah James to hit the charts.

Singer Natalie Rushdie said her pal Dame Deborah would have been “blown away” by the Prince of Wales’s support.

The mum-of-two died last June aged 40 after inspiring thousands during her battle with bowel cancer.

She set up the Bowelbabe research fund, hosted the You, Me And The Big C podcast and was made a Dame by Prince William last May.

Natalie, whose father-in-law is author Sir Salman Rushdie, performed Tell Me It’s Not True at Dame Deborah’s funeral last year. She has since re-recorded the track at the request of Dame Deborah’s parents and has released it to raise cash for the Bowelbabe fund.

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Natalie and the recording of the Bowelbabe Fund charity single (Dave Benett/Getty Images)

And Prince William is backing the single – leaving Natalie delighted. She said: “We were so excited when we received the message that Prince William had given us the Royal approval for the song. Deb would have been absolutely blown away with Prince William’s continued support to her campaign.”

The Prince of Wales said of the single: “Dame Debs would be so proud. She inspired the nation. Her legacy will be countless lives saved from bowel cancer. I’m wishing Natalie all the very best for her single release to raise money for such an important cause.”

Natalie said: “We’re aiming for the top 10! We want to raise lots of money and drive as much awareness as possible with this track.”

The Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research has raised more than £10million so far.

Tell Me It’s Not True was a hit for Barbara Dickson in 1983 after featuring in Willy Russell’s musical Blood Brothers. Natalie’s version was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London.

Dame Deborah’s husband, Sebastien Bowen, said: “It’s so touching to have Natalie pay tribute to Deborah. This song meant so much to her.”

Tom Bryant