King Charles and Princess Kate praised by Shirley Ballas for opening up about cancer treatments after judge scare

STRICTLY head judge Shirley Ballas praised the King and Princess Kate for speaking publicly about their cancer treatments.

The TV star, 63, described the pair as inspirational – after she revealed her own breast cancer scare yesterday.

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She had three biopsies from her left breast last week and is awaiting the results, she told the Sun on Sunday.

Shirley met royal Strictly Come Dancing fan Kate last December when she visited the set of the BBC show.

She also told how Queen Camilla wrote to her.

In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Shirley said: “I think it was very brave of Charles and Kate to come forward and share their stories.

“Lovely Kate, sitting on that little park bench in a striped sweater. It’s a memory I’ll have for a long time and I think it’s great for women.

“And King Charles, when he came out and shared his diagnosis. They are inspiring and will encourage others to get their health checked.”

The king is having treatment for cancer discovered during a prostate operation.

The Princess of Wales is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer found during abdominal surgery.

Kate visited Elstree Studios, where Strictly is filmed, last December as a special gift for her two youngest children, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, six.

Shirley recalled: “They are beautiful. When they visited we had these crowns on set, so I thought it would be a good idea to give the girl a crown and bought him a beautiful box of sweets.

“Then he said, ‘I want one of those’ and pointed to the crown.

“So we had to go and find him a little crown. They are beautifully educated children. They had an absolute ball.

“We have photos, but I didn’t want to publish them. I think it’s more private for her. I was glad she came and had a great day. They all watch strictly.

Shirley also received a handwritten note from Queen Camilla when she sent her a copy of her novel Murder on the Dancefloor.

She said: “Camilla wrote me the most beautiful note, which I will frame. She is an avid fan.”

Prince William and Kate celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary today.

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