Kate—Er, Catherine—Middleton Pens Heartwarming Letter to Young Cancer Patient

Duchess of Cambridge sends touching personalized note to 9-year-old leukemia sufferer Fabian Bate after connecting with the boy during hospital visit last month

Kate Middleton is a woman of her word. And then some.

While visiting London's Royal Marsden Hospital last month, the duchess met with several young cancer patients, among them 9-year-old Fabian Bate. During their chat, he informed the royal that his family kept a blog, and Middleton vowed to pay it a visit and leave his family a message.

Well, it's safe to say she outdid herself.

Last week—in a letter dated Oct. 13—Prince William's better half sent out a personalized and heartwarming letter to Fabian, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2006, which he in turn posted online.

The touching note was written on St. James's Palace letterhead and signed, simply, "Catherine."

"Despite the enormously demanding course of treatment you are undergoing, I was so touched by your strength of character, and delighted to hear the news that one of your big sisters will be able to donate bone marrow to you later this year," she wrote, clearly showing that the interest and intensive listening she's appeared to be engaged in on these public outings is not simply for the sake of the cameras.

"I will keep my fingers crossed that your health goes from strength to strength over the months ahead.

"This must be a troubling time for you, your parents and your sisters, but I know I left The Royal Marsden assured by how incredibly talented, kind and clever the team at the hospital are. Combined with your belief and positive energy, you couldn't be in better hands."

She ended the letter on an even more encouraging, and personal, note: "Keep up the good work with the blog and in the meantime I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers."

Needless to say, Fabian and his family were touched by the sentiment.

"It was a very personal letter," his father Darrell told the Evening Standard. "It certainly didn't look like the standard templates these official letters so often use. It contained very specific information that she must have remembered. We were very touched as she must do a lot of this stuff and to remember Fabian is very moving."

Middleton has already been named a patron of the Prince William and Prince Harry Foundation, but has not yet decided which causes to make the focus of her charity work.