Royal Watch News

Duchess Catherine 'saddened' by teen's cancer death

Oct 1, 2012, 11:01 GMT

Duchess Catherine

Britain's Duchess Catherine is 'saddened' by the death of a young leukaemia patient she met recently.

The 30-year-old royal was introduced to 15-year-old Zakwan Anuar during a recent visit to the Far East with husband Prince William - where she sat with him and wrote in his birthday card - and she is upset to hear he has since passed away.

A spokesperson for St James's Palace said: 'The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are saddened to hear of Zakwan's death. Their thoughts are with the family.'

Mother Norizan Sulong said the teenager was 'missed terribly' by his family.

She told The Sun newspaper: 'We were next to him when he had his last moment. He was surrounded by his brother, sister, father, grandfather, grandmothers and school mates. I miss him terribly.'

Before she arrived to meet him he was said to have spent his days crying and in pain, but a visit from Catherine lifted his spirits and allowed him to battle the disease for a further two weeks, despite only being given 48 hours to live by doctors.

Norizan added: 'I hope William and Kate will have beautiful and healthy children of their own one day.'