Jessie J knows something about what Princess Kate has been through.

The British singer, during an appearance on the U.K. program "The Morning," said she was "briefed not to" hug the princess during her appearance at the Royal Variety Performance in London on Wednesday, Nov. 19, but she went in for one anyway.

"You can take the girl out of Essex and all of that, but I just saw a mom that has also gone through cancer publicly, and I just wanted to give her a hug," Jessie J, 37, told the hosts. "It was as simple as that."

Jessie J revealed in June that she had been diagnosed with "early" breast cancer. After she underwent surgery shortly after, she said doctors determined the cancer had not spread. But weeks later, she faced another setback after she was hospitalized with an infection.

Kate, 43, revealed her unspecified cancer battle in March 2024 and that she would undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy after having abdominal surgery. In January, she announced her cancer is in remission after visiting the hospital where she was treated.

The "Bang Bang" singer said she asked Kate if she could hug her, and that she told the princess she was "inspiring."

"I know the days that she has maybe gone through, and I just wanted to give her a hug, mom to mom, human to human," she added.

As for Jessie's cancer battle, she provided an update, saying she's "good" but joked that her healthy appearance was attributed to being "in glam for six hours."

She added: "I feel like it's been a lovely chance that I really showed that side of my personality, that I am the kind of person that in hard times, I'm like, 'Oh, this will make for some good songs.' But also, put your umbrella up and just keep walking through the rain."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Jessie J hugged Princess Kate despite being 'briefed not to'

Reporting by Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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