Zoe Ball has revealed Prince William wrote her ‘the most beautiful’ letter when her mother Julia was ill.

The presenter, 54, was forced to take time off from her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show following Julia’s passing in April 2024 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Speaking to Jo Whiley on their Dig It! podcast, Zoe said: ‘Prince William wrote to me when my mum was poorly. He wrote the most beautiful letter and he wrote to me again after we lost mum.

‘There was a really amazing moment when mum was really, really poorly, and I went up to see her. My brother was there. I said, “Mum, we’ve had a letter.”

‘I read her Prince William’s letter. And at the time he was going through his own difficulties with both his father and his lovely wife going through their cancer journey.

‘And I thought it was so kind of him to take the time to write. And it meant the world to her. She loved that letter.’

Zoe Ball has revealed Prince William wrote her ‘the most beautiful’ letter when her mother Julia was ill

Zoe said: ‘I read her Prince William’s letter. And at the time he was going through his own difficulties with both his father and his lovely wife going through their cancer journey’

Zoe added Prince William sent another letter after Julia died in April 2024.

The BBC Radio star was reminded of the prince’s kind gesture after watching his interview with comedy actor Eugene Levy on Apple TV.

Zoe shared the news of her mother’s passing on Instagram. In a tribute, she said: ‘Sleep tight dear Mama.

‘Thank you for teaching us how to love unconditionally, to always show courage and empathy. And how, even in the darkest of days, laughter is the greatest of gifts.

It continued: ‘We are bereft without you but will hold so tight to each other. Your grace & your smile that lit up every room you were in, will light the stars to guide us.’

After Zoe announced her mother’s illness, Gaby Roslin ‘occasionally’ stepped in to replace her on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show so the pair could spend time together.

Shortly before Julia’s passing, Zoe told her followers she was being transferred into hospice care, telling listeners that things were ‘pretty tough at the moment for the family.’

She said: ‘Things are really tough for my mum at the moment, just sending out loads of love. Love you Mum.’

Zoe added Prince William sent another letter after Julia died in April 2024

The presenter, 54, was forced to take time off from her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show following Julia’s passing in April 2024 after a battle with pancreatic cancer

The broadcaster’s son Woody, who she shares with ex-husband Norman Cook – better known as British DJ Fatboy Slim – also shared a tribute on Instagram.

‘Today I say goodbye to Granny J, thank you for being a wonderful woman,’ he wrote, sharing a younger picture with his grandmother.

Woody, who appeared on Netflix reality series The Circle in 2019, also referenced his grandmother’s late husband Rick Peckham.

He said: ‘The only person who always sent me a valentines card. I know you’re with Rick now, give him a hug from me.

‘I know he said once when you were panicking in a helicopter over the Jungle ‘If you get lost, follow the river!’ You’ll find him at the end.’

Zoe revealed her mother’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis on March 6, as she told fans on social media she would be taking time away from her BBC show to focus on her family, who were going through ‘tough times’ – but added her mother was being extremely ‘brave’.

Despite her mother’s diagnosis, Zoe remained positive as she told fans at the time she is ‘in awe’ of the nurses and doctors in charge of her care.