Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wish ‘good luck’ to cancer patient

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have wished ‘good luck’ to a six-year-old cancer patient on her first day of school after she won Kate Middleton’s heart when a photo of her in isolation while having treatment for leukaemia went viral.

Little Mila Sneddon’s mother, from Falkirk, shared a snap to Twitter of her daughter in her school uniform ahead of starting her ‘first school year not undergoing treatment’ – after she was given the all clear in April 2022.  

Sharing the post, the Cambridges’ Twitter account tweeted: ‘Such an incredible journey. Good luck from all of us at Kensington Palace, Mila.’

The schoolgirl met Kate Middleton twice last year after the royal spotted the photo of the little girl in lockdown in March 2020; the image saw her gazing at her father Scott, who had been forced to move out of the family home to protect his daughter, through a window. 

The Duchess went on to include the photo, known as ‘Shielding Mila’ in her book Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020 and asked if she could meet Mila.  

Little Mila Sneddon’s mother, from Falkirk, shared a snap of her daughter in her school uniform ahead of starting her ‘first school year not undergoing treatment’ – after she was given the all clear in April 2022

Sharing the post, the Cambridges' Twitter account tweeted: 'Such an incredible journey. Good luck from all of us at Kensington Palace, Mila.'

Sharing the post, the Cambridges’ Twitter account tweeted: ‘Such an incredible journey. Good luck from all of us at Kensington Palace, Mila.’

The schoolgirl met Kate Middleton twice last year (pictured in May 2021) after the royal spotted the photo of the little girl in lockdown in March 2020; the image saw her gazing at her father Scott, who had been forced to move out of the family home to protect his daughter, through a window

The schoolgirl met Kate Middleton twice last year (pictured in May 2021) after the royal spotted the photo of the little girl in lockdown in March 2020; the image saw her gazing at her father Scott, who had been forced to move out of the family home to protect his daughter, through a window

Mila’s mother Lynda Sneddon wrote on Twitter: ‘First day back at school. Very proud! This is Milas first school year not undergoing treatment. Love you Mila. Thank you @NHSGGC for making this possible #ChildhoodCancer #childhoodcancerawareness #BloodCancer #remission #cancerfree.’

She shared a photograph of her beaming daughter dressed in her school uniform while carrying a glitzy pink lunchbox. 

Replying to the Duke and Duchess’ tweet, Lynda added: ‘Thank you for your very kind words. Mila has settled in well and delighted to be back at school, sending best wishes to you all at KP (Kensington Palace).’

In April 2022, Mila rang the bell at Team Jack Cancer Centre and even got an email wishing her congratulations from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s office.

Speaking via video link from their holiday in Ayrshire on Lorraine, her mother  Lynda revealed to host Ranvir Singh: ‘When you get the initial news that your child is unwell, thinking of the end of treatment is such a huge challenge.

‘You think you’re never going to see the end, so we’re overjoyed and ecstatic that Mila has reached this stage.’

The image saw her gazing at her father Scott, who had been forced to move out of the family home to protect his daughter, through a window

The image saw her gazing at her father Scott, who had been forced to move out of the family home to protect his daughter, through a window

Speaking about the bell being rung, she added: ‘The bell being rung signifies the end of treatment, that was Mila’s final chemotherapy. She was on daily chemotherapy tablets and intravenous therapy.’

Mila has now recovered from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – a type of cancer that affects white blood cells and requires immediate treatment 

Speaking about going back to school the same day as finishing treatment Mila added: ‘I had to go to school but I just wanted a day off. But everyone was clapping me around the whole school when I rang the bell – it was a surprise.’

She added that she’s been riding her bike while on holiday and is feeling much better.

Speaking about the now famous picture – which the Duchess of Cambridge featured in her Hold Still exhibition –  Lynda added: ‘At the time of taking the picture, I wanted to keep it personal, along with the other pictures we’d taken during the first four months of treatment.

‘But it became quite obvious overnight that it had gathered some attention but it went viral. It hugely helped people understand what people were going through.’

Friends: The Duchess of Cambridge and the little girl chatted at the community carol service at Westminster Abbey on December 8th

Friends: The Duchess of Cambridge and the little girl chatted at the community carol service at Westminster Abbey on December 8th

Back in December, Mila attended the Christmas community carol service at Westminster Abbey in London, organised by the Duchess of Cambridge

Back in December, Mila attended the Christmas community carol service at Westminster Abbey in London, organised by the Duchess of Cambridge

Ranvir asked Mila who had sent her an email to congratulate her on getting better, to which she replied: ‘Ant and Dec’.

Ranvir added: ‘Ant and Dec, that’s amazing! I thought also William and Kate might have done that? The future king and queen, did they also get in touch with you?’ 

Little Mila confirmed with a quick: ‘Yeah!’   

Mila met Kate twice last year after the royal spotted the photo of the little girl in lockdown in March 2020, first at Holyroodhouse in May and then again during the Duchess’ Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey in December. 

The little girl’s mother said the Duchess had a ‘gentle soul’ and had made Mila feel comfortable during their meetings. 

‘Those moments made Mila feel really special and it was a good distraction from her treatment,’ she said. ‘Now she’s recognised as the happy little girl who met Kate Middleton and not the poor little girl with cancer.’

Mila reading a prayer by the crib, accompanied by her mother Lynda during the royal Christmas concert

Mila reading a prayer by the crib, accompanied by her mother Lynda during the royal Christmas concert

Mila pictured reuniting with her father Scott  in 2020 after a period of isolation

Mila pictured reuniting with her father Scott  in 2020 after a period of isolation

In May last year, Mila was welcomed by Kate for tea at Holyroodhouse, during her and Prince William’s final day of their week-long visit to Scotland. 

‘[Kate] had made a promise [to wear pink],’ the youngster added, noting that the Duchess kept her word to don a pink outfit when meeting after their initial phone call. 

After Mila was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in November 2019, aged four, her parents decided the best way to keep their little girl safe was by not taking any risks and self-isolating in different houses.

Lynda, a mother-of-two, stayed with the little girl while dad Scott lived separately, and shared a heartbreaking photo of Mila kissing her dad through the window.

The photo went viral online and was spotted by the Duchess of Cambridge and was later one of the 100 images included in Kate’s book Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020.

At their first meeting at Holyroodhouse, the Duchess told the schoolgirl: ‘Hi Mila, look at you. I want to give you a big squeezy cuddle, it’s so nice to meet you in person.’



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