Prince William and Princess Kate have sent former England rugby star Lewis Moody a private letter following his motor neurone disease diagnosis, Kensington Palace has revealed.
The 47-year-old, who was part of England’s 2003 World Cup-winning squad, revealed in September that he had been diagnosed with the disease.
Since the announcement, more than £200,000 has been raised on a GoFundMe page set up by his friends and former Leicester Tigers teammates.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, the former rugby player confirmed he would be attending the princess’s carol concert on Friday, saying: “It’s such a special time of year for us, so to be able to attend with family, to even be invited in the first place, it’s a real honour and Mike Tindall had a part to play in that.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have sent a private letter to Lewis Moody after his MND diagnosis
|GETTY
“When you’re in the position I am in, family time is incredibly important, as much of it as I can get in special places like this, it’s really unique.”
Following the interview, Kensington Palace confirmed that the Prince and Princess of Wales had sent Mr Moody a private letter alongside his invitation.
Mr Moody spoke to the BBC earlier in November, where he said the outpouring of support he had received had been a “whirlwind”.
“It's been wonderful in the sense of the outpouring of love and support, which has just been constant. It's been slightly overwhelming at times but it all comes from such a beautiful and wonderful place.
"It's been a strange time but for me and my family, we've just felt that warm embrace of everyone coming around us and supporting us.
"My background is in rugby and people talk about that community but the MND community that I'm now a part of has just really embraced us and we feel really lucky as a family to be a part of it."
Lewis Moody announced his diagnosis earlier this year
|GETTY
The Waleses have spent their Wednesday taking on important royal duties as they welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Britain as he started a landmark State Visit, the first one made by a German head of state in nearly three decades.
King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales extended a cordial reception to Steinmeier and his wife, Elke Budenbender, outside Windsor and Eton Riverside station on a crisp December morning.
The German leader greeted the monarch with evident warmth, declaring: "It's so wonderful, your majesty, to see you again" before sharing a hearty laugh and clasping the King's hand.
LATEST ROYAL NEWS
Windsor Castle provided a magnificent backdrop for the occasion, with the royal party and their distinguished guests gathering in bright, cold sunshine.
The three-day visit represents a significant moment in Anglo-German relations, with the Royal Family deploying its ceremonial traditions to reinforce diplomatic bonds between the two nations.
The German Federal President and Ms. Büdenbender touched down at Heathrow Airport, where the Prince and Princess of Wales received them on the King's behalf. | GETTYFollowing the welcome, a spectacular carriage procession wound through the Berkshire town's streets, escorted by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment's Sovereign's Escort.
This evening, the German President and his wife will attend a grand state banquet in St George's Hall, which has been adorned for the festive season with a six-metre Christmas tree from Windsor Great Park, illuminated by 3,000 lights.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter