One of Prince William and Princess Kate’s friends from university has announced a heartbreaking tribute to his mum ahead of Mother’s Day. Actor and singer Jules Knight, known for his role as Dr Harry Tressler in Holby City and as a founding member of the group Blake, will release a touching single in honour of his late mother on March 24, just before Mother’s Day.

Jules, who has performed for the Royal Family, including the late Queen and was university mates with the Prince and Princess of Wales, lost his mother, Jane Kaye, to a rare cancer known as sarcoma in July 2023 when she was 76. The single serves as a heartfelt homage to her.

He said: “She was a very good person. She was so kind and generous, always giving to charity and was a very active member of her village community. Up until January 2023 she had been in remarkably good health. We miss her every day, of course, but especially on Mother’s Day, and this song is a tribute to her.”

In January 2023, Jane told her family that she was feeling unwell and suffering from back pain. An X-ray attributed her back pain to ageing and potential osteoporosis. A subsequent bout of COVID-19 complicated matters, with doctors attributing her persistent fatigue to the virus’s after-effects. However, her symptoms continued to worsen.

By mid-February, the family noticed a sudden drastic weight loss and abdominal swelling. Her partner also noted that she was sleeping excessively during the day, coupled with ongoing back pain and digestive issues.

This led to the detection of “a mass” in her abdomen. A CT scan confirmed a large tumour on her kidney, which had enveloped the kidney and caused dangerously high calcium levels in her blood.

After enduring a series of setbacks within the healthcare system, including slow biopsy results, multiple junior doctors’ strikes, and being shuffled between departments, Jane was finally referred to the specialist sarcoma unit at the QE in Birmingham.

The biopsy later confirmed she had sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that makes up only 1% of all cancer cases.

Unfortunately, the surgery had failed and there were no further treatment options were available. Jane was told she should be taken home for palliative care, and passed away 10 weeks later on July 29.

Jules, 43, made the choice to depart from Blake in 2013, chasing his passion for acting with a notable two-year stint as Dr Harry Tressler on Holby City.