Professor Green has revealed he received a “very kind” letter from Prince William after suffering a life-threatening seizure in 2019.
The rapper, 39, suffered a fractured cervical vertebra after falling in three horrific seizures, which forced him to cancel his UK tour at the time.
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, he admitted he was ‘quite shocked’ at the kind gesture from the future king, with whom he has previously campaigned over mental health issues.
‘I was quite shocked and didn’t expect it’: Prof Green has revealed he received a ‘very nice’ letter from Prince William after suffering a life-threatening seizure in 2019
He said: “I actually had a pretty bad accident and got a very nice letter from Prince William afterwards.
“It was when I had a seizure. I broke my neck the day I was supposed to start a tour, so that was not long ago. Yes, quite uncomfortable.
“I didn’t expect to get a letter from him, so I was quite shocked. I’m saving it for my son when he grows up.
In 2018, the musician – real name Stephen Manderson – visited west London school Ark Burlington Danes Academy alongside the then Duke of Cambridge, who expressed concern for teenagers and cyberbullying.
What a pair! In 2018, the musician (left) visited a west London school alongside the Duke of Cambridge (right), who expressed concern for teenagers and cyberbullying.
After the visit he said: “A brilliant morning with HRH The Duke of Cambridge… discussing mental health and cyberbullying – the interrelationship between the two and how we can all be a little kinder to each other others.”
They had joined forces to help spark the conversation and end the stigma around mental health, with the Heads Together charity.
In February 2019, Green was forced to cancel his UK tour as he suffered a fractured cervical vertebra after falling during three horrific seizures.
The musician shared a candid Instagram photo of himself from his hospital bed in a neck brace.
Detailing the shocking incident, the Hackney native wrote: ‘I had a seizure this morning which resulted in a fall whilst packing for tour 1/3.
“From how you look at this fall, I was extremely lucky. I have badly fractured vertebrae in my neck and had to cancel my tour that was supposed to start today 2/3.
“I will be back this winter with a bigger tour. I had two more seizures and I’m lucky I didn’t break my neck. Really fucking lucky. Thanks for sticking with me,” the Hackney native told his fans.
Stephen was due to perform across the UK, with his shows due to start in Cardiff, before hitting the stage in Birmingham, Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and finally Brighton on February 21.
Surprise: He said: ‘I actually had a pretty bad accident and got a very nice letter from Prince William afterwards.’ That was when I had a fit’ (pictured in 2020)
A statement from his spokesperson read: ‘Due to a serious neck injury, Professor Green has been forced to cancel his February 2019 tour. Tickets for all dates are refundable. Refunds will be available at the point of sale.’
The NME award winner – who has suffered from chronic digestive problems since birth – was just six weeks old when he underwent his first stomach operation.
It was for pyloric stenosis, which meant food couldn’t get into his small intestine, causing excessive projectile vomiting and life-threatening levels of dehydration.
In 2017 – 34 years later, and after a lifetime of stomach problems – he ended up in surgery, this time for severe inflammation of the esophageal mucus and stomach lining.
Wow! The rapper, 39, suffered a fractured neck vertebra after falling in three horrific seizures, which forced him to cancel his UK tour at the time (pictured in 2018)
The underlying cause was a hiatal hernia, where part of the stomach protrudes into the chest.
Elsewhere, Prof Green has teamed up with Virgin Media O2 and The Big Issue to support all providers with free O2 SIM cards and data vouchers as the cost of living crisis deepens this Christmas.
Last year, O2 offered more than 200 Big Issue vendors free data plans, allowing them to accept contactless payments, providing vital support at a time when 52% of magazine sales are contactless. .
This year, the company will offer monthly data to the magazine’s entire supplier network. It comes as 18.7 million people are reported to have their ability to go online affected by the cost of living crisis.
The Read All About It hitmaker said: “I think it’s a brilliant campaign because people who are able to offer contactless payments sell up to 30% more magazines, which is hugely important to them. “
“But there’s a bigger picture here and I think connectivity is what we should be talking about as well. For people who are homeless or living on the margins of society, there are already enough social barriers that they have to deal with.
‘Isolation is a terrible part of homelessness and being further isolated due to a lack of connectivity, not having the freedom to access information or a support network is one thing horrible to think/
“So the fact that they’re giving them the ability to accept contactless payments but also stay connected, I think that’s great.”
Professor Green is teaming up with Virgin Media O2 and The Big Issue to support O2’s campaign to provide all Big Issue providers with free O2 simulations and data, enabling them to accept contactless payments, providing vital support.
Good cause: Elsewhere, Professor Green has teamed up with Virgin Media O2 and The Big Issue to support all providers with free O2 SIM cards and data vouchers.
