Professor Green has revealed he received a ‘really nice’ letter from Prince William after experiencing a life-threatening seizure in 2019.
The rapper, 39, suffered from a fracture in his cervical vertebrae after falling during 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’ following the kind gesture from the future King, whom he previously campaigned on mental health issues alongside.
‘I was quite shocked and never expected it’: Professor Green has revealed he received a ‘really nice’ letter from Prince William after suffering a life-threatening seizure in 2019
He said: ‘I had a pretty severe accident actually and I got a really nice letter from Prince William afterwards.
‘It was when I had a seizure. I fractured my neck the day I was meant to start a tour, so it was a little while ago. Yeah, quite uncomfortable.
‘I never expected to get a letter from him so I was quite shocked. I’m saving it for my son when he grows up.’
Back in 2018, the musician – real name Stephen Manderson – visited west London school Ark Burlington Danes Academy alongside the then-Duke Of Cambridge, who was voicing his concern for teens and cyber-bullying.
What a pair! Back in 2018, the musician (left) visited a west London school alongside the then-Duke Of Cambridge (right), who was voicing his concern for teens and cyber-bullying
After the visit, he stated: ‘A brilliant morning with HRH Duke of Cambridge… discussing mental health and cyber bullying – the correlation between both and how we can all be a bit kinder to one another.’
They had joined forces to help spark conversation and end the stigma surrounding mental health, with the Heads Together charity.
In February 2019, Green was forced to cancel his UK tour as he suffered from a fracture in his cervical vertebrae after falling during three horrific seizures.
The musician shared a candid Instagram snap of himself from his hospital bed in a neck brace.
Detailing the shocking incident, the Hackney native penned: ‘I had seizure this morning which resulted in a fall while I was packing for tour 1/3.
‘Depending on how you look at this fall I was extremely lucky. I’m very fractured vertebrae in my neck and subsequently had to cancel my tour that was due to start today 2/3.
Surprise: He said: ‘I had a pretty severe accident actually and I got a really nice letter from Prince William afterwards. It was when I had a seizure’ (pictured in 2020)
‘I’ll be back in the winter with a bigger tour. I’ve had two further seizures and am lucky I didn’t break my neck. Really f*****g lucky. Thanks for baring with me’, the Hackney native told his fans.’
Stephen was set to perform across the UK, with his shows scheduled to start in Cardiff, before hitting the stage in Birmingham, Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and finally Brighton on February 21.
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 made available at the point of purchase.’
Elsewhere, Professor Green has partnered with Virgin Media O2 and The Big Issue to support all vendors with free O2 SIMs and data vouchers, as the cost-of-living crisis deepens this Christmas.
Wow! The rapper, 39, suffered from a fracture in his cervical vertebrae after falling during three horrific seizures, which forced him to cancel his UK tour at the time (pictured in 2018)
Last year, O2 gave over 200 Big Issue vendors free data plans, enabling them to take contactless payments, providing vital support at a time when 52% of magazine sales are via contactless.
This year, the company will be offering monthly data to the magazine’s entire network of vendors. This comes as it is reported 18.7 million people are expected to have their ability to get online impacted 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 incredibly important for them.
‘But there’s a bigger picture here and I think connectivity is what we should talk about as well. For people who are homeless or who have been existing on the fringes of society, there are already enough social barriers for them to face.
‘Isolation is a terrible part of homelessness and being further isolated because of a lack of connectivity, not having the the freedom to access information or a support network, it’s horrible thing to to think about/
‘So the fact that they’re providing them with the opportunity to take contactless payments but also to stay connected, I think it’s brilliant.’
Professor Green partners with Virgin Media O2 and The Big Issue to support O2’s campaign to provide all Big Issue vendors with free O2 sims and data, enabling them to take contactless payments, providing vital support.
Good cause: Elsewhere, Professor Green has partnered with Virgin Media O2 and The Big Issue to support all vendors with free O2 SIMs and data vouchers