A cancer research fund set up by Dame Deborah James has reached an "incredible milestone" after it hit the £20m mark, the Prince of Wales says.

The Bowelbabe Fund, set up in May 2022 shortly before Dame Deborah died of bowel cancer, has reached the milestone in less than four years, having initially aimed to raise £250,000.

In a message on Instagram, Prince William praised the "amazing legacy" of Dame Deborah, from Woking, Surrey, writing: "Deborah is in our thoughts today, as are all those who loved her."

Dame Deborah's mother, Heather James, added: "Deborah would be absolutely over the moon if she were here today to see this."

Heather James said: "She was so passionate about supporting research that would help give more people affected by cancer more time with their loved ones."

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Dame Deborah's father Alistair James said: "She set this up in the last few weeks of her life and if she knew we had managed £20.5m even Deborah with her energy probably wouldn't believe what happened."

A spokesperson for Cancer Research UK, which benefits from the fund, said the money raised had been used to support 16 research projects, including a "Bowelbabe vaccine" aimed at boosting immunity against bowel cancer.

You, Me And The Big C podcast host Dame Deborah was given a damehood for her fundraising efforts, which soared past £1m in the first 24 hours.

The honour was personally conferred by Prince William, who joined her family for afternoon tea and champagne while she was receiving hospice-at-home care.

She died in June 2022 at the age of 40.

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: "Reaching this £20m milestone is a true testament to Deborah's incredible legacy.

"Thanks to research, more than half of people diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK will survive the disease.

"But there is still much more to do."

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