Billy Porter gushed about Prince William as he revealed the Royal’s sweet gesture and said his ‘kindness has no bounds’.
The American singer-actor, 56, was hospitalised with a ‘serious case’ of sepsis in September and was forced to pull out of his Broadway role as Emcee in Cabaret.
While he was recovering, Billy was sent a get-well card from The Prince of Wales after the pair met when the Pose star co-hosted William’s Earthshot Prize in South Africa last year.
Speaking to Hello! about the kind gesture, Billy said: ‘He heard that I was ill and he sent me a get-well card. That’s the kind of human being he is.’
Billy added of Prince William: ‘It’s a really hard job and it’s just effortless to him. His kindness and his presence have no bounds.’
It comes after Billy praised Meghan Markle for bringing Prince Harry to America with him when they stepped back as senior figures in the Royal Family.
Billy Porter gushed about Prince William as he revealed the Royal’s sweet gesture and said his ‘kindness has no bounds’ (Billy seen in April)
The American singer-actor, 56, was hospitalised with a ‘serious case’ of sepsis in September and was forced to pull out of his Broadway role as Emcee in Cabaret (Billy and Prince William seen left in 2024)
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight in 2020, Billy had kind words to say about Meghan Markle.
He said: ‘The outfit was made by Giles Deacon and he made that fabric based on like a Kensington Palace, you know, pillar or something.
Asked about Meghan and Harry’s move to American at the time, he said: ‘I like that. He marrying a black girl. She was like “We don’t need that money, we been here before”.
‘I love it. She took him right on with her. I love her for it. I love her.’
Tony Award winner Billy was forced to quit Cabaret earlier this year due to Sepsis.
‘His doctors are confident that he will make a full recovery but have advised him to maintain a restful schedule these next couple of weeks,’ read a statement, obtained by The New York Times, at the time.
Producer Adam Speers of ATG Productions praised Porter’s contribution to the production, saying: ‘Billy was an extraordinary Emcee, bringing his signature passion and remarkable talent.
‘We wish Billy a speedy recovery and I look forward to working with him again in the very near future.’
While he was recovering, Billy was sent a get-well card from The Prince of Wales after the pair met when the Pose star co-hosted William’s Earthshot Prize in South Africa last year (Pictured)
It comes after Billy praised Meghan Markle for bringing Prince Harry to America with him when they stepped back as senior figures in the Royal Family (Meghan and Harry in October)
Billy had been scheduled to perform until October 19, but his early departure meant the Tony-winning revival closed ahead of schedule.
Its final performance at the August Wilson Theatre was on Sunday, September 21, concluding a run of 18 previews and 592 regular performances.
For the last shows, the Emcee role was shared by longtime alternates Marty Lauter and David Merino.
Marisha Wallace, who joined the Broadway cast alongside Billy in July after performing with him in the London staging, remained with the production until closing.
Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the body’s immune system has an extreme reaction to an infection, leading to widespread inflammation and possible organ failure.
According to the CDC, sepsis requires immediate treatment with antibiotics, IV fluids and hospital monitoring.
Early signs of sepsis can include fever, rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing or confusion.
Severe cases may escalate into septic shock, which can be fatal without urgent intervention.
While it can affect anyone, people with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions are at higher risk.
In 2021, Billy revealed he has been living with HIV since 2007.
‘I was the generation that was supposed to know better, and it happened anyway. It was 2007, the worst year of my life,’ he said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. ‘By February, I had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. By March, I signed bankruptcy papers. And by June, I was diagnosed HIV-positive.’
He continued: ‘The shame of that time compounded with the shame that had already [accumulated] in my life silenced me, and I have lived with that shame in silence for 14 years. HIV-positive, where I come from, growing up in the Pentecostal church with a very religious family, is God’s punishment.’
After years of hiding his condition, the performer, best known for his role in the hit TV series Pose, explained speaking ‘the truth’ was ‘healing.’
Over his career, Billy has earned an Emmy, Grammy, Tony and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
