Dame Joan Collins has refused to acknowledge the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

She has been dismissive of the couple in the past, and asked again this week she told The Sun newspaper: "I won't speak about them, sorry."

Joan appeared at the Inspiration Awards for Women - where she received the Lifetime Achievement Award - and she paid tribute to Catherine for her bravery in making her own announcement about her health last week.

She said: "We talked about children - you know, I'm a mother, she's a mother - and I was extremely sad to hear the news.

"We all knew she wasn't well, but I thought it was incredibly brave of her to speak herself, to make the announcement herself.

"Very unusual for royals to do that, don't you think? And for her to come out and say that, she doesn't have to do it."

She urged people to "allow her now to go away and heal, with her children, with her husband" after months of speculation.

Catherine announced her diagnosis during a televised address, where she said: "In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London. And at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous.

"The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation on cancer had been present.

"This of course, came as a huge shock. And William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family."

Harry and Meghan publicly wished Catherine "health and healing" following the disclosure of her illness.

In a statement, they said: "We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace."