Fergie joins the Windsors’ health woes
… while the rest of the Royals carry on working
As the King recovers from a prostate procedure at the same hospital as the Princess of Wales, Sarah Duchess of York announced she, too, is facing another health battle.
The duchess, who is recovering from breast cancer surgery last June, has now been diagnosed with skin cancer. “I have been taking some time to myself as I have been diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer, my second cancer diagnosis within a year after I was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer and underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery,” she wrote on Instagram, on Tuesday. “It was thanks to the great vigilance of my dermatologist that the melanoma was detected when it was.”
Kerry took a look at the family’s health issues, for The Sunday Telegraph this week. Here’s an extract:
The King: He was all smiles when he arrived at The London Clinic on Friday, but we were shocked last week, when it was announced the King, 75, and the Princess of Wales, were both receiving treatment. Buckingham Palace put out a statement on January 17: “In common with thousands of men each year, The King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate,” it read. “The King’s public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation.”
Princess of Wales: Shortly before Buckingham Palace’s statement, Kensington Palace announced Catherine, 42, was in hospital in London, recovering from “abdominal surgery.” The princess has kept details of her health condition private. Prince William has been photographed visiting his wife in The London Clinic and she will be recuperating until after Easter. “The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for 10 – 14 days, before returning home to continue her recovery,” Kensington Palace said.
Sarah, Duchess of York: Sarah revealed her breast cancer diagnosis last June, undergoing a mastectomy and reconstruction after it was detected on a routine mammogram. However, she suffered a setback with the diagnosis of a malignant melanoma. “Naturally another cancer diagnosis has been a shock but I’m in good spirits and grateful for the many messages of love and support,” Sarah, 64, wrote. “I am resting with family at home now, feeling blessed to have their love and support.”
Princess Eugenie: When she was 12, Eugenie was diagnosed with scoliosis – a curvature of the spine – and underwent an eight-hour surgery at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, to have rods inserted into her back. Now a patron of the hospital charity, Eugenie, 33, wrote, “Without the care I received at the RNOH I wouldn’t look the way I do now.” At her 2018 wedding to Jack Brooksbank, her dress was designed to show off her scar. “I think you can change the way beauty is, and you can show people your scars and I think it’s really special to stand up for that,” she said.
Lady Louise Windsor: Louise was born with the eye condition esotropia, which causes a squint. She had two surgeries, at 18 months old and 10. “She’s fine now – her eyesight is perfect,” said Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who explained it often affects premature babies. Sophie gave birth to Louise, now 20, four-weeks prematurely in 2003, after a dramatic labour in which the duchess needed a huge blood transfusion and came close to death.
Diana, Princess of Wales: When Diana recorded tapes for Andrew Morton’s 1992 book Diana: Her True Story, she spoke honestly about her bulimia. During her honeymoon, on the Royal Yacht Britannia, Diana said it was raging. “By then the bulimia was appalling, absolutely appalling. It was rife, four times a day,” she said. She embarked on a long recovery process, using exercise. “She knew that after each session, she would feel amazing. It would help her to better herself,” her personal trainer Jenni Rivett told Yahoo.
It’s business as usual for the rest of the family
Maria took a look at the royals back at work this week…
Edward meets 191-year-old Jonathan: The Duke of Edinburgh was greeted on St Helena by Jonathan the Tortoise, the oldest land animal in the world, apparently. Born in the reign of William IV, the Seychelles giant tortoise has lived on St Helena since 1882 and is au fait hanging out with royal fans.
Jonathan has already met Edward’s parents and grandparents. Back in 1947, he welcomed George VI, Queen Elizabeth and the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret to the island. Ten years later, Prince Philip paid Jonathan a visit.
Edward was on the island for four days, following two days in South Africa. In St Helena, one of the most remote inhabited islands, the Duke climbed a 699-step staircase called Jacob’s Ladder, visited the Princess Royal Community Care Centre, opened by his sister in 2002 and officially opened St Helena airport.
Camilla supports domestic abuse victims: While the Queen spent Friday and Saturday visiting Charles in hospital, over the past week Her Majesty visited three support spaces and centres for survivors of domestic abuse. Her recent trips saw her in Aberdeen Art Gallery’s safe space, Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service’s refuge and Refuge’s Gaia Centre in South London.
The Queen said: “I particularly salute all the survivors who are able to get out there; to talk to me, talk to everybody and tell other people about what they’ve been through, because they are going to save lives by getting others to come forward.”
Sophie goes back to school: On Wednesday, the Duchess of Edinburgh took part in a menstrual health workshop at Harris Girls’ Academy East Dulwich in South London. The workshop was part of Wellbeing of Women’s Just A Period campaign, increasing awareness around period problems and shattering taboos. Sophie has been patron of Wellbeing of Women since May 2021.
Anne hands out honours at Windsor Castle: Among her other engagements this week, the Princess Royal held an Investiture at Windsor on Wednesday. One of the recipients was director Sir Stephen Frears. Two of his famous films are The Queen (which won Dame Helen Mirren an Oscar) and Victoria & Abdul (starring another dame - Dame Judi Dench).
Harry and Meghan’s movie surprise
With reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have sent private get well messages to Charles and Catherine, they popped up on Tuesday in Kingston, Jamaica, at the Bob Marley: One Love premiere.
This was the couple’s first official outing together for more than two months. Prime Minister Andrew Holness, posing with Harry and Meghan and his wife Juliet, has scheduled a referendum this year on whether the independent Commonwealth island will cut ties with the monarchy. The Duke and Duchess were also pictured chatting to Brian Robbins, chief executive of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon. It’s reported the royals travelled on the film company’s private jets.
The couple are no strangers to the Caribbean island. In 2011, the Duchess married her first husband, film producer Trevor Engelson, on a Jamaican beach. Harry had a successful trip back in 2012, representing his granny on a Diamond Jubilee tour. The Duke, who is a fan of the reggae legend, was asked at the premiere why he came, replying: “I had to be here.”
Listen to Charles celebrating Burns Night
The King has many great gifts and one of them is the precious art of storytelling. Just listen to his recorded excerpt from a Robert Burns poem, My Heart’s In The Highlands, here. This wonderful recital from 2009 was posted on 25 January marking Burns Night, which celebrates the life and work of Scotland’s greatest poet born on that day in 1759.
Happy birthday, Carole!
The Middleton’s SuperGran celebrates her 69th birthday this Wednesday. We can’t think of a better present than Carole welcoming Catherine back home for a couple of months of rest and recuperation.