Pandora Cooper-Kay, 51, Passes Away After Prolonged Battle with Cancer
Cressida Bonas, Prince Harry's former girlfriend, is mourning the loss of her sister, Pandora Cooper-Kay, who has died at the age of 51. Pandora had endured a lengthy struggle with cancer, battling the disease for 24 years before her death on July 22.
Pandora’s final illness was marked by the diagnosis of an inoperable brain tumour earlier this year. A death notice highlighted her as the "beloved daughter of the late Edmond Cooper-Key and Lady Mary Gaye Curzon," and praised her as an "adored mother" and "so much-loved sister" to her extensive family.
Cooper-Kay had been afflicted with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that significantly increases cancer risk. Her cancer journey began at 26 with Paget's disease, a rare form of breast cancer, leading to a double mastectomy. Her health further deteriorated after a diagnosis of sinus sarcoma just five weeks post childbirth, leaving her former husband with the grim prognosis of only ten weeks to live.
Pandora had previously reflected on her diagnosis and wondered if her wealth contributed to her illness. "I wondered if it was because my parents were so rich. Maybe I got the money but not the life," she shared in 2021.
Kerry Reeves-Knepi, director of communications at Sarcoma UK, praised Pandora's significant impact. "Pandora was an extraordinary individual whose influence on Sarcoma UK and the wider community was profound," Reeves-Knepi stated. "Her fighting spirit and openness about her cancer journey were inspirational and crucial in raising awareness."
Reeves-Knepi extended condolences to Pandora's family, including her mother, Lady Mary, her sister Cressida Bonas, her two sons, and all who knew her. "Pandora's legacy will endure in the work we do and the lives she touched with her kindness and courage," she added.
Cressida Bonas, who dated Prince Harry from 2012 to 2014 after being introduced by Princess Eugenie, is receiving heartfelt support during this difficult time.
