Duchess of York opens up about cancer struggle, says diagnosis felt like “a death sentence”
Sarah Ferguson has broken her silence following her appearance alongside Prince Andrew at the royal family’s Easter Sunday service, delivering an emotional confession about her battle with cancer in a powerful new statement.
The Duchess of York, who joined King Charles and other senior royals for the Easter celebration, was notably absent from official royal family photos shared on Instagram—sparking quiet speculation about her standing within the Firm. But the 65-year-old chose to focus not on the snub, but on something far more meaningful.
In her first statement since the Easter appearance, Fergie opened up about the toll of her dual cancer diagnoses in an op-ed for The Times, revealing that her health crisis felt “like a death sentence.”
“I was 63 when I was diagnosed with cancer for the first time, and cancer at any age is traumatic,” she wrote. “It felt like a bomb going off in my life.”
The Duchess, who was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in 2023 and later with skin cancer in 2024, reflected on the emotional challenges she faced—and used her experience to shine a light on the struggles young people face when diagnosed with the disease.
While she acknowledged receiving support during her treatment, she stressed that many teens are “left to struggle alone with the dark thoughts.”
Ferguson made the remarks as part of her ongoing work with the Teenage Cancer Trust. On Wednesday, she visited University College Hospital in London with her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, in support of the charity’s #AndYoungPeople campaign, which calls for more attention and care for teenage cancer patients.
Despite royal tensions, the Duchess continues to turn her personal battles into public advocacy—using her voice to champion those who feel unseen.
