As King Charles and Princess Kate continue to recover from their own diagnoses, there’s good news to share about Sarah Ferguson’s cancer journey.
The Duchess of York recently revealed she’s put “cancer in the corner” after receiving two diagnoses in less than a year’s time. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2023, and then in January 2024, she announced she was also battling skin cancer. “Following her diagnosis with an early form of breast cancer this summer, Sarah, Duchess of York, has now been diagnosed with malignant melanoma,” a spokesperson for Ferguson told Us Weekly in a statement at the time. The spokesperson noted that while “another diagnosis so soon after treatment for breast cancer has been distressing,” the Duchess was “in good spirits.” Now, it seems Fergie is turning another leaf for the better.
While at the amfAR Gala during the Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2024, the Duchess of York took the time to chat with reporters about her battle with skin cancer. “This evening I am doing very well. I think that we’ve managed to get cancer in the right place rather than cancer ruling me. I’ve put cancer in the corner,” she told People.
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Ferguson, who has two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, with her ex-husband Prince Andrew, also emphasized the importance of having open discussions about cancer, suggesting that screenings should be as crucial as regular check-ups. “I think you always have to be aware. I think it’s great to get checked for breast cancer [and] melanoma,” she told reporters. “I think you just have to be very candid about it. I think a lot of people get very frightened to talk about these things.”
She added, “I’m very happy with my mastectomy and my breasts and just to talk about it.”
Around the same time Sarah Ferguson announced her melanoma diagnosis, her royal relatives King Charles III and Princess Kate Middleton also revealed that they were facing their own battles with the disease. Charles shared his cancer diagnosis in February 2024, while Kate followed suit a month later. Unlike Fergie, however, they haven’t shared the details of their conditions.
Following Kate’s announcement, Fergie shared a message of support for the Princess of Wales, writing on Instagram, “All my thoughts and prayers are with the Princess of Wales as she starts her treatment. I know she will be surrounded by the love of her family and everyone is praying for the best outcome.”
“As someone who has faced their own battles with cancer in recent months, I am full of admiration for the way she has spoken publicly about her diagnosis and know it will do a tremendous amount of good to raise awareness,” she added at the time. “I hope she will now be given the time, space and privacy to heal.”
Both Charles and Kate—who’s married to Prince William—continue to undergo treatment and had to take a step back from their public duties as they focused on their recoveries. Charles got back to work on April 30, 2024, while Kate is still recovering in private. However, in her announcement in March 2024, Kate mentioned she’ll be back to her public engagements once her doctors give her the all-clear.
Meanwhile, Sarah Ferguson is continuing to offer her support to her family members. “I think family unity is key,” she told reporters at the amfAR Gala. “I think the key to life is that we all support each other. And also forgiveness is a great thing. I think forgiveness of yourself, and forgiveness of others.”
