KING Charles and Sarah Ferguson have been supporting each other through their cancer battles, sources claim. The Monarch, 75, and the Duchess of York, 64, have both been hit by shock diagnosis' within a few months of each other.
Sharing Support
The King and Fergie both received their cancer diagnosis' within months of each other. Buckingham Palace announced on Monday the King had received the news after a "separate issue of concern was noted" during his corrective prostate surgery. The monarch was admitted to The London Clinic on January 26 to undergo the operation and his stay was extended by 24 hours. In their statement, a Palace spokesman stated: "Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer."
His Majesty is undergoing a schedule of regular treatments and "remains wholly positive". Fergie and Charles are understood to be sharing heartfelt letters with each other amid this turbulent time, the Mirror reports. A source said: "The King and Sarah are incredibly fond of one another and now they have bonded over their respective cancer diagnosis with an exchange of letters." They added how "wicked" cancer is and how invaluable "support from loved ones and the extended cancer community" is.
Keep Fighting On
Fergie spoke at a cancer charity fundraiser this week, the Cancer Alliance of Help and Hope in Palm Beach, Florida, and expressed solidarity with the King, telling him to "keep fighting on". "I want to thank you all for your kindness in supporting my family members who are going through a hard time, and we wish everyone well, every family in the world, that has been diagnosed or who is going through a difficult time, we wish them well. And of course, my brother-in-law, we wish you well, keep fighting on," she said.
Brave Battles
The duchess was also told she had the disease just after Christmas when doctors found a suspicious looking mole. Like Charles, Fergie was in the hospital for a different reason – a mastectomy operation as part of her breast cancer treatment – when the issue was detected. At the time, her brother-in-law reportedly wrote to her to express his support and best wishes.
Lucky to be Alive
The duchess received the shocking news just six months after she was treated at the King Edward VII’s Hospital in Marylebone, central London. Fergie, who is patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust, had been symptom-free before a routine mammogram detected breast cancer, HOAR exclusively revealed last year. A source at the time said: "Most people usually associate breast cancer with a lump but that’s not always the case. A lump can be detected by the patient, but this was a ‘shadow’, which can go undetected as it’s a wider spread of cancerous cells. In Sarah’s case, a biopsy was taken from the shadowy area of tissue and a few days later the results came back to confirm the diagnosis — breast cancer."
State-of-the-Art Treatment
It is understood she is undergoing further investigations to ensure the melanoma has been caught in the early stages. Fergie has since been recuperating at the high-tech MAYRLIFE Clinic in Altausee, Austria. The state-of-the-art wellness center has been visited by a host of celebrities including Rebel Wilson, Naomi Campbell, and Karlie Kloss. Situated in the breathtaking Alpine scenery, MAYRLIFE claims to help its clients "shed the burdens of the soul", with a strict focus on health and well-being.
Pulling Together
It comes as the Royal Family unite amid the difficult time, from King Charles' cancer diagnosis to Princess Kate's abdominal surgery. King Charles will continue with his red boxes, weekly audiences with the Prime Minister, and monthly Privy Council meetings, but they may have to be scaled back on the advice of doctors. In the meantime, Prince William and Queen Camilla have taken the lead and stepped up to help with royal duties. On Wednesday, despite the turbulent time for his family as Princess Kate recuperates from her abdominal surgery, the prince gave a speech at a charity fundraising gala.
William, who served as a rescue pilot saving lives for seven years, attended the event for the London Air Ambulance Charity. It came hours after he returned to public engagements for the first time and held an investiture at Windsor Castle. William was seen smiling and joking as he handed out gongs at the ceremony. Queen Camilla has also put on a brave face amid the troubling time for her family. She was seen with Charles on Tuesday for the first time since his cancer shock – taking a helicopter to Sandringham after meeting Prince Harry.
The King was spotted smiling as they were driven from their London home Clarence House to the palace. Queen Camilla was also pictured at the opening of a new cancer treatment center days before Charles' diagnosis was made public. Despite knowing her husband's condition she continued with royal duties and smiled as she greeted visitors. Last night, she spoke out for the first time sharing an update on His Majesty's health at a charity event in Salisbury Cathedral.
She gave an update, speaking to Ben Abbott, 40, Critical care paramedic with Wiltshire Air Ambulance, and said: "He’s doing extremely well under the circumstances. He is very touched by all of the letters and messages the public have been sending from everywhere. That’s very cheering." Princess Anne has also stepped up and continues to help hold the family together. The royal made a public appearance on Monday, at the dedication of a new St John Ambulance Community unit in Devizes, Wilts.
