Prince Philip’s Secret Battle with Pancreatic Cancer Revealed
A new book delving into the lives of Queen Elizabeth II and her late husband, Prince Philip, has brought to light a previously unknown aspect of the Duke of Edinburgh’s final years: his prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer. Prince Philip, who passed away in April 2021 at the age of 99, was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer in June 2013, a diagnosis that reportedly astonished his medical team due to his remarkable longevity with the disease.
The revelation comes from royal biographer Hugo Vickers in his book, “Queen Elizabeth II,” which offers fresh insights into the twilight years of the royal couple. For years, this significant health challenge was kept from the public eye, with doctors apparently struggling to comprehend how the Duke managed to live for so long after his diagnosis. While his official death certificate cited “old age” as the cause of his passing, the book suggests a more complex and enduring health struggle.
Prince Philip was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer nearly eight years before he died, a new book about the Queen and the then-Duke of Edinburgh’s life has revealed.
In Queen Elizabeth II, a new book by the royal biographer Hugo Vickers, the final years of the two royals’ lives have been cast in fresh detail – including Philip’s long-running illness.
While he died at Windsor Castle in April 2021, two months before he turned 100, the Duke was given the diagnosis of inoperable cancer in June 2013 when he was 92 years of age.
The book claims the condition was kept from the public for years and that his doctors struggled to believe he had survived for so long.
Philip’s official death certificate lists ‘old age’ as the eventual cause of death.
A Consort’s Remarkable Endurance
Prince Philip holds the distinction of being the longest-reigning consort in British history. His final weeks saw him receive treatment at King Edward VII’s Hospital and St Bartholomew’s Hospital. At the time of his hospitalisation, the public was informed that he was being treated for an infection, and he also underwent a procedure for a pre-existing heart condition. He was discharged from hospital on March 16, 2021, returning to Windsor Castle to be with the Queen after a month-long stay.
The book, serialised in the Daily Mail, paints a picture of Prince Philip continuing to live life on his own terms, even in his final days. Known for his candid remarks and extraordinary stamina, the Duke reportedly maintained his spirited approach until the very end.
At the time, it was reported that he initially received care for an infection, but also underwent heart surgery for a pre-existing condition.
He returned to Windsor Castle on March 16 to be reunited with the Queen after spending a month in the hospitals.
There, the Duke, known for his frequent gaffes and remarkable longevity, continued living life to the full even on his final night, claims the new book, which has been serialised in the Daily Mail.
A Quiet Farewell, A Frustrated Queen
According to Vickers’ account, Prince Philip’s last night was characteristically independent. The book details an instance where the Duke, using his zimmer frame, made his way to the Oak Room, a sitting room within Windsor Castle, where he poured himself a beer.
The following morning, his health took a turn. The book recounts: “he got up, had a bath, said he did not feel well and quietly slipped away.” This unassuming departure marked the end of a life lived with pancreatic cancer for nearly eight years, a duration that significantly exceeded the typical survival expectations for such a diagnosis.
Prince Philip gave nurses the slip and headed down on his zimmer frame to the Oak Room, a sitting room in the castle, and poured himself a beer, Vickers wrote.
‘The following morning, he got up, had a bath, said he did not feel well and quietly slipped away,’ the book said.
‘By this point, he had lived with pancreatic cancer for nearly eight years – far longer than the usual survival time from diagnosis.’
Adding a poignant note to his passing, Queen Elizabeth II was not present at the moment of her husband’s death. The book suggests that the Queen was left frustrated by his characteristic, unannounced departure. Vickers reports that she described herself as “absolutely furious that, as so often in life, he left without saying goodbye.” This sentiment appears to be a reference to Prince Philip’s lifelong habit of leaving without prior notice, a trait that often extended to the Queen herself, who would frequently request staff to inform her of his movements, only to find he had already departed. This revelation sheds new light on the private struggles and enduring spirit of a key figure in modern British history.
