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A new book reveals that Prince Philip privately endured an eight-year struggle with pancreatic cancer before his passing. The revelation comes as part of a biography that sheds light on the final years of Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, who died in 2021 at the remarkable age of 99, just a year before the Queen.
According to royal historian Hugo Vickers, Prince Philip was diagnosed with an inoperable form of pancreatic cancer in June 2013. Despite the gravity of his condition, he chose to keep his health battle largely private, a testament to his enduring stoicism. These insights are part of Vickers’ latest book, “Queen Elizabeth II,” which is currently being serialized by the Daily Mail.
Prince Philip is said to have lived with pancreatic cancer for eight years
Vickers paints a poignant picture of the Duke of Edinburgh’s last moments at Windsor Castle. He describes a man who, on the eve of his death, managed to evade his nurses, navigate the corridor with a Zimmer frame, and enjoy a final beer in the Oak Room. The following morning, he reportedly bathed, expressed that he was unwell, and then peacefully passed away.
Prince Philip’s nearly decade-long battle with pancreatic cancer is notable, given that it far exceeds the typical survival expectancy following such a diagnosis. His quiet resilience and determination remain a significant part of his legacy.
“The following morning, he got up, had a bath, said he did not feel well and quietly slipped away. By this point, he had lived with pancreatic cancer for nearly eight years – far longer than the usual survival time from diagnosis.
“The Queen was not there when he died. There had often been times in earlier days when she had asked the staff to let her know when Philip was leaving, only to be told: ‘His Royal Highness left 20 minutes ago’ … [She was] absolutely furious that, as so often in life, he left without saying goodbye”.
The revelation comes after it revealed a planned national memorial to Queen Elizabeth will also pay tribute to her husband.
A team led by architect Lord Norman Foster has been selected to create a memorial in tribute to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch – who passed away at the age of 96 in 2022 – in St James’s Park in London.
The winning design features a translucent bridge inspired by the late Queen’s wedding tiara and includes a separate statue of the Queen and Prince Philip, gardens and a Prince Philip Gate – to go with the main monument of the late sovereign.
Lord Robert Janvrin, chair of the memorial committee and the late Queen’s former private secretary told the BBC: “I think the location is something which would have appealed to her. You can see the bridge from the room where she often sat for paintings.”
Lord Foster said Prince Philip’s inclusion highlighted the “inseparable quality” of the royal couple – who were married for 73 years until the Duke’s death.
He explained: “We showed them together and, in a way, there was this inseparable quality which we sought to convey.”
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