Royal Historian Claims Prince Philip Battled Pancreatic Cancer for Eight Years
A new royal biography has made the startling claim that Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, lived with inoperable pancreatic cancer for nearly eight years prior to his death in 2021. This revelation comes from historian and biographer Hugo Vickers in his book Queen Elizabeth II, which has been serialised in the Daily Mail.
Diagnosis and Medical History
According to Vickers, Prince Philip was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June 2013 during an 11-day hospital visit when he was 91 years old. Doctors detected a "shadow" on his pancreas and, after explorative surgery, confirmed it was inoperable cancer. This diagnosis followed earlier health issues, including hospitalisation in 2011 for a blocked coronary artery.
Remarkably, Philip survived for nearly eight years with this condition, far exceeding the typical survival time for pancreatic cancer, where less than 5% of patients live for 10 or more years and around half die within three months of diagnosis. His official cause of death was recorded as "old age" after he passed away in April 2021, following discharge from hospital for a pre-existing heart condition.
Final Days and Personal Insights
Vickers provides intimate details of Philip's final moments. On his last night, the prince reportedly gave his nurses "the slip," shuffled along a corridor on his Zimmer frame, helped himself to a beer, and drank it in the Oak Room. The following morning, he got up, had a bath, said he did not feel well, and quietly passed away.
The book also claims that Prince Philip did not wish to reach his 100th birthday, as he disliked the fuss of such events. Queen Elizabeth II, who was not present when her husband died, was said to have been upset that "as so often in life, he left without saying goodbye."
Funeral and Broader Royal Context
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, only 30 people were able to attend Philip's funeral, with the Queen forced to sit alone in the chapel as he was buried in the Royal Vault at St George's Chapel. This personal loss comes amid ongoing health concerns within the royal family, as King Charles was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024 and is currently undergoing treatment, though Buckingham Palace has not disclosed the specific type, confirming only it is not prostate cancer.
In December, King Charles issued a heartfelt message supporting Stand Up to Cancer, urging people to attend screenings and highlighting that early detection can transform treatment journeys. Pancreatic cancer remains a significant health issue in the UK, being the fifth most common cause of cancer death, with around 10,200 fatalities annually according to Cancer Research.
Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment on these new claims regarding Prince Philip's health.
