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- Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed in his memoir that Queen Elizabeth II was diagnosed with bone cancer.
- Experts note that the royal family has a long-standing tradition of maintaining privacy regarding their health issues.
- King Charles III aims to leverage his health challenges to support others.
Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth on September 8, 2022, her official cause of death was attributed to old age.
However, in an excerpt from his forthcoming memoir titled “Unleashed,” former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that the monarch had been suffering from bone cancer prior to her demise. This revelation was highlighted by an article published by The Daily Mail. The book is set for release in the UK on October 10 and in the US on October 15.
“I had been aware for over a year that she was dealing with a type of bone cancer, and her medical team expressed concerns about her potential rapid decline at any moment,” he recounted during a visit with the Queen just days before her passing in September 2022.
Johnson also mentioned that Edward Young, the Queen’s private secretary, informed him she “had known all summer about her impending fate,” although this information remained undisclosed publicly.
This disclosure from Johnson isn’t entirely unprecedented; royal biographer Gyles Brandreth previously indicated in his 2022 work “Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait” that the late monarch suffered from bone marrow cancer. Buckingham Palace refrained from commenting when Brandreth’s book was released.
The late queen’s choice to keep details about her health private aligns with historical practices among royals but marks a rare instance where a former prime minister divulged such personal information regarding a monarch’s condition.
Health Privacy Within Royalty
The royal family members have consistently maintained discretion concerning their medical affairs, particularly those who hold or held significant positions within it.
Historian and royal commentator Carolyn Harris explained to Business Insider how during King George VI’s reign, privacy surrounding health matters reflected broader societal attitudes towards medicine at that time. The king passed away due to lung cancer—a diagnosis many were unaware he faced until it became critical—shocking both public and family alike as they were abroad on tour when he died unexpectedly.
“In those times, discussing illnesses like cancer was considered distressing for patients and their families as well as for society at large,” Harris noted regarding public perceptions during the 1950s era when such topics were often avoided altogether.”
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Cultural shifts have also influenced how royals manage media relations; according to royal observer Kristen Meinzer,the media landscape throughout much of the last century offered greater respect for public figures’ privacy than today’s environment does.’
‘Throughout her life,
the Queen witnessed significant transformations within media coverage which affected how information about royalty circulated,’ she remarked. ‘A century ago,
it would have been simpler for royals wishing to maintain confidentiality around their health simply not to disclose anything.'”
The legacy of discretion established by King George VI continued through both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip; however,
Harris suggested their motivations may have shifted slightly toward strategic considerations compared with previous generations.
‘Both sought headlines focused more on monarchy duties rather than personal ailments,’ she added.
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A notable example includes Prince Philip’s decision in 2017
to retire from public engagements so there wouldn’t be rampant speculation every time he missed an event due
to illness; he passed away at age ninety-nine in April twenty-one.
Similarly,
the queen made several appearances despite declining health leading up until June twenty-two when she celebrated
her Platinum Jubilee—just two days before meeting Liz Truss at Balmoral Castle where she appointed Truss as new prime minister.
Evolving Norms Around Royal Health Disclosures
As Carolyn Harris pointed out , Boris Johnson ’ s revelations concerning Her Majesty ’ s condition are atypical behavior expected from past leaders .
“ Conversations exchanged between sovereigns & prime ministers should remain confidential , which explains why there exists so much intrigue surrounding discussions behind palace walls , ” said Harris .
She further noted recent prime ministers exhibited varying degrees openness regarding private meetings held with The Crown ; David Cameron notably shared insights into these encounters despite displeasure expressed by Her Majesty herself .
Traditionally speaking , details pertaining specifically towards royal healthcare only emerged through authorized biographies ; however ,
current reigning monarch Charles III appears willing embrace modernity surrounding transparency related thereto .
For instance , both King Charles & Kate Middleton received diagnoses indicating they battled cancers earlier this year (2024) while His Majesty openly discussed undergoing surgery addressing enlarged prostate issues back January .
< Figure >< Img Src = “ https : // i . insider . com /660aae771caec1275a6b610b ? format = jpeg ” Height = “1897” Width = “2000” Alt = “ King Charles stands before open door frame.” />< Fig caption > Buckingham Palace confirmed diagnosis involving prostate enlargement announced February fifth (2024).
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“ Much throughout life experiences encountered publicly has led him feeling comfortable engaging directly via media channels,” asserted Carolyn Harris .
Harris along with Meinzer referenced biography titled ‘The Prince Of Wales’ co-authored alongside Jonathan Dimbleby back during nineties showcasing willingness engage openly amidst press scrutiny .
“ It seems evident now more than ever benefits arise whenever citizens become aware concerning struggles faced by monarchy members undergoing various treatments,” concluded Carolyn Harris .
After announcing surgical procedure undertaken addressing enlarged prostate earlier this year NHS website experienced surge traffic reaching record levels daily visits following announcement made publically available online .
While openness demonstrated thus far yielded positive outcomes including Kate sharing completion chemotherapy treatment recently achieved success ;
Meinzer remains skeptical whether intimate specifics will emerge anytime soon relating ongoing therapies pursued moving forward .
“ Perhaps down line another memoir could surface featuring collaboration either involving Charles or Kate but I wouldn’t anticipate anything imminent occurring shortly,” speculated Meinzer concluding remarks reflecting uncertainty future disclosures might entail.
