King Charles' Monarchy Hit by Third Health Scare

Sarah Ferguson—ex-wife of Prince Andrew—has been diagnosed with malignant melanoma and doctors are investigating whether the cancer has spread.

Fergie, as she is known in the British media, had surgery after a breast-cancer diagnosis in June and, following the scare, her dermatologist asked for several moles to be removed. Following analysis, Ferguson has been diagnosed with malignant melanoma, prompting further medical investigations to check that the removal of the moles had dealt with all the cancerous tissue.

It marks another serious health scare for the royals as Kate Middleton enters day six of her recovery from abdominal surgery and King Charles III prepares for a procedure on an enlarged prostate.

The Duchess of York, mother to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, said she was in good spirits, despite the shock.

In an Instagram post on Monday, Ferguson wrote: "I have been taking some time to myself as I have been diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer, my second cancer diagnosis within a year after I was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer and underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.

"It was thanks to the great vigilance of my dermatologist that the melanoma was detected when it was.

"Naturally another cancer diagnosis has been a shock but I'm in good spirits and grateful for the many messages of love and support," the duchess added.

"I believe my experience underlines the importance of checking the size, shape, colour and texture and emergence of new moles that can be a sign of melanoma and urge anyone who is reading this to be diligent," Ferguson wrote.

"I am incredibly thankful to the medical teams that have supported me through both of these experiences with cancer and to the MAYRLIFE Clinic for taking gentle care of me in the past weeks, allowing me time for recuperation," she added. "I am resting with family at home now, feeling blessed to have their love and support."

The private clinic, on Lake Altaussee, in Austria, describes itself online as offering "breathtaking countryside with a fabulous mountain backdrop," where "anyone searching for recovery, relaxation and health will find the perfect conditions to activate both body and spirit."

A spokesperson said: "Her dermatologist asked that several moles were removed and analyzed at the same time as the duchess was undergoing reconstructive surgery following her mastectomy, and one of these has been identified as cancerous.

"She is undergoing further investigations to ensure that this has been caught in the early stages," the spokesperson added.

King Charles canceled planned engagements in Scotland last week ahead of his medical procedure in the coming days. The monarch took the unusual decision of announcing his diagnosis in the hope that he would inspire other men to get checked out.

Kate's diagnosis has not been revealed, but she has been given a lengthy recovery time with up to two weeks in hospital, along with a stint at home. She will only see her return to royal engagements after Easter at the earliest.

After her initial breast-cancer diagnosis, Fergie told her Tea Talks With the Duchess and Sarah podcast how she was treating the scare as a blessing.

"I'm taking this as a real gift for me to change my life; to nurture myself; to stop trying to fix everyone else," Ferguson said. "I think: 'You're going to take yourself seriously now, Sarah.' I'm taking myself seriously.

"I'm going to understand it, get super fit, super strong, really understand what it was that really caused this one little shadow... look at it straight on."

Jack Royston is Newsweek's chief royal correspondent based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.

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