Double diagnoses of cancer put Duchess in 'dark places'

Sarah Ferguson has opened up about the dark places” her mind went to when she was hit with the bombshell of different cancer diagnoses just months apart during a difficult year for the royal family.

- TARA COBHAM

The Duchess of York, 65, also paid tribute to her family as she detailed her mental health struggles during a difficult time and admitted she worries about her children “all the time”.

The 65-year-old’s candour comes after she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma last January – a shock diagnosis came just six months after she had treatment for breast cancer and underwent breast reconstruction surgery.

Reflecting on the two back-to-back health scares, the duchess told The Times: “It was hard. I’m generally a positive person, but cancer is like a bomb going off in your life. One diagnosis is enough to deal with, but I had two in the space of a year. I don’t mind admitting that my mind went to some dark places, reflecting on my own mortality.”