A new book by royal historian Hugo Vickers alleges that Prince Philip secretly battled inoperable pancreatic cancer for the last eight years of his life. The Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away on April 9, 2021, at the age of 99, was reportedly diagnosed with the condition in 2013.
Vickers’ account, detailed in “Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History,” paints a poignant picture of Philip’s final moments. According to the Daily Mail, on the eve of his death, Prince Philip reportedly slipped away from his nurses. He was said to have used his Zimmer frame to navigate the corridor to the Oak Room, where he helped himself to a beer and enjoyed it in private.
The historian further described Philip’s last morning: “The following morning, he got up, had a bath, said he did not feel well, and quietly slipped away.” Vickers noted that Philip had been living with pancreatic cancer for nearly eight years at this point, a duration significantly exceeding the typical survival time for such a diagnosis.
Buckingham Palace had previously stated that Prince Philip died from “old age,” just two months shy of his 100th birthday.
A Queen’s Reaction to a Private Departure
Vickers also revealed that Queen Elizabeth was not present at the moment of her husband’s death. He recalled instances from earlier in their marriage where the Queen had requested to be informed when Prince Philip was departing, only to be told he had already left. The historian suggested that Queen Elizabeth was “absolutely furious that, as so often in life, [Philip] left without saying goodbye.”
Retirement and a Hidden Battle
Prince Philip retired from public duties in 2017. At the time of his retirement, it is alleged he had already been living with pancreatic cancer for approximately four years. The initial discovery of his illness occurred on June 7, 2013, following an abdominal operation. During this procedure, at the age of 92, doctors identified a shadow on his pancreas.
Vickers recounted the medical findings: “Doctors had detected a shadow on his pancreas, and had cut him right across his stomach. The verdict was inoperable pancreatic cancer.” Following the diagnosis, Philip spent two months convalescing at Windsor Castle. His recovery period was marked by varying health, with “good days and bad days, sometimes just sitting in the sunshine.” There was reportedly a period where it was uncertain if he would ever be seen in public again.
A Public Farewell and a Private Retreat
Despite the serious diagnosis, Prince Philip made a remarkable public appearance for another four years until his official retirement from public life on August 2, 2017. During his decades of service, he had completed over 22,000 engagements. His final public duty was described as a poignant event.
Vickers depicted the scene: “It was a wet day. Wearing a raincoat and bowler hat, he strode through the parade without a stick and chatted to the young men and the veterans. When the parade gave him three cheers, he responded with a valedictory wave of his hat.”
Following this final engagement, the Queen reportedly granted the Duke considerable freedom. Vickers stated, “After that final engagement, the Queen let the Duke do exactly as he pleased.” Prince Philip found particular happiness at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate, which became his primary residence for the subsequent two and a half years.
Years of Quiet Enjoyment
In the years after his retirement, Prince Philip maintained a low profile. His activities included enjoying carriage driving, pursuing his passion for reading, and engaging in some painting. Vickers noted that, from time to time, Queen Elizabeth would travel to Norfolk to spend weekends with him. He concluded by observing, “Once again, she gave him a loose rein,” suggesting a period of comfortable autonomy for the Duke in his later years.
