Royal Biographer Alleges Prince Philip Had Pancreatic Cancer for Years, Details ‘Last Night of His Life’

Queen Elizabeth’s husband, Prince Philip, was reportedly battling cancer ahead of his death.

The Duke of Edinburgh was allegedly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2013, according to excerpts of royal biographer Hugo Vickers’ upcoming book, Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History, published by the Daily Mail on Saturday, March 28.

“Doctors had detected a shadow on his pancreas, and had cut him right across his stomach,” Vickers claimed in the book. “The verdict was inoperable pancreatic cancer.”

“He convalesced for two months at Windsor Castle, having good days and bad days, sometimes just sitting in the sunshine. There was a view that he might not be seen in public again,” Vickers wrote. “But, as ever, the Duke outwitted the pessimists. On July 12 he went up to Wood Farm at Sandringham and resumed royal duties on August 12 by presenting medals to the Royal Society in Edinburgh. He then joined the Queen at Balmoral.”

Fast forward to 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Vickers alleged that “Philip’s short-term memory was deteriorating,” noting, “He did not want to reach his 100th birthday, particularly disliking the fuss attendant at such events.”

Philip passed away at 99 years on April 9, 2021, in Windsor Castle, and at the time it was reported he died of old age.

Vickers shared in the book that “during those last 24 days at Windsor, he was up and about,” detailing Philip’s final hours.

“On the last night of his life, he gave his nurses the slip, shuffled along the corridor on his [walker], helped himself to a beer and drank it in the Oak Room,” Vickers penned. “The following morning, he got up, had a bath, said he did not feel well and quietly slipped away. By this point, he had lived with pancreatic cancer for nearly eight years – far longer than the usual survival time from diagnosis.”

However, Vickers pointed out, “The Queen was not there when he died.”

“There had often been times in earlier days when she had asked the staff to let her know when Philip was leaving, only to be told ‘His Royal Highness left 20 minutes ago,'” Vickers wrote. “She took the line, I was told, that she was ‘absolutely furious that, as so often in life, he left without saying goodbye.'”

As for Philip’s funeral, Vickers explained that, because of “Covid Rules,” only 30 people were allowed, which, seemingly, was what Philip wanted.

“Nothing would have delighted the Duke more than having such a pared-down farewell,” Vickers wrote.

Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History hits shelves on Thursday, April 9.