Duchess of York speaks candidly on mental health struggles after ‘dreadful’ year for royal family. Sarah Ferguson has opened up about the “dark places” her mind went to when she was hit with the bombsell of different cancer diagnoses just months apart during a horror year for the royal family.
![[The Duke and Duchess of York are believed to be on good terms despite their divorce nearly 30 years ago]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/24/09/426c03cd-4750-459a-b58f-ba4a41acc9b0.jpg)
In an interview with The Times, the Duchess of York, 65, also paid tribute to her family as she detailed her mental health struggles during this 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.
![[The duchess spoke specifically of her daughters Princess Beatrice, 36, and Princess Eugenie, 34, and how even with all that she has personally endured in recent months, she still finds herself always worrying about them]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/12/05/14/gqvug9PZ-720.jpg)
Reflecting on the two back-to-back health scares, Ms Ferguson 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.”.
She added: “My family have been an immense support to me through this period. I’ve used meditation and mindfulness to help stay positive and balanced.”. The duchess spoke specifically of her daughters Princess Beatrice, 36, and Princess Eugenie, 34, and how even with all that she has personally endured in recent months, she still finds herself always worrying about them.
