Royal Cancer Deaths

compiled by Susan Flantzer

This does not purport to be a complete list. Of course, without modern medical diagnostic tools, it was impossible to accurately diagnose illnesses. Therefore, the people listed below all died, with one exception from 1900 onward.

All images are from Wikipedia unless otherwise indicated.

Bone Cancer

George Mountbatten, 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven

  • Born: Prince George of Battenberg on December 6, 1892 at the Neues Palais in Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse, now in Hesse, Germany
  • Parents: Prince Louis of Battenberg (later 1st Marquess of Milford Haven) and Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine
  • Married: Countess Nadejda Mikhailovna de Torby in 1916
  • Died: April 8, 1938, aged 45, in London, England
  • Buried: Bray Cemetery in Bray, Berkshire, England
  • Unofficial Royalty: George Mountbatten, 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven

George became instrumental in the upbringing of his nephew Prince Philip of Greece (the future husband of Queen Elizabeth II) after Philip’s mother suffered a breakdown and his father was more-or-less separated from the family. George became Philip’s primary guardian, serving as a surrogate father and arranging for, and financing, Philip’s education.

In December 1937, George suffered a fall and broke his femur. A month later, when it did not appear to be healing, a further examination found that he was suffering from bone marrow cancer. Fearing that the diagnosis would cause him to decline quite quickly, the doctors chose to withhold it from him, in agreement with the family. He lingered for several months, finally losing his battle on April 8, 1938.

Princess Christina of the Netherlands

Credit: Dutch Royal House, © RVD

  • Born: February 18, 1947 at Soestdijk Palace in Baarn, the Netherlands
  • Parents: Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
  • Married: Jorge Pérez y Guillermo in 1975, divorced in 1996
  • Died: August 16, 2019, aged 72, at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands
  • Unofficial Royalty: Princess Christina of the Netherlands

Princess Christina was the youngest of the four daughters of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. Her eldest sister Beatrix reigned as Queen of the Netherlands from 1980 until 2013 when she abdicated in favor of her son Willem-Alexander. In the fall of 2017, Princess Christina was diagnosed with bone cancer. This was announced publically in June 2018. Christina’s remains were cremated.

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Brain Cancer

Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, Duchess of Kent

Princess Marina with her husband Prince George, Duke of Kent

  • Born: December 13, 1906 in Athens, Kingdom of Greece
  • Parents: Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark and Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia
  • Married: Prince George, Duke of Kent in 1934
  • Died: August 27, 1968, aged 61, at Kensington Palace in London, England
  • Buried: Royal Burial Grounds, Frogmore in Windsor, England
  • Unofficial Royalty: Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, Duchess of Kent

On July 16, 1968, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent was admitted to the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases. She was discharged six days later. On August 27, 1968, at 12:05 PM, Kensington Palace issued the following statement: “Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, died peacefully in her sleep at her home Kensington Palace, at 11.40 this morning, Tuesday, 27th August.” Her doctors had issued this statement: “The Princess had for some weeks been suffering from an inoperable tumour of the brain and her condition rapidly deteriorated during the past 24 hours.” At her bedside at the time of her death were her son, the Duke of Kent and his wife the Duchess of Kent; her daughter Princess Alexandra of Kent and her husband Angus Ogilvy; and her son Prince Michael of Kent. It was only several hours earlier that the severity of her condition became public when Kensington Palace issued a statement that her condition “was giving rise to anxiety.”

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Colon Cancer

Infanta Pilar of Spain, Duchess of Badajoz

  • Born: July 30, 1936 at Ville Saint Blaise in Cannes, France
  • Parents: Infante Juan of Spain, Count of Barcelona and Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
  • Married: Luis Gómez-Acebo y Duque de Estrada, 2nd Viscount of La Torre in 1967
  • Died: January 8, 2020, aged 83, at the Ruber International Hospital in Madrid, Spain
  • Buried: Cremated and her ashes were placed in her husband’s family mausoleum beside her husband at the Saint Isidore Cemetery in Madrid, Spain
  • Unofficial Royalty: Infanta Pilar of Spain, Duchess of Badajoz

Infanta Pilar was the elder sister of King Juan Carlos of Spain and the aunt of King Felipe VI of Spain. She had surgery for an intestinal obstruction on February 2, 2019, and was subsequently diagnosed with colon cancer. A public announcement of her condition was made in May 2019. On January 5, 2020, Pilar was admitted to the hospital as her condition worsened. She died on January 8, 2020, at the Ruber International Hospital in Madrid, Spain with her family at her side.

Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Sultan of Oman

  • Born: November 18, 1940 in Salalah, Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, now the Sultanate of Oman
  • Parents: Said bin Taimur, Sultan of Muscat and Oman, and his second wife, Princess Mazoon bint Ahmed Ali al-Maashani
  • Married: Princess Nawwal bint Tariq Al-Said of Oman in 1976, divorced in 1979
  • Died: January 10, 2020 at the Al Alam Palace in Muscat, Oman
  • Buried: Royal Cemetery in Muscat, Oman
  • Unofficial Royalty: Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Sultan of Oman

Sultan Qaboos had been under treatment for colon cancer since at least 2014 and had spent much time in Germany undergoing treatment. In December 2019, he had traveled to Belgium for medical treatment. He died several weeks after returning from Belgium.

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Esophageal Cancer, Laryngeal Cancer, Throat Cancer

Friedrich III, German Emperor, King of Prussia

  • Born: October 18, 1831 at the Neues Palais in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany
  • Parents: Wilhelm I, German Emperor and Princess Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
  • Married: Victoria, Princess Royal in 1858
  • Died: June 15, 1888, aged 56, at the Neues Palais in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany
  • Buried: Friedenskirche (Church of Peace) in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany
  • Unofficial Royalty: Friedrich III, German Emperor, King of Prussia

The year 1888 is called “The Year of Three Emperors” in German history. Friedrich’s father Wilhelm I died on March 9, 1888, and Friedrich succeeded him as Friedrich III. However, Friedrich was already gravely ill with cancer of the larynx and could no longer speak, but despite this, he did his best to fulfill his obligations as Emperor. In May 1888, Fritz lamented, “I cannot die … What would happen to Germany?” Fritz reigned for only 99 days, dying at the age of 56 on June 15, 1888. His son succeeded him as Wilhelm II and lost his throne in the aftermath of World War I.

Prince Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke of Edinburgh

  • Born: August 6, 1844 at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England
  • Parents: Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
  • Married: Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia in 1874
  • Died: July 30, 1900, aged 55 at Schloss Rosenau in Coburg, Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, now in Bavaria, Germany
  • Buried: Ducal Mausoleum in the Glockenburg Cemetery in Coburg, Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, now in Bavaria, Germany
  • Unofficial Royalty: Prince Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke of Edinburgh

Alfred’s years of smoking and drinking affected his health. In June 1900, an inoperable, cancerous tumor was discovered at the root of his tongue. It was estimated that he had six months to live but that was not to be. Apparently, the truth about Alfred’s condition was kept from him. At the end of July 1900, the doctors decided to perform a tracheotomy to ease Alfred’s breathing but on July 30, 1900, Alfred died in his sleep.

Prince Heinrich of Prussia

  • Born: August 14, 1862 at the Crown Prince’s Palace in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany
  • Parents: Friedrich III, German Emperor, King of Prussian and Victoria, Princess Royal
  • Married: Princess Irene of Hesse and by Rhine in 1888
  • Died: April 20, 1929, aged 66 at Schloss Hemmelmark in Barkelsby, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
  • Buried: In a Russian-style chapel surrounded by trees, built on a field at Schloss Hemmelmark in Barkelsby, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
  • Unofficial Royalty: Prince Heinrich of Prussia

Heinrich was close to his elder brother Wilhelm II, German Emperor. After the end of World War I, when Wilhelm was exiled to Doorn, the Netherlands and was not allowed to enter Germany, Heinrich always visited Wilhelm for his birthday on January 27. Heinrich was a heavy smoker and had suffered from throat issues for several months and 1929 was the first year he had not visited Wilhelm for his birthday. Heinrich was eventually diagnosed with cancer similar to the one that had killed his father. Three days before his death, Heinrich developed pneumonia. He died with his wife Irene, his son Waldemar and Waldemar’s wife at his bedside. His other surviving son Sigismund was in Costa Rica.

King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom, The Duke of Windsor

The Duke and Duchess with President Richard Nixon

  • Born: June 23, 1894 at White Lodge in Richmond Park on the outskirts of London, England
  • Parents: King George V of the United Kingdom and Princess Victoria Mary of Teck
  • Married: Wallis Simpson in 1937
  • Died: May 28, 1972, aged 77, at Villa Windsor located at 4 Route du Champ d’Entraînement in Paris, France
  • Buried: Royal Burial Grounds, Frogmore in Windsor, England
  • Unofficial Royalty: King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom, The Duke of Windsor

Famous for abdicating the British throne after a reign of less than eleven months to marry the woman he loved, the Duke of Windsor, along with his wife, lived the latter part of his life in Paris, France. The Duke’s health started to decline during the 1960s when he was treated for an aneurysm and detached retina. He was a heavy smoker and in late 1971 was diagnosed with throat cancer.

Early in 1972, the Duke underwent surgery for a hernia. On May 18, 1972, Queen Elizabeth II, along with the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales, visited the Duke at his Paris home while on a state visit to France. The Duke was too ill to come downstairs to tea, but the Queen spent 15 minutes talking alone with her uncle in his sitting room after the Duchess of Windsor hosted tea in the downstairs drawing-room.

Ten days later, a statement from Buckingham Palace said: “It is announced with deep regret that His Royal Highness, the Duke of Windsor, has died at his home in Paris at 2:25 A.M., Sunday, May 28, 1972.”

Sir Angus Ogilvy
Embed from Getty Images 

  • Born: September 14, 1928 in London, England
  • Parents: David Ogilvy, 12th Earl of Airlie and Lady Alexandra Coke
  • Married: Princess Alexandra of Kent in 1963
  • Died: December 26, 2004, aged 76, at Kingston Hospital in Kingston upon Thames, England
  • Buried: Royal Burial Grounds, Frogmore in Windsor, England
  • Unofficial Royalty: Sir Angus Ogilvy

In 2002, Sir Angus was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and canceled all his public engagements. Despite his failing health, he did take part in The Queen’s Golden Jubilee festivities in June 2002 and accompanied his wife on an official visit to Thailand in February 2003. His final public appearances were at the Garter Service and Royal Ascot in June 2004.

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Leukemia

Farida, Queen Consort of Egypt

  • Born: Safinaz Zulficar September 5, 1921 in Alexandria, Egypt
  • Parents: Youssef Zulficar Pasha and Zainab Sa’id
  • Married: King Farouk of Egypt in 1938, divorced 1948
  • Died: October 16, 1988, aged 67 in Maadi, Cairo, Egypt
  • Buried: Al-Rifa’i Mosque in Cairo, Egypt
  • Wikipedia: Farida, Queen Consort of Egypt

Farida was the first of the two wives of King Farouk of Egypt. After her marriage, she was renamed Farida in accordance with the tradition started by King Fuad I that all members of the royal family should have a name that starts with the letter F. After ten years of marriage and the birth of a third daughter, Farouk divorced Farida.

After feeling unwell for some time, Farida was diagnosed with leukemia. She had monthly blood transfusions and was treated in France, Switzerland, and the United States. She then developed hepatitis. With her condition worsening, Farida insisted upon returning to Egypt. On October 2, 1988, Farida, now ill with leukemia, hepatitis, and pneumonia, was put in the intensive care unit and lapsed into a coma. She died two weeks later.

Mihai (Michael) I, King of Romania

  • Born: October 25, 1921 at Peleș Castle in Sinaia, Romania
  • Parents: Carol II, King of Romania and Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark
  • Married: Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma in 1948
  • Died: December 5, 2017, aged 96, at his residence in Aubonne, Switzerland
    Buried: Archdiocesan and Royal Cathedral in Curtea de Argeș, Romania
  • Unofficial Royalty: King Mihai I of Romania

Mihai (Michael in English) reigned in Romania, 1927 – 1930 and 1940 – 1947. In 1947, he was forced to leave Romania. In December 1990, he was given permission for a 24-hour visit. However, this ended up being cut short and he was forced to leave early. He visited Romania in again 1992 but the mass outpouring of crowds and supporters concerned the current government and he was banned again for several years. Finally, in 1997, the Romanian government restored Mihai’s citizenship and in the following years, several properties were returned to the royal family where they were able to live.

On March 2, 2016, it was announced that Mihai had been diagnosed with chronic leukemia and metastatic epidermoid carcinoma and that he was withdrawing from public life. His daughter Margareta took on his public duties. Mihai’s wife Anne died on August 1, 2016, at the age of 92. Mihai survived her by seventeen months.

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Lung Cancer

Marie-José of Belgium, Queen of Italy

  • Born: August 4, 1906 in Ostend, Belgium
  • Parents: Albert I, King of the Belgians and Duchess Elisabeth of Bavaria
  • Married: Umberto II, King of Italy in 1930
  • Died: January 27, 2001, aged 94, in Thonex, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Buried: Hautecombe Abbey in Saint-Pierre-de-Curtille, France
  • Unofficial Royalty: Marie-José of Belgium, Queen of Italy

After World War II, May 9, 1946. Marie-José’s husband was briefly King of Italy, from May 9 – June 2, 1946. Umberto and Marie-José left Italy on June 13, 1946, and were barred under the terms of the new constitution from returning to Italy. The couple separated but never divorced. Marie- José lived a long life, dying of lung cancer at 94 in a clinic in Geneva, Switzerland. The emotions caused by her death prompted Italy to repeal the law of exile imposed on the former reigning family. Marie-José’s children and grandchildren were able to return to Italy in 2002.

Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld, Prince Consort of the Netherlands

On November 17, 2004, eight months after the death of his wife who had abdicated in favor of their daughter Beatrix in 1980, it was announced that Prince Bernhard had lung cancer. An additional announcement was made two weeks later stating that he also had a malignant tumor in the intestines. At his request, Berhard received no treatment.

Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
Embed from Getty Images

In 2003, it was announced that Joséphine-Charlotte had been diagnosed with lung cancer and the planned ceremonies and celebrations for the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary were canceled. Two years later, Joséphine-Charlotte died at her residence, Fischbach Castle, surrounded by her family.

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Lymphoma

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran

  • Born: October 26, 1919 in Tehran, Persia, now in Iran
  • Parents: Reza Shah Pahlavi, Shah of Iran and Tadj ol-Molouk
  • Married: (1) Princess Fawzia of Egypt in 1939, divorced 1948 (2) Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiari in 1951, divorced 1958 (3) Farah Diba in 1959
  • Died: July 27, 1980, aged 60 in Cairo, Egypt
  • Buried: Al-Rifa’i Mosque in Cairo, Egypt
  • Wikipedia: Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran

After being overthrown in 1979, Mohammad Reza spent the last year of his life ill and in exile. He had been diagnosed with cancer in 1974. As his condition worsened, he stopped appearing in public in 1978. After being deposed, he sought treatment in Mexico, the United States, and Panama, Mohammad Reza fled to Egypt where he died in a Cairo hospital.

King Hussein I of Jordan

  • Born: November 14, 1935 in Amman, Transjordan, now in Jordan
  • Parents: King Talal of Jordan and Zein Al-Sharaf
  • Married: (1) Dina bint Abdul-Hamid (Queen Dina) in 1955, divorced 1957 (2) Antoinette Gardiner (Princess Muna) in 1961, divorced 1972 (3) Alia Toukan (Queen Alia) in 1972, died 1977 (4) Lisa Halaby (Queen Noor) in 1978
  • Died: February 7, 1999, aged 63, at the King Hussein Medical Center in Amman, Jordan
  • Unofficial Royalty: King Hussein I of Jordan

In July 1998, it was revealed that King Hussein was battling lymphatic cancer and was being treated at the Mayo Clinic in the United States. He returned to Jordan in early January 1999. After a brief return to the Mayo Clinic for more treatment, Hussein returned to Jordan for a final time, being taken immediately to the King Hussein Medical Center. Having suffered significant organ failure, he was in a coma and was on life-support systems. King Hussein died with Queen Noor and some of his children at his side.

Small Intestine Cancer

Emperor Shōwa of Japan (Hirohito)

  • Born: April 29, 1901 at the Tōgū Palace in Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan
  • Parents: Taishō, Emperor of Japan and Lady Sadako Kujō
  • Married: Princess Nagako Kuni in 1924
  • Died: January 7, 1989, aged 87, at Fukiage Ōmiya Palace on the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan
  • Unofficial Royalty: Emperor Shōwa of Japan (Hirohito)

On September 22, 1987, Emperor Hirohito underwent surgery on his pancreas after several months of digestive problems. The doctors discovered small intestine cancer during the surgery. Hirohito seemed to recover well after the surgery but a year later, he collapsed. His health deteriorated and he suffered from constant internal bleeding. Emperor Hirohito died at the Fukiage Ōmiya Palace on the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan. He is now known by his posthumous name Shōwa.

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Stomach Cancer

Prince Arthur of Connaught

  • Born: January 13, 1883 at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England
  • Parents: Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia
  • Married: Princess Alexandra of Fife, 2nd Duchess of Fife in 1913
  • Died: September 12, 1938, aged 55, in London, England
  • Buried: Royal Burial Grounds, Frogmore in Windsor, England
  • Unofficial Royalty: Prince Arthur of Connaught

Ill with stomach cancer, Prince Arthur died in his sleep on September 12, 1938. As Prince Arthur predeceased his father Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, Arthur’s son Alastair became heir to the dukedom. In 1942, upon the death of his paternal grandfather Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, Alastair succeeded him as the 2nd Duke of Connaught. On April 26, 1943, while on active duty with the British Army in Ottawa, Canada, the 28-year-old Alastair fell asleep or passed out in front of an open window, fell out the window, and died of hypothermia during the night. On his death, his titles became extinct.

King Paul of Greece

  • Born: December 14, 1901 at Tatoi Palace, near Athens, Greece
  • Parents: King Constantine I of Greece and Princess Sophia of Prussia
  • Married: Princess Frederica of Hanover in 1938
  • Died: March 6, 1964, aged 62, at Tatoi Palace, near Athens, Greece
  • Buried: Royal Cemetery at Tatoi Palace, near Athens, Greece
  • Unofficial Royalty: King Paul of Greece

After a state visit to the United Kingdom in July 1963, King Paul fell ill. He was later diagnosed with stomach cancer but put off having surgery until after the general election which saw the election of George Papandreou as Prime Minister. On February 20, 1964, the day after he swore in the new government, King Paul underwent surgery at Tatoi Palace, in a room which had been converted into an operating room. Sadly, he would never recover and died two weeks later.

Princess Farial of Egypt

Princess Farial on the left with her sisters at their mother’s funeral

  • Born: November 17, 1938 at Montaza Palace in Alexandria, Egypt
  • Parents: King Farouk of Egypt and Safinaz Zulficar (Queen Farida of Egypt)
  • Married: Jean-Pierre Perreten in 1967, divorced 1968
  • Died: November 29, 2009, aged 71, in Montreux, Switzerland
  • Buried: Al-Rifa’i Mosque in Cairo, Egypt
  • Wikipedia: Princess Farial of Egypt

Princess Farial was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2002. She died seven years later in Montreux, Switzerland where she was receiving treatment.

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