Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ignited controversy by claiming in his upcoming memoir that Queen Elizabeth II suffered from bone cancer before her death in September 2022, CNN reports.
The revelation, detailed in excerpts published by the Daily Mail this week, has drawn criticism for breaking royal protocol and for potentially revealing private medical details of the late monarch.
In his book, “Mission: Improbable,” Johnson describes the Queen’s final days at Balmoral Castle, recounting a meeting with her just days before her passing. He states that he had been aware of the Queen’s condition for over a year, noting that her doctors were concerned about her declining health.
“I had known for a year or more that she had a form of bone cancer, and her doctors were worried that at any time she could enter a sharp decline,” Johnson wrote.
This account marks the first public indication from a former senior government official regarding the Queen’s cause of death. While the death certificate lists “old age” as the cause, Johnson’s claims suggest a more complex medical history.
Buckingham Palace has maintained its policy of not commenting on books about the royal family, neither confirming nor denying Johnson’s assertions.
Johnson’s decision to detail the Queen’s health has been met with criticism. While former prime ministers like Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and David Cameron have written autobiographies detailing their interactions with the Queen, none have delved into such private details about her health.
The late Queen, known for her discretion, never publicly shared her personal medical information. Royal aides continue to assert that the royal family has the right to medical privacy just like any other individual.
However, King Charles III and Catherine, Princess of Wales have taken a more open approach to their own health, sharing details about their cancer diagnoses and recoveries. While they have chosen not to disclose the specific types of cancer they battled, they have spoken publicly about their experiences to raise awareness of the disease.
Johnson’s claims about the Queen’s health have reignited debate about the boundaries of privacy within the royal family, particularly in the context of public figures. With the publication of his memoir, the controversy surrounding the Queen’s final days is sure to continue.
