TalkTV host Piers Morgan expressed surprise at the unanticipated response he received from Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, following news of her breast cancer diagnosis. Morgan disclosed his exchange with Ferguson, his longtime friend of almost three decades, in a recent article for Sky News.
Upon learning of her diagnosis, Morgan extended his sympathies, writing, "Just seen the news, so sorry you've been through such a scary time - sending you love and support, and continued success with your treatment."
The Duchess responded with a simple, "Time to heal and nurture me now! Hopefully caught in time x thank you." Morgan found her response startling, stating it was the first instance he had witnessed Ferguson prioritizing herself over others, a shift triggered by this grave health scare.
According to Morgan, while it was typical for Ferguson to find the silver lining in even the direst situations, it was atypical of her to pause her deeply ingrained altruistic tendencies and focus on self-care. Nonetheless, he welcomed this change, remarking, "the world's a better place with a healthy vibrant Sarah Ferguson in it."
Morgan lauded the Duchess as one of his favourite individuals, praising her kindness, empathy, generosity, humility, and loyalty, despite her human flaws. He recalled a time during the COVID-19 pandemic when Ferguson had shown her selflessness by offering to aid the family of a nurse who succumbed to the virus.
Ferguson's self-preserving attitude, expressed in her message to Morgan, echoes her sentiments on her "Tea Time" podcast. She discussed her diagnosis as a wake-up call or a "gift" to focus on self-care, vowing to "stop trying to fix everyone else."
The Teenage Cancer Trust patron discovered her breast cancer during a routine mammogram. Though symptomless, she was thankful for the early detection. She underwent a successful single mastectomy at King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone, a private clinic in central London. Now resting at her Windsor home with her family, she encourages others to undergo regular check-ups for early detection.
Thanking her supporters on Instagram, Ferguson, following her diagnosis and surgery, pledged to regain her fitness and strength. The 63-year-old told her co-host Sarah Thompson, "I'm going to go out there and get super fit, super well, super strong."
