Royal Family Faces Cancer Challenges: India Hicks Shares Her Journey
King Charles III’s goddaughter, India Hicks, recently revealed her skin cancer diagnosis, adding another chapter to the royal family’s ongoing health challenges. The 58-year-old interior designer and writer shared her personal experience through her Substack, describing how her world seemed to “blur slightly at the edges” when she received unsettling test results from a recent skin cancer operation just before Thanksgiving. The diagnosis revealed a “worryingly fast-moving patch of cancer” in her lower calf, triggering what she described as “a strange mixture of calm practicality and a little private terror” – a reaction that likely resonates with many who have faced similar news. Like most people navigating a health crisis, Hicks found herself going through the motions of everyday life while an internal voice whispered concerns about the severity of her condition.
India Hicks holds a distinguished place in royal circles – her mother, Lady Pamela Hicks, is not only a first cousin of the late Prince Philip but also a descendant of the House of Mountbatten and the oldest living descendant of Queen Victoria. At just 13 years old, India served as a bridesmaid at the 1981 wedding of Charles and Princess Diana, cementing her place within the royal family’s inner circle. When faced with her cancer diagnosis, Hicks took decisive action by finding a surgeon in Miami who performed Mohs surgery, a specialized procedure that involves removing thin layers of skin until no signs of cancer remain. She candidly shared that while the procedure itself was “only relatively uncomfortable,” the waiting period was perhaps the most challenging part – that liminal space where one appears normal on the outside while everything hinges on results being processed in another room.
Fortunately, India’s story took a positive turn when doctors informed her that she was “lucky” and clear of cancer “this time” – a cautiously optimistic phrasing that acknowledges the vigilance required moving forward. The good news arrived just before Thanksgiving, allowing her to fully embrace the holiday with loved ones. Hicks, who divides her time between the Cotswolds in England and Harbour Island in the Bahamas, expressed her love for the gathering, describing it as filled with “friends around the table, the loud laughter, the happy chaos.” This celebration likely took on deeper meaning following her health scare, shared with her husband David Flint Wood, whom she married in 2021 after a lengthy partnership, and their five children: Felix (28), Wesley (27), Amory (26), Conrad (22), and Domino (18).
India’s diagnosis comes amid a challenging period for the British royal family, who have been navigating multiple cancer diagnoses in recent months. In February 2024, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III, now 77, had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment. While the palace confirmed that the King does not have prostate cancer, they have chosen not to disclose the specific type, maintaining some privacy around his medical condition. This announcement came shortly after he had undergone a procedure to treat a benign enlarged prostate in January of the same year, highlighting how routine medical interventions can sometimes lead to unexpected diagnoses.
The royal family’s health concerns extended beyond the monarch when Princess Kate Middleton, wife of Prince William, announced in March 2024 that she had been privately battling cancer as well. The 43-year-old princess temporarily stepped back from her public duties to focus on her treatment, which included chemotherapy. Her journey represents the difficult balance many public figures must strike between transparency with the public and maintaining personal space during health challenges. Kate’s story took an uplifting turn when she revealed in January that her cancer is now in remission, offering hope and inspiration to many facing similar battles.
India Hicks’ openness about her cancer diagnosis reflects a growing transparency within royal circles about health challenges, helping to destigmatize cancer and encourage early detection and treatment. Her story, alongside those of King Charles and Princess Kate, reminds us that cancer affects people from all walks of life, regardless of status or position. These public disclosures have the power to raise awareness about various types of cancer and the importance of regular health screenings. As these prominent figures navigate their health journeys in the public eye, they demonstrate resilience and vulnerability – qualities that resonate far beyond palace walls and connect them to millions of others around the world who face similar battles with illness, uncertainty, and recovery. Their experiences highlight how health crises can simultaneously be deeply personal struggles and opportunities for broader public education and connection.
