Sarah Ferguson shares the timeless advice Queen Elizabeth II gave her before her passing

Following her recent battle with skin cancer, Sarah Ferguson has revealed that she has a new lease on life, inspired in part by some wise words from the late Queen Elizabeth.

Ferguson opened up about her recent battle with skin cancer in an interview with Hello! magazine, offering an update on her health journey while acknowledging the value of her “exceptional” family in helping her overcome her health hurdles.

“I have to be checked regularly and I have to put cream on my face to get out past sun damage, which means big blisters on my face, chest and hands for three weeks,” she explained to the publication.

“But I’m not doing immunotherapy, taking any drugs or doing chemotherapy, for which I’m very grateful.

“I have the most exceptional family and I have an extraordinarily great team and I have an enormous ability to turn to joy.”

Despite the difficulty of her cancer diagnosis, Ferguson revealed that it had given her “a swift kick in the butt” and has inspired her to live life to the fullest.

“I think it woke me up,” she said.

“It gave me a swift kick in the butt and told me: ‘Right, are you going to start living now, at 64, or are you going to keep on not quite living? ‘You don’t have to be what everyone wants you to be: just be yourself.”

In addition to her diagnosis serving as a wake-up call, Ferguson revealed that the late Queen Elizabeth also imparted some heartfelt wisdom, encouraging her to be herself.

“One of the only people who saw me properly was the Queen [the late Elizabeth II] and before she died, she said: ‘Sarah, being yourself is enough.’,” she revealed.

“I haven’t shown my huge personality properly, because I’ve tried to keep it under the cushion. ‘It’s too much,’ or: ‘Shut up, no one wants to hear from you.’ I remember my father telling me: ‘You’re a bore.’ And now I’m just not excusing myself any more.”

Ferguson shocked royal watchers when she shared news of her skin cancer diagnosis earlier this year in an emotional Instagram post.

In her post, she stressed the significance of vigilance in monitoring one’s health and urged others to remain diligent in recognising potential warning signs.

“I have been taking some time to myself as I have been diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer, my second cancer diagnosis within a year after I was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer and underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. It was thanks to the great vigilance of my dermatologist that the melanoma was detected when it was,” she wrote.

“Naturally another cancer diagnosis has been a shock but I’m in good spirits and grateful for the many messages of love and support.

“I believe my experience underlines the importance of checking the size, shape, colour and texture and emergence of new moles that can be a sign of melanoma and urge anyone who is reading this to be diligent.

“I am incredibly thankful to the medical teams that have supported me through both of these experiences with cancer and to the MAYRLIFE Clinic for taking gentle care of me in the past weeks, allowing me time for recuperation. I am resting with family at home now, feeling blessed to have their love and support.”