Boris Johnson’s forthcoming memoir, “Unleashed,” has stirred controversy by claiming that Queen Elizabeth II was diagnosed with bone cancer before her death in September 2022. This revelation, which Johnson alleges in an excerpt published in his column for the Daily Mail, has broken a long-standing tradition of discretion between the Prime Minister’s office and Buckingham Palace, where private matters concerning the Royal Family are generally kept confidential.

Johnson’s Revelation and its Implications

Johnson’s account of the Queen’s health, which he says he was aware of for over a year, describes her physical deterioration, including paleness, stooped posture, and bruising on her hands. However, he emphasizes that her mental acuity remained sharp, and he recalls her cheerful demeanor. This disclosure is significant as it provides a unique insight into the late Queen’s final months and contradicts the official death certificate that attributed her death to “old age.”

Breaking with Tradition

While Johnson maintains that the Queen’s “mind… was completely unimpaired,” his decision to reveal her medical condition has drawn criticism. The prevailing convention within the U.K. political sphere has been to uphold the privacy of the royal family and refrain from discussing sensitive information acquired during private encounters.

This tradition, however, has not always been strictly followed. For example, David Cameron faced backlash in 2014 for divulging details about a private conversation with the Queen regarding the Scottish independence referendum.

Precedents for Disclosure

Johnson’s revelation prompts a consideration of previous instances where former British Prime Ministers have disclosed their interactions with the Queen. Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, in their books, offered insights into their encounters and conversations with the monarch, providing a glimpse into the dynamic between the government and the Royal Family.

Recent Shift in Royal Transparency

In 2023, the Royal Family experienced a shift in their approach to transparency regarding health matters. King Charles III, the Queen’s first son, departed from the historical norm by disclosing his own cancer diagnosis, although the specific type of cancer has not been publicly revealed. Following this, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, disclosed her own battle with cancer and her subsequent completion of treatment.

Context and Rationale

These recent revelations concerning the health of members of the Royal Family, particularly those involving Charles and Catherine, raise questions about the potential rationale for departing from tradition. It’s possible that the Royal Family is seeking to increase public awareness of these conditions, encouraging open communication and dispelling stigma. However, this new wave of openness has also been criticized, with concerns that it may have gone too far.

Takeaways

• Boris Johnson’s revelation in his upcoming memoir breaks with the long-standing practice of maintaining discretion about the Royal Family’s private matters.
• Johnson’s assertion has sparked debate regarding the appropriate boundaries between public figures and the Royal Family’s private life.
• The disclosure highlights the ongoing shift within the Royal Family toward greater openness about health matters, which has both its supporters and critics.
• This situation prompts a reevaluation of the delicate balance between respecting royal privacy and informing the public about significant developments within the Royal Family.