- Just one monarch who preceded Charles in 20th century died before age of 60
His mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, lived to an impressive 96, and his father Prince Philip died just two months before his 100th birthday.
So the nation will be praying that 75-year-old King Charles – known for his healthy lifestyle – will follow in their footsteps after the shocking news that he has cancer.
The cause of death in both his parents’ cases was ‘old age’, according to each of their death certificates. This is only used when there was a general decline in health but no other identifiable cause of death.
Cancer has been rare among the monarchs who immediately preceded Charles during the 20th century, only one of whom died before the age of 60.
His grandfather George VI was a heavy smoker in the days when its deadliness was not widely known.
He died suddenly in his sleep aged 56 – 72 years ago today, on February 6, 1952 – from a coronary thrombosis, or blood clot in the blood vessels or arteries of the heart. Five months earlier he had undergone an operation to remove his left lung.
Officials said it had been for ‘structural abnormalities’, but it later transpired he had lung cancer.
Edward VIII, whose abdication to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson had led to his brother becoming King in 1936, died aged 77 from throat cancer at his home in Paris in 1972.
Their father George V died aged 70 in 1936. He had suffered chronic bronchitis exacerbated by heavy smoking.
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David Wilkes
