When the world stopped on September 8, 2022, the official word from Buckingham Palace was "old age." It was simple. It was tidy. It was what we expected for a 96-year-old monarch who had reigned for seven decades. But almost immediately, people started whispering. We all saw those photos of her meeting Liz Truss just days before she passed—the dark, bruised tint on the back of her hand. It got people wondering: was "old age" just a polite way of covering up a more specific battle? Specifically, what type of cancer did Queen Elizabeth have, or did she even have it at all?
The truth is a bit of a maze.
Officially, the death certificate says Old Age. In the UK, that’s a valid cause of death if the physician has cared for the patient for a long time and seen a gradual decline. But Gyles Brandreth, a long-time friend of Prince Philip and a trusted biographer, broke the silence in his book, Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait. He claimed the Queen actually had a form of myeloma.
The Myeloma Theory Explained
Brandreth didn't just pull this out of thin air. He noted that her fatigue, her sudden weight loss, and those "mobility issues" we heard so much about during the Platinum Jubilee were classic symptoms of bone marrow cancer. Myeloma isn't like a tumor you can just cut out. It’s a cancer of the plasma cells. It lives in the bone marrow.
Honestly, it makes a lot of sense.
Myeloma often affects the pelvis and lower back. If you remember the final year of her life, she was constantly canceling appearances because of "episodic mobility problems." She started using a cane. Then she started using a golf cart (the "Queenmobile") to get around the Chelsea Flower Show. While the Palace played it safe with their wording, the reality of myeloma fits the timeline like a glove.
It’s a disease of the elderly.
Most people diagnosed with this specific cancer are over 70. It’s not something that kills you overnight, but it grinds you down. It makes your bones brittle. It causes intense bone pain. Brandreth wrote that the Queen knew her time was limited and accepted it with the same grace she used to open Parliament.
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Why the Death Certificate Said "Old Age"
You might think it’s a conspiracy. It’s not.
In the United Kingdom, "old age" can be listed as the sole cause of death if the person is over 80 and the doctor has seen them declining over a period of time. Dr. Douglas Glass, who was the Apothecary to the Queen’s Household, signed the document. If she did have myeloma, why hide it?
Privacy.
The Royals are famously "never complain, never explain." They view their medical records as deeply private matters. Even King Charles, who has been much more open about his own cancer diagnosis in 2024, didn't specify the type of cancer he has. By listing "old age," the Palace protected the Queen's dignity and avoided a media circus during the mourning period.
Myeloma vs. Bone Cancer: There’s a Difference
A lot of people search for what type of cancer did Queen Elizabeth have and get confused between "bone cancer" and "bone marrow cancer."
They aren't the same.
- Primary bone cancer starts in the bone itself. It’s pretty rare.
- Myeloma (or Multiple Myeloma) starts in the plasma cells in the bone marrow. It affects the immune system. It makes it harder for your body to fight off infections.
If Brandreth is right, the Queen wasn't just dealing with "tiredness." She was dealing with a systemic failure of her body’s ability to produce healthy blood cells. It explains why she looked so frail in those final weeks. Yet, she stood up. She smiled. She performed her last duty of appointing a Prime Minister forty-eight hours before she died. That takes an incredible amount of willpower if you're fighting bone marrow depletion.
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The Significance of the Bruising
That photo from Balmoral—the one with the purple hand.
People on Twitter went wild. Some said it was a "death grip," others thought it was just thin skin. But medically, if we're looking at the type of cancer Queen Elizabeth allegedly had, those bruises are a massive clue. Myeloma and its treatments (like steroids or chemotherapy) can cause easy bruising. Also, if her bone marrow wasn't producing enough platelets, her blood wouldn't clot properly. A simple IV drip or even a slight bump could cause a massive, dark bruise that takes weeks to fade.
How This Compares to King Charles and Kate Middleton
It’s kind of wild how much has changed in just a couple of years.
The Queen’s era was defined by total silence on health. But then 2024 hit, and the Royal Family got hit with a "double whammy." King Charles announced he had cancer after a procedure for an enlarged prostate. Then, Catherine, Princess of Wales, shared her own journey with "preventative chemotherapy" after abdominal surgery.
The King’s openness actually makes the Queen’s secrecy stand out more.
Some experts argue that the Queen belonged to a generation that saw illness as a weakness. Others say she didn't want to overshadow the monarchy’s stability. If the public knew the Queen had a terminal bone marrow condition, every single public appearance would have been analyzed as a "final goodbye." She wanted to keep working. She wanted the focus on the Crown, not her white blood cell count.
Navigating the Rumors
Is Gyles Brandreth a reliable source? Generally, yes. He was close to the family for decades. He wouldn't have published that detail if he didn't have a high degree of certainty or permission from someone within the inner circle.
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However, we have to acknowledge that without a formal statement from Buckingham Palace, it remains an "informed claim."
The Palace has never confirmed the myeloma diagnosis. They likely never will. To them, she died as she lived: according to duty, at a ripe old age, at her favorite home in Scotland. Whether it was cancer or simply the natural clock of a 96-year-old body winding down, the result was the end of an era.
Practical Lessons from the Queen’s Final Year
If you are looking into what type of cancer did Queen Elizabeth have because you’re worried about an elderly loved one, there are things to watch for.
- Unexplained bone pain, especially in the back or ribs. This is the hallmark of myeloma.
- Sudden mobility changes. It’s not always "just arthritis."
- Frequent infections. If a senior is getting cold after cold, it might be an immune issue.
- Anemia and fatigue. Not just "tired," but a bone-deep exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix.
The Queen’s possible battle with myeloma shows that you can live a full, active life even with a serious diagnosis in your 90s. She didn't let it stop her until the very last moment.
If you or a family member are experiencing persistent back pain or unusual bruising, don't just chalk it up to "getting old." Ask for a full blood count (FBC) and a plasma protein electrophoresis test. These are the standard tools doctors use to catch myeloma early. Knowing the symptoms can be the difference between months of pain and a managed, comfortable quality of life.
The Queen’s story, whether the cancer rumors are 100% accurate or not, reminds us that "old age" is often a complex tapestry of many small battles fought with quiet courage.
Next Steps for Readers
- Consult a Hematologist: If you have symptoms like persistent bone pain or unexplained bruising, skip the GP and ask for a specialist who understands blood and bone marrow.
- Review Family Medical History: Myeloma isn't strictly hereditary, but certain patterns in families can be worth noting for your doctor.
- Focus on Bone Health: Regardless of a cancer diagnosis, maintaining bone density through Vitamin D, calcium, and weight-bearing exercises is crucial as we age.
The legacy of Queen Elizabeth II isn't defined by her medical chart, but understanding the challenges she likely faced only adds to the respect many feel for her seventy years of service.