Exclusive: Sarah Ferguson Commends Kate and the King for Inspiring a Sense of ‘Hope’ | People

Sarah Ferguson has candidly shared her personal well being points and is now praising King Charles and Kate Middleton for talking out about theirs.

In an interview with PEOPLE throughout the launch of the new Youth Impact Council at New York Climate Week, the Duchess of York, popularly often called Fergie, voiced her admiration for how the King and Princess Kate have publicly addressed their most cancers journeys. In February, Buckingham Palace introduced that King Charles, 75, had been recognized with most cancers and had begun remedy. Princess Kate, 42, revealed in March that she was present process chemotherapy for most cancers, and on Sept. 9, she introduced in an emotional video that she had accomplished her chemotherapy remedy.

“I think they are an example to all families going through their own journeys of health,” the Duchess of York tells PEOPLE. “I think both the King and the Princess of Wales have spoken openly about their journey, and I love that the Princess says, ‘I’m always there for you.' I love that video. It was a beautiful video with beautiful words.”

“The King, you realize, grew to become the patron of the Cancer Research UK, which is such a massive group, and he truly went out to fulfill the sufferers,” Fergie provides, referring to the King's go to to the Macmillan Cancer Centre at the University College Hospital London on April 30. The go to marked the King's return to public-facing duties after a temporary postponement following the information from the palace about his well being and additionally served as the event to announce his patronage of Cancer Research UK.

“That was very brave too, very courageous, and [he] spoke openly, which was very important to help people and give hope,” the Duchess, 64, tells PEOPLE.

The Duchess of York confronted two most cancers diagnoses between 2023 and 2024. In June 2023, a spokesperson for Fergie introduced that she was recognized with breast most cancers and efficiently underwent a single mastectomy. Throughout her restoration, she stored her followers and supporters knowledgeable on social media, utilizing her platform to advocate for the significance of early most cancers detection by way of screenings.

In January, she shared that she was recognized with malignant melanoma, a type of pores and skin most cancers, following post-operative evaluation of a mole eliminated throughout reconstructive surgical procedure following her mastectomy. A supply advised PEOPLE in March that the Duchess of York was “very relieved” to be taught that her pores and skin most cancers had not unfold. The creator and advocate advised mates that she had additional surgical procedure round the edges of the website of the mole and lymph nodes. 

Speaking with PEOPLE in New York City on Sept. 25, Fergie shared how she is feeling immediately.

“I think that you never really get rid of the worry about health. For every sort of melanoma, you never really know where it is. You look at everything and you’re certainly more aware,” the Duchess says. “It’s been an extraordinary journey to have gone through a mastectomy, and then you have to keep having checks, and then you think you’re going to get it again. It’s a lot of very fragile mind work.”

She continues, “I think that also gives me empathy to understand the fragility of the mind. A lot of young people have fragile, vulnerable times, with cyberbullying and chronic cruelty from other people. I think that’s something I address, I am adamant about cruelty through social media. My health is really good now, but you have to be a bit more cognitive and not push yourself too much, which I do.”

During New York Climate Week, the Duchess of York introduced the launch of the Youth Impact Council and her involvement as Founding Ambassador. The new nonprofit was based to amplify the voices of youth activists making an influence in local weather motion, social justice and innovation, and bridge the intergenerational hole by linking them instantly with established leaders to chop by way of the tape and speed up change.

“There are young people at work who aren’t being listened to enough by people who can make change for them. And so I think we need to amplify their voices and execute their wishes,” the Duchess tells PEOPLE about her new position with YIC. “They have the solutions — if only grown-ups would ask them, ask Gen Z, for the solutions they have in these youth leadership positions.”‘

Can't get sufficient of PEOPLE's Royals protection? Sign up for our free Royals publication to get the newest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and extra!

A passionate advocate for younger individuals all through three many years of philanthropic work, Fergie says that the YIC means a lot.

“We collectively thought this was an extraordinary idea. I really want to say that it’s almost my legacy, and I love that. It’s a very big moment to start Youth Impact Council and it’s in my heart and it’s authentic to what I believe,” she tells PEOPLE. “I really love being with young people because they feed me, they feed my soul. They are fun, and it keeps you young!”