The sister of a notable figure has passed away at the age of 51 after a prolonged battle with cancer.
Pandora Cooper-Key fought the disease for 24 years before being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. The daughter of Mrs. Esmond Cooper-Key and Lady Mary Gaye Curzon, she had ten siblings, including her half-sister, actress and model Cressida Bonas.
Pandora Cooper-Key, a ceramicist and former accessories designer for Vivienne Westwood, often spoke about her family’s plans for her funeral, as she faced her health battles with resilience and humor. She had been receiving immunotherapy in hopes of recovery from her final diagnosis of a brain tumor at the end of last year.
Her cancer journey began when she was diagnosed with Paget’s Disease, a rare cancer of the milk duct, at the age of 26. Despite this, she managed to overcome the disease and have her first child about ten years later. However, tragedy struck again when doctors discovered a sarcoma in her left eye just weeks after she gave birth.
Sarcomas are exceptionally rare and aggressive tumors, with only a few thousand cases reported annually in the UK. Following surgery to remove her tear duct, Pandora was given a grim prognosis of ten months to live, yet she fought valiantly for several years. Over the years, she underwent eight surgeries to remove tumors and endured various procedures for cosmetic repair. She lived with no muscles in half of her face, relying on Botox to maintain symmetry.
Pandora candidly shared her experiences, telling The Times in 2021, “I’m the only girl in town who gets it free.” Her situation worsened last year when an inoperable tumor was found in her brain. She explained to Femail that surgery was impossible because it would require navigating through blood vessels, which was too risky.
Connections to the Royal Family
Pandora Cooper-Key’s half-sister, Cressida Bonas, was introduced to Prince Harry by Princess Eugenie in May 2012. The couple dated for a while before parting ways in April 2014, following a rough patch after Harry was famously caught naked in Las Vegas. Cressida later attended Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in May 2018, alongside his other ex-girlfriend, Chelsy Davy.
Tributes and Legacy
Pandora’s obituary lovingly described her as the “beloved daughter of the late Edmond Cooper-Key, and Lady Mary Gaye Curzon, adored mother of Bow and Nestor, much-loved sister of her two brothers and eight sisters, and devoted aunt to her nieces and nephews.”
Condolences
Our deepest condolences go out to Pandora’s family, including her mother, Lady Mary, her sister, Cressida Bonas, her two sons, and everyone who loved her. The difference Pandora made in the lives of those affected by sarcoma will always be remembered and appreciated.
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