A 51-year-old woman, the half-sister of a famous actress and model, has sadly passed away after a long battle with cancer. Her name was Pandora Cooper-Key, and her story is one of incredible resilience and courage.
Pandora, the daughter of nobleman Esmond Cooper-Key and Lady Mary Gaye Curzon, was one of eleven siblings. Among them was her half-sister, Anna Bonas, who is well-known as an actress and model. Pandora’s fight against cancer began when she was just 26 years old and living in west London. She was diagnosed with Paget’s Disease, a rare type of cancer that affects the milk ducts.
Despite the terrifying news, Pandora fought through and managed to beat the disease. About ten years later, she had her first child, but just as she thought she was in the clear, doctors found a sarcoma in her left eye. Sarcomas are very rare and aggressive tumors, with only a few thousand cases diagnosed in the UK each year.
After undergoing surgery to remove her tear duct, Pandora received heartbreaking news. The doctors told her she had only ten months to live. But Pandora wasn’t one to give up easily. She defied all odds, fighting the disease for several more years. Throughout her battle, she endured eight surgeries to remove tumors and even underwent cosmetic procedures to rebuild her face.
These surgeries left her without muscles on one side of her face, so she had to get Botox injections to keep her appearance symmetrical. With her usual humor, she joked in a 2021 interview with The Times, “I’m the only girl in town who gets it free.”
As time went on, Pandora’s health challenges became even more severe. She started experiencing intense seizures that sometimes left her unable to function for days. Even after doctors successfully removed a tumor from her cheek, they discovered another one growing behind her nose.
Things took a turn for the worse late last year when Pandora was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. She explained to Femail, “To operate, they’d have to go through blood vessels, which is not good.” Surgery wasn’t an option because the tumor was located too close to critical blood vessels.
Connections to the Royal Family
Pandora’s half-sister, Cressida Bonas, had a close connection to the British Royal Family. Cressida was introduced to Prince Harry by Princess Eugenie, Sarah Ferguson’s daughter, back in May 2012. The two dated until April 2014, although their relationship faced some challenges, especially after Harry’s infamous incident in Las Vegas.
Despite their breakup, Cressida remained on good terms with Harry and even attended his wedding to Meghan Markle in May 2018, along with another of Harry’s ex-girlfriends, Chelsy Davy.
Legacy and Tributes
Pandora wasn’t just known for her battle with cancer; she was also a talented ceramicist and a former accessories designer for the iconic fashion brand Vivienne Westwood. With her trademark wit, she once quipped that her family had “planned her funeral thousands of times.” Alongside her artistic pursuits, Pandora was a passionate advocate for cancer awareness, particularly when it came to sarcoma.
Kerry Reeves-Kneip, Sarcoma UK’s Director of Communications, spoke highly of Pandora’s openness in sharing her journey. “Sharing her story so openly helped bring important attention to sarcoma and the problems patients face,” Reeves-Kneip said.
Pandora’s courage in speaking out made a significant impact, raising awareness and shining a light on the challenges faced by others with the disease.
Pandora’s obituary painted a picture of a beloved woman who touched many lives. She was remembered 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.” Her kindness, strength, and determination left a lasting legacy.
Kerry Reeves-Kneip, speaking on behalf of Sarcoma UK, offered heartfelt condolences to Pandora’s family, including her mother, Lady Mary, her sister Cressida Bonas, her two sons, and everyone who loved her.
“Pandora made a huge difference for our organization and for other people with sarcoma. We will honor her by continuing our mission with renewed vigor at Sarcoma UK. Pandora’s kindness, courage, and indomitable spirit will forever remain in our hearts.”
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