Cressida Bonas’ sister Pandora Cooper-Key has tragically died age 51 after two decades suffering with different cancers.
Pandora was first diagnosed with cancer 24 years ago and revealed to Femail in March that her family had already planned her funeral ‘thousands of times’ after she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.
She was the half-sister of model Bonas and was the daughter of former It girl Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon and aristocrat Esmond Cooper-Key.
At the end of last year, Pandora, from west London, was told that she had a tumour on the left side of her skull that doctors could not operate on.
This resulted in rounds of immunotherapy in the hopes she would recover, after first being diagnosed with cancer aged 26 in 2000.
Pandora Cooper-Key (seen, left, with half-sister Cressida Bonas) has tragically died age 51 after two decades suffering with different cancers
In 2000, aged 26, Pandora was diagnosed with Paget’s disease, a rare cancer of the milk duct and went on to also suffer from Sarcoma and other cancers
Pandora (left) said her sister Georgiana (right) was left worrying about whether she was dead or alive after having a seizure. Above: The pair pictured with Cressida (middle)
Speaking exclusively to Femail earlier this year she said: ‘[To operate] they’d have to go through blood vessels and that’s not great.
‘So they categorically said in the first meeting “I’m really sorry, but we can’t.”‘
A notice in The Times today called Pandora a ‘beloved daughter’, ‘adored mother’, ‘much-loved sister’ and ‘devoted aunt’. She passed away on July 22.
Sarcoma UK, a charity she supported, said on a fundraising page: ‘She was a beautiful spirit and an inspiration to so many.’
Kerry Reeves-Kneip, Director of Communications at Sarcoma UK, added: ‘Her openness about her journey helped raise crucial awareness about sarcoma and the challenges faced by patients. Pandora’s legacy extends far beyond her fundraising efforts; she touched countless lives with her warmth and resilience.
‘On behalf of everyone at Sarcoma UK, I extend our deepest condolences to Pandora’s family, including her mother, Lady Mary, her sister, Cressida Bonas, her two sons, and all who loved her. We are immensely grateful for the difference Pandora made to our organisation and to others affected by sarcoma. We at Sarcoma UK will honour her by continuing our mission with renewed determination. Pandora’s kindness, courage, and indomitable spirit will forever remain in our hearts.’
Aged 26, Pandora was diagnosed with Paget’s disease, a rare cancer of the milk duct.
Almost a decade later, Pandora left her role as handbag designer for Vivienne Westwood to have her first child.
Only five weeks after giving birth, she was told the devastating news that she had sarcoma in her left eye and sinus area.
Sarcomas are malignant tumours which are so rare that a GP can expect to see only one or two in an entire career.
There are approximately 4630 soft tissue sarcomas and 670 bone sarcomas diagnosed each year in the UK.
She was told at one point after this an operation removed her tear duct that her condition had worsened with doctors giving her 10 months to live.
However it was discovered that her scans had been misinterpreted, and she was in the clear.
Pandora (pictured far left) said her family has been so supportive throughout health struggles. Above L-R: Jacobi Anstruther, Georgiana Anstruther, Isabella Branson, Cressida Bonas
In 2016, she went through a stage of having several seizures, which would sometimes lead to her becoming unconscious for a week
But Pandora was then told she had another tumour in her cheek, which was successfully removed, and also one at the back of her nose.
In 2016, she went through a stage of having several seizures, which would sometimes lead to her becoming unconscious for a week.
Nevertheless, in 2022 Pandora started a ceramics business, Curzon Blue, after she fell in love with glassware at Portobello Market.
The name has a heartfelt meaning behind it, along with a touching nod to her mother.
‘It’s called Curzon Blue because my mother’s maiden name is Curzon and her fourth husband made a cocktail called Curzon blue.
‘It’s really delicious and it will knock you off your perch in a heartbeat. It just felt like a really nice thing to do to incorporate my two amazing backgrounds.’
Throughout her battle with various tumours, and despite feeling weak, Pandora continued working on her business and shared her love of glassware both on her website and her Instagram.
Until the end of her life, she would still travel to the markets in search of glass for her business, saying it brought a sense of relief to her health battle.
However, Pandora revealed that this year had been her hardest when speaking five months ago.
‘In the last few months, I probably have been the closest to feeling depressed than I’ve ever been and I’m not a depressive person,’ she said.
‘That’s been quite scary. There have been days where I’ve been like I can’t bear the pain. But then there’s something in me that bounces back.’
Pandora is survived by her two sons, who she had with TV producer Matthew Mervyn-Jones before they separated.
