Sarah, the Duchess of York, has named her reconstructed left breast “Derek” following her cancer diagnosis.

The 63-year-old underwent surgery in June after she was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer.

It was discovered during a routine mammogram, which she has urged others to go for.

The Duke of York’s ex-wife had single mastectomy surgery and explained on the latest episode of her Tea Talks podcast that naming her new breast had helped her move forward.

She said: “I am just coming to terms with my new best friend Derek, on my left, he’s called Derek.

“He’s very important because he saved my life.”

Asked why she picked the name by her co-host Sarah Thomson, the duchess replied: “I don’t know.

Prince William’s apparent aversion to kilts noted by royal observers – so what do Scots think?

Sovereign Grant changed after Crown Estate sees profits surge

Queen will not receive £360,000 allowance from parliament given to Prince Philip

“It just made me laugh that I have now a friend who is with me all the time who is protecting me with his shield of armour.”

Joking about her “perky friend on my left”, she added: “Poor Eric on the right is feeling rather sad because he is not as perky as Derek on the left but I will get Eric balanced, don’t worry.”

Read more UK news:
Police hunt for thief who stole 14 beehives
Actress in tears after just one person goes to her show

The duchess praised the “amazing work” of the surgeons and doctors who helped her.

She said is “getting much better”, but since she does not feel able to travel for about a month as she recovers, she added she can perhaps plan for next year’s holidays.

The duchess has two daughters with her former husband, Prince Andrew – Princess Beatrice, 34, and Princess Eugenie, 33.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

In an earlier podcast, she spoke of being “blown away” by the love she had received from around the world after the eight-hour operation.

She said it had been “moving” to receive a note saying: “You are the strongest, bravest person I know and it’s because of you that I’m still here.”

The support she has received had given her strength to “go forward”, she said.

Related posts:

Over 18s in some parts of Blackburn to be offered COVID vaccine after rise in Indian variant cases Matt Hancock resigns as health secretary after admitting breaking COVID rules More testing sites and self-isolation exemption list expanded in bid to ease ‘pingdemic’ Man guilty of murdering girl who called him father after abuse claims Sunak unveils ‘game changing’ £6bn investment to tackle NHS waiting lists Police officers who shared WhatsApp photos of murdered sisters’ bodies guilty of gross misconduct Russians and Belarusians banned from competing in motorsport events in UK Johnson pulls out of Conservative leadership race Man and woman charged with murder of 63-year-old whose body has never been found Three arrested after bodies of two babies found at house in South Wales Teams on stand-by to pump England’s rivers with oxygen to protect fish Walkers and beachgoers urged to steer clear of sick and dead birds