Sarah, Duchess of York has spoken of her “shock” after being diagnosed with skin cancer just six months after undergoing breast cancer surgery.

The Duchess, 64, said she had been taking some time for herself and was now resting with family at home in Windsor as she waits to find out if the malignant melanoma had spread to other parts of her body.

Her spokesman revealed on Sunday evening that one of several moles removed during a second breast reconstruction operation before Christmas had been cancerous.

The moles had been spotted by her dermatologist, who requested that they be removed for examination during the planned surgery.

The Duchess posted a photograph of herself on Instagram on Monday morning that appeared to have been taken in Austria, where she has been recuperating this month at a world leading medical spa. She wrote: