Sarah Ferguson has announced her first major outing following her second cancer diagnosis.

The Duchess of York, 64, will travel to Melbourne for the first international edition of the Global Citizen NOW action summit between the 4-6 March among the likes of Hugh Jackman and Charlie Puth.

Sarah will speak at the summit about driving action to end extreme poverty and listen to discussions on protecting the planet.

In announcing her attendance, the 64-year-old revealed that her grandchildren, August, three, Sienna, two, and Ernest, nine months, have inspired her to have a greener outlook on life.

‘Since becoming a grandmother I’ve become acutely aware of my responsibility, and that of my generation, to do everything we can to improve the state of the world we are leaving for our grandchildren,’ she said in a statement released by Global Citizen.

Sarah Ferguson will travel to Melbourne to speak at the first international edition of the Global Citizen NOW action summit on 4-6 March in her first major outing since her second cancer diagnosis. Sarah is pictured above with her daughters Beatrice (L) and Eugenie (R)

Sarah said her love of the environment stemmed from her parents. ‘My parents always highlighted the need to champion the quiet voice of Mother Nature’, she said.

‘I’m coming to Global Citizen NOW: Melbourne to participate in vital intergenerational conversations with young leaders,’ she added.

The leaders mentioned are conducting grassroots work to tackle climate change and extreme poverty.

She concluded: ‘I look forward to listening to them, learning from them, and contributing whatever voice I have to speak up for the future of our planet.’

The Duchess echoed her statement in an Instagram post shared this evening and added her hopes ‘to do everything we can to improve the state of our world we are leaving for our grandchildren.’

The announcement comes just one month after Sarah revealed she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma just months after undergoing a second round of reconstructive surgery following her breast cancer diagnosis. 

Despite a double health blow, the Duchess has maintained a business-as-usual approach, and earlier today, she took to Instagram to mark Cancer Prevention Action Week.

The mother-of-two urged her followers to be diligent with their health checkups and explained that had she not, her current health position could be far worse off.

In a statement released by the advocacy organisation, Sarah highlighted the role her grandchildren have played in inspiring a more environmentally friendly outlook on life 

Sarah will attend alongside several celebrities, including actor Hugh Jackman and pop singer Charlie Puth 

Sarah wrote: ‘To mark #CancerPreventionAwarenessWeek I would like to urge anyone who is able to be diligent with their health check ups. 

‘I’m determined to do whatever I can to help raise awareness by sharing my experience. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, this year and had it not been for the diligence and care of my physicians, my situation could have been so much worse. 

‘It was a busy 2023 and I almost put off my routine mammogram, but my sister Jane convinced me to go. 

‘After undergoing a mastectomy and reconstruction, I could only hope that I was in the clear, which is why a new diagnosis of skin cancer came as a shock. 

She concluded: ‘I’m now in the best hands and feeling positive with the support of my family. Days could make the difference between life and death, so please don’t skip or put off your #healthchecks and urge your loved ones to go to theirs.’ 

The Duchess, who has long carried out charitable pursuits, will join ‘intergenerational conversations’ about issues such as climate change at the event 

It comes after Sarah said the King is ‘very dear to me’ and that he is in her ‘thoughts and prayers’ following his cancer diagnosis. 

The Duchess of York made a speech at the Cancer Alliance Hope and Help Luncheon in Palm Beach, Florida. 

Reflecting on the event on Instagram she said: ‘His Majesty is very dear to me and I think I speak for everyone when I say he is in my thoughts and prayers.

‘It felt like a timely moment to help raise funds to support others dealing with cancer diagnoses, who may be going through financial or emotional struggles in light of a health emergency.’

King Charles began his treatment at a London hospital this month, and is reportedly ‘wholly positive’ of his prognosis and ‘looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible’. 

After news of her skin cancer diagnosis, it was reported Charles wrote to the Duchess of York to offer his support and well wishes.

Fergie has since returned this gesture after news of the King’s battle became public.

It was reported that the pair are ‘incredibly fond of one another’ and have bonded over their respective cancer diagnosis with an ‘exchange of letters.’