Paul McCartney had an angioplasty during his divorce from Heather Mills.

The health procedure was kept secret but eventually leaked to the press.

Credit: Kubacheck CC-BY-SA

In 2007, during the turbulent divorce between Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, the former Beatle faced a serious health issue. In November of that year, McCartney was diagnosed with a cardiac complication, making the period even more challenging.

After a medical consultation on Harley Street in London, tests revealed a blockage in the blood flow to his heart. Without any public attention, the musician underwent an angioplasty, a minimally invasive procedure in which a stent is inserted into the aorta to restore blood flow. The surgery was carried out in complete secrecy, with no one outside his family knowing about it. This information is detailed in the biography Paul McCartney by Philip Norman.

His recovery was quick and successful. So much so that just a month later, in December 2007, McCartney performed alongside Kylie Minogue on Jools Holland’s New Year’s Eve special on BBC2.

Paul McCartney Downplayed His Health Issue

When the news leaked to the press, McCartney downplayed the situation, claiming that he had not undergone surgery but only routine tests to monitor a minor heart irregularity.

The year 2007 was marked by personal challenges for the former Beatle. The long divorce process with Heather Mills resulted in a multimillion-pound settlement: £16 million paid directly to his ex-wife, plus another £23 million in assets granted to her. McCartney also covered the costs of their daughter Beatrice McCartney’s education.

Paul McCartney Regretted Marrying Heather Mills

One of the terms of the separation agreement prohibited Paul and Heather from publicly discussing the divorce. However, in a rare statement to Q Magazine in 2010, McCartney admitted that the marriage had been a big mistake.

“Oh yes, I think this is at the top of the list,” he said. Even so, he avoided criticizing his ex-wife: “I don’t want to speak ill of anyone. These things happen. I always try to see the positive side. In my case, the good thing was having another beautiful daughter.”

Currently, Beatrice McCartney is 22 years old and has transitioned, adopting the name Benedict McCartney.

However, Heather Mills, who was prohibited from making public statements about her ex-husband, used her sister, Fiona Mills, to attack him in TV interviews.