A war widow who charmed Prince Harry and became his ‘favourite Aussie’ has died at the age of 99 – just days after receiving a birthday card from the royal.
Daphne Dunne, known as the duke’s most devoted fan, died three days after her birthday, following a long battle with pneumonia.
Her daughter Michelle Haywood said: ‘She fought as hard as she could but it just got too much.
‘It’s just so sad. You always want that little bit more.’
Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh reunite at Killing Eve's season two premiere
Harry and Daphne’s friendship started after he spotted her with a replica Victoria Cross pin at the Sydney Opera House in May 2015.
The two met again at an Invictus Games, where they shared another loving hug in the rain, in June 2017.
And he even introduced her to his wife when the couple visited Sydney in October last year – again, at the Opera House.
Harry told Daphne at the time: ‘I was looking for you earlier and hoped you would be here, it’s so good to see you again.’
She passed away at the Sydney Adventist Hospital on Monday.
The couple wrote her a card, which read: ‘Dear Daphne, my wife and I send out warmest wishes to you on the occasion of your 99th birthday on Friday.
‘We hope you have a wonderful celebration surrounded by family and friends and that you’ve managed to escape hospital.
‘Congratulations on reaching this important and impressive milestone before your centenary year next year.
‘Happy Birthday Daphne. Best wishes, Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.’
Fans think Caroline Flack's Bake Off showstopper looks like Roz from Monsters Inc
Daphne wrote on Instagram at the time: ‘I received a lovely message from Prince Harry and Meghan which really made my day.’
Ms Haywood told Today: ‘Meghan and Harry have gotten my mum through this terrible illness she’s had. She’s still very unwell and I think, you know, if anything, the card they sent means so much.’
Daphne’s first husband Albert Chowne was killed during a raid in Papua New Guinea in 1945.
Got a story for Metro.co.uk?
If you have a story for our news team, email us at webnews@metro.co.uk.