Annabel Croft discovers her late husband Mel Coleman gave his blessing to their daughter Lily’s forthcoming wedding before his death

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Annabel Croft was deeply moved to learn that her late husband, Mel Coleman, had approved of her daughter Lily’s upcoming wedding before he passed away.

The 59-year-old former tennis player married yachtsman Mel in 1992. Sadly, Mel passed away in May 2023, just eight weeks after receiving a stage 3 cancer diagnosis.

More than two years after his passing, Annabel learned that her late husband had given his blessing for Felix McCorquodale – a relative of Princess Diana’s stepmother, Raine Spencer – to marry their daughter, Lily, who is 27.

She told Richard Eden of the Daily Mail that her youngest daughter Lily’s fiancé – they recently got engaged – had her blessing.

Felix mentioned the other day that Mel gave him his blessing to marry Lily.

Annabel, a former Wimbledon player who reached the fourth round in 1984 before retiring at just 21, has shared her grief over the loss of her husband, whom she described as her constant support, and the person who gave her strength and a sense of humour.

But she has also been open about the comfort she finds in celebrating family milestones. 

She recently said she was excited about becoming a grandmother, calling it a hopeful development as her family continues to heal.

“I’m thrilled to be becoming a grandmother,” she shared with Hello! magazine. “Having kids is such a busy time, but now I’m excited to slow down and savor every moment.”

I adore babies! They each have such unique personalities, and seeing the world through their fresh eyes reminds you to appreciate the simple things.

The baby news comes after a string of celebrations for the Croft-Coleman clan. 

Only a few weeks before Amber was due to have her baby, Annabel’s son, Charlie, age 29, got married. His wife is Honour Wainwright, who comes from the family that owns the Boodles jewellery company, and the wedding was a high-society event.

In September, Lily announced she was engaged to Felix, a member of a well-known and influential British aristocratic family.

Annabel called the news ‘fantastic’ and expressed her joy at seeing her children with partners she clearly approves of.

Annabel gained many new followers after appearing on Strictly Come Dancing with Johannes Radebe, and she recently shared that she feels her late husband is with her during these experiences.

She shared with Hello! magazine in June that she frequently discovers white feathers around her house and sees them as messages from her late husband, Mel.

You know, a photographer friend of mine shared something really touching with me. He’s been noticing strange light flares in his photos since losing a loved one, and he believes those flares are actually signs of ‘angel energy’ – a beautiful way to feel connected to someone who’s passed on. It’s a lovely thought, isn’t it?

She explained: ‘It’s quite comforting to hear that and you do try and hang on to those things.’

Annabel has been staying active with television commentary and new projects, most recently embarking on her first theatre tour where she’s giving talks.

She’s stopped letting the fear of failure hold her back. She explains that she now embraces opportunities, saying, ‘If a chance comes along, I’m going to try it. Having lived as long as I have and experienced what I have, I’m not afraid of what might happen.’

Everyone is sharing their love and congratulations after the arrival of the couple’s first grandchild, with well-wishes pouring in from family, friends, and even some famous faces online.

Julia Samuel, a psychotherapist and close friend of Princess Diana, reacted to Amber’s news with excitement, writing: ‘Wonderful! Congratulations. A big hello to proud grandmother Annabel Croft.’

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2025-11-04 12:49