Annabel Croft has revealed she is ‘besotted’ after becoming a grandmother for the first time aged 59 – two years after the devastating death of her beloved husband, Mel Coleman.
The tennis legend-turned TV presenter’s eldest daughter, Amber, 31, has given birth to a baby boy with her financier husband, Hector Llewellyn.
Amber shared the happy news on Instagram, posting heartwarming pictures of their newborn son, who arrived on 16 September.
In a poignant tribute to Amber’s late father, they have named him Arlo William Melvyn Llewellyn.
‘Meet our little bear,’ yoga instructor Amber captioned photos from hospital and their home, showing her cradling the newborn with a beaming smile. ‘Love you so so so much it hurts.’
Annabel, who starred in BBC’s Strictly in 2023, commented on the post: ‘”Grannabel” is besotted. He’s completely adorable❤️❤️❤️.’
Annabel Croft has revealed she is ‘besotted’ after becoming a grandmother for the first time aged 59 – two years after the devastating death of her beloved husband, Mel Coleman
The tennis legend-turned TV presenter’s eldest daughter, Amber, 31, has given birth to a baby boy with her financier husband, Hector Llewellyn
Annabel shared her excitement in the comments
In May 2023, her husband, former investment banker and yachtsman Mel, died of sepsis while battling stage 4 colon cancer at the age of 60.
He died just eight weeks after he was diagnosed with the terminal illness – and two months shy of their 30th wedding anniversary.
Annabel’s younger daughter Lily, 27 – who only last month announced her engagement to investment director Felix McCorquodale, a relative of Princess Diana’s stepmother Raine – shared her own joy at meeting her nephew for the first time.
Posting pictures on Instagram on Thursday of herself holding the baby, she wrote: ‘My sister became a mum a couple of weeks ago and today I got to meet my nephew… he’s perfect.’
She added another shot of herself, Amber and their mother Annabel enjoying a cafe outing together, with little Arlo fast asleep in his pram by their side.
Annabel, who rose to fame as a teenage tennis prodigy before becoming one of the BBC’s most recognisable pundits, commented on Lily’s post with a sting of heart-eyed emojis.
The birth is a poignant milestone for the family after they were forced to endure enormous heartache since the loss of Annabel’s husband and father of her three children.
She credited her participation on Strictly with helping her through the difficult period, saying: ‘I always said that I never really knew grief.
Annabel’s younger daughter Lily, 27 – who only last month announced her engagement to investment director Felix McCorquodale, a relative of Princess Diana’s stepmother Raine – shared her own joy at meeting her nephew for the first time
She added another shot of herself, Amber and their mother Annabel enjoying a cafe outing together, with little Arlo fast asleep in his pram by their side
‘I had no concept of it. [Strictly] has given me a reason to be able to get up in the morning and have purpose rather than just sobbing at home, which does still happen sometimes.’
Annabel, who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon in 1984 before retiring from the sport aged just 21, has spoken movingly about the ‘horrendous’ sadness of losing her husband, describing him as her ‘rock’ and the source of her confidence and humour.
But she has also been open about the comfort she finds in celebrating family milestones.
Earlier this summer, she described the imminent birth of her first grandchild as a ‘positive thing to look forward to’ amid the family’s healing process.
‘I’m really excited to become a grandmother,’ she told Hello!. ‘When you have children yourself, it’s such a whirlwind… but now I’m looking forward to just enjoying every second.
‘I love babies – they’re so full of personality, and because everything is new to them they re-engage you with the world in a very simplistic way.’
The baby news comes after a string of celebrations for the Croft-Coleman clan.
Just weeks before Amber gave birth, Annabel’s only son Charlie, 29, married Boodles jewellery heiress Honour Wainwright in a society wedding.
In May 2023, Annabel’s husband, former investment banker and yachtsman Mel, died of sepsis while battling stage 4 colon cancer at the age of 60
Annabel made it to the semi-finals of Strictly Come Dancing in 2023 only months after her husband passed away
Last month, Lily revealed her engagement to Felix, who hails from one of Britain’s most prominent aristocratic families.
Annabel hailed it as ‘the most wonderful news’, adding that she was delighted to see her children ‘with the most wonderful partners’.
Annabel, who earned a new legion of fans on Strictly where she was partnered with Johannes Radebe, said earlier this year that she feels her late husband’s presence at such moments.
She told Hello! in June that she often finds white feathers at home and believes they are signs from Mel.
A photographer friend also told her that unusual light flares in photos taken since his passing were evidence of ‘angel energy’. She explained: ‘It’s quite comforting to hear that and you do try and hang on to those things.’
Annabel has kept herself busy with TV punditry and new ventures, including her first ever theatre speaking tour.
She no longer worries about failure, saying: ‘When a door opens, go and explore. At my age, and with everything that’s happened, I’m not afraid to fail.’
The joy of a first grandchild has already been met with an outpouring of love from family friends and celebrity pals online.
Psychotherapist Julia Samuel, who was Princess Diana’s confidante, commented on Amber’s announcement: ‘Amazing. Congratulations. Hello devoted grandma Annabel Croft.’
