Annabel Croft was touched to discover that her late husband, Mel Coleman, gave his blessing to their daughter Lily’s forthcoming wedding.
The former tennis player, 59, married yachtsman Mel in 1992, but he tragically passed away in May 2023 – eight weeks after being diagnosed with stage 3 cancer.
Now, more than two years since his death, Annabel has discovered that he gave Felix McCorquodale, who is a relative of Princess Diana’s stepmother Raine Spencer, his permission to marry his daughter Lily, 27.
Speaking to Daily Mail’s Richard Eden, she revealed: ‘He gave permission to my youngest daughter Lily’s boyfriend – they just got engaged, actually.
‘Felix told me the other day that one of the things Mel said to him was, “You definitely have my permission to marry Lily.”
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.
Annabel Croft was touched to discover that her late husband, Mel Coleman, gave his blessing to their daughter, Lily’s, forthcoming wedding (both pictured in 2021)
The former tennis player, 59, married yachtsman Mel in 1992, but he tragically passed away in May 2023 – eight weeks after being diagnosed with stage 3 cancer
Now, more than two years since his death, Annabel has discovered that he gave Felix McCorquodale his permission to marry his daughter Lily, 27 (pictured)
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.
And in September, 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’.
She continued: ‘Felix told me the other day that one of the things Mel said to him was, “You definitely have my permission to marry Lily” (both pictured 2013)
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.’
