SAD NEWS: Strictly’s Annabel Croft Makes Heartbreaking Confession About Husband After His Sudden D3ath—Fans Moved by Emotional Revelation

Strictly Come Dancing star Annabel Croft was touched upon discovering her late husband had given his blessing to their daughter’s forthcoming nuptials – two years following his passing. The 59-year-old former professional tennis star has recently discovered that Mel Coleman – who passed away in May 2023, eight weeks after receiving a stage three cancer diagnosis – had granted Felix McCorquodale, a relative of Princess Diana’s stepmother Raine Spencer, his consent to wed his 27-year-old daughter Lily.

Annabel revealed to the Daily Mail newspaper’s Eden Confidential column: “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.'”

The former British number one tennis ace featured on Strictly Come Dancing mere months following her husband’s passing.

Annabel – who was knocked out from the Latin and Ballroom dancing contest during the semi-final – participated in the programme to help process her bereavement.

In November 2024, the celebrity – who was partnered with 38 year old professional dancer Johannes Radebe on the programme – revealed to The Sunday Post: “When people ask why I did Strictly so soon after, I think, ‘Gosh, why would I not say yes?’ What was I going to do – come back to an empty house and cry all evening?

“I’ve subsequently realised how helpful it was to get up every day instead of sitting in this house, which my husband built.

“Coming back to a house that used to be full of life, full of Mel, but was suddenly empty, was terrifying. I was in grief and crying every day, so to have that focus of doing something positive and distracting the brain was really an incredibly healing process, and I’m very grateful I had the opportunity.

“I’m not sure how I would have got through that winter without it, to be honest.”

Mel – who worked as a professional yachtsman and investment banker – wed Annabel in 1993, and they went on to welcome daughters Amber and Lily, as well as a son called Charlie.

Their eldest daughter welcomed a boy, Arlo, in October, and Charlie wed Boodles Heiress Honour Wainwright in August.