Harry's 'Biggest Fan' Daphne Dunne Dies Age 99, Mere Days After Receiving Birthday Card From The Sussexes

Apr 14, 2019 by apost team

Daphne Dunne was the elderly war widow that captured the heart of Prince Harry while he visited her country of Australia. The Australian was 99-years-old when she died after a long bout of pneumonia. Dunne’s daughter told the news that the royal couple was a tremendous comfort for her mother while she battled the deadly disease. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had sent the elderly lady a birthday card just a couple of days before her death.

"She fought as hard as she could but it just got too much,'" Michelle Haywood, Ms Dunnes granddaughter told the Daily Mail. "It's just so sad. You always want that little bit more."

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Dunne passed away at the Sydney Adventist Hospital on the very 1st of April. The Duke of Sussex was the first royal member of the family to meet Dunne after spotting her Victoria Cross replica pinned to her chest. He was at the Sydney Opera House after a deployment when he ran into Dunne.

Dunne talked to the Daily Mail about how he came up to her in 2015 and asked her questions concerning the Victoria Cross. The Duke of Sussex recognized the cross and was eager to hear more about it from her.

Albert Chowne, Dunne’s first husband, had been killed on March 25, 1945 during a raid in Papua New Guinea. He was then rewarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery. Harry met up with Dunne again in 2017, during an event that launched the Invictus Games.

This was the second time the pair met. The third time was when Dunne was able to meet Meghan, his wife, during a visit to Sydney in 2018. Dunne even came onto the Today Show on March 29th where reporters read the special birthday card out loud.

The royal couple gave her warm birthday wishes for her 99th birthday. The note also said that they hoped her family and friends were surrounding her for her birthday. They also wished that she had been able to get out of the hospital for such an impressive milestone.

What an amazing card to receive! 

We are so glad she got to meet the royal couple before she passed away. What did you think of this sweet story? Have you ever met royalty? Leave us a comment and then pass this amazing story on!