Michael Palin has announced that his wife Helen has tragically passed away from kidney failure, following a battle with chronic pain.
The Monty Python star, 79, shared news of her passing in a heartbreaking post on website on Tuesday. He wrote: "My dearest wife Helen died peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
"She had been suffering with chronic pain for several years, which was compounded a few years ago by a diagnosis of kidney failure.
"We first met on a summer holiday on the Suffolk coast when we were both sixteen and we married in our early twenties."
He continued: "Two and a half weeks ago we celebrated our 57th wedding anniversary. Her death is an indescribable loss for myself, our three children and four grandchildren.
"Helen was the bedrock of my life. Her quietly wise judgment informed all my decisions and her humour and practical good sense was was at the heart of our life together.
"The family ask that their privacy be respected at this time."
Helen is survived by her husband, and their three children Thomas, 54, William, 52, and Rachel, 48.
Tributes have already begun pouring in across social media, with one Twitter user writing: "I feel so sorry for Michael Palin as his wife Helen has passed away after suffering Chronic pain and Kidney Failure my heart goes out to his family and friends RIP Helen #MichaelPalin"
"But the fact that the love story of Michael Palin and his wife Helen is straight out of a romantic movie. That was destiny working its way. Admin knows that Helen really means so much to Michael. Gosh, 2023 is no good. Sending love to Mr. Palin's family" added a fan account dedicated to the actor.
"So sad to hear that@MichaelPalin’s wife of 57 years has passed away. R.I.P" added another, while a fourth wrote: "Heartbroken for Michael Palin. Thoughts are with him and his family."
Michael had opened up about his wife's battle with chronic pain last year, in an interview with the Telegraph.
At the time he told the publication that Helen had not been responding to medication for her chronic pain, revealing that they had moved her so she could manage her symptoms.
He said: "I don't think you can cure it, but they will help her manage it. It's such a bore. She was so active and still is mentally. But the body is declining.
"We live life with our fingers crossed."
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