The Split and Four Weddings and a Funeral star Anna Chancellor has announced the death of her only daughter, Poppy, aged 36.

On Saturday (30 September), the actor shared the news that Poppy had died from leukaemia on her daughter’s Instagram page.

“To all you wonderful and most-loved friends of Poppy. We send you this message with our deepest love,” the heartfelt statement began.

“On September 29 Poppy died, held tight by her immediate family just as she had wished.

“Despite every effort, her body could not continue any longer. We will be forever grateful to her kind and loving care team at the Royal Marsden. So we, her family and friends who all adore her join the other families who have lost loved ones far too young.”

The message added that her family would continue to support her “soul’s journey”, before continuing: “Poppy was and is an unbelievable life force of creativity, compassion, wit, beauty and sheer uniqueness. She transformed our lives, and we are beyond grateful.”

Poppy was born in 1988 to Chancellor and the poet Jock Scot. She was an illustrator and artist who had worked for brands such as Adidas and Cath Kidston.

According to the Daily Mail, King Charles is rumoured to own one of Poppy’s artworks, given to him as a thank-you after she attended an artists’ residence at his stately home, Dumfries House, in Ayrshire.

In May, Poppy spoke to the publication ahead of undergoing chemotherapy.

She said: “I am terrified and physically exhausted – at the same time as learning to talk to my body and cells with loving defiance.”

Poppy had been keeping her social media followers updated on her health. As well as sharing videos of herself dancing, which she dubbed “the best medicine”, Poppy recently posted an image of herself in a hospital bed after a stem cell transplant in August.

Anna Chancellor has acted on screen since 1990, beginning with a role in the soap opera Jupiter Moon.

In the Nineties, Chancellor was known for playing barrister Julia Piper in the legal drama series Kavanagh QC as well as playing Caroline Bingley in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

Other recognisable roles include Henrietta “Duckface” in Four Weddings and a Funeral, Lady Anstruther on Downton Abbey, and Melanie Aickman in seasons two and three of the BBC family law drama The Split.

Poppy was Chancellor’s only child.

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