The British actor Jason Watkins has paid tribute to his daughter Maude on what would have been her 18th birthday.
The Crown star’s daughter, whom he shared with his wife Clara Francis, died aged two in 2011 from undiagnosed sepsis.
The Sherlock actor shared a beautiful photograph of his little girl on Instagram, alongside an emotional tribute.
It read: "Maude would have been 18 today. This is the most grown-up photo I can find of our beautiful girl, striding across the lawn. Today, she would have been about to jump into the world.
"Who knows what she will have done with her precious life. How would she have strode through it? She would have met people, and loved them, and been loved.
"She could have made her own world – and changed the world too. Made her own ripple, large or delicate, that would have touched and rocked so many; Every new day, she would have nudged another’s into joy – as she did with us, when she was here.
The BAFTA-winner continued: "Now today, as an adult, what waves she would have made..what love she will have given.
"The love we would have given in return has never stopped. We will never stop loving you. Never stop imagining you with us, Maude. You are loved, my sweet, sweet girl..xx."
Jason and Clara are patrons of Child Bereavement UK.
Always in his heart
Jason previously paid tribute to Maude back in 2015 when he accepted the BAFTA Award for his role in The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies.
He said at the time: "If there is a reason why I’m standing here, it is because of our Maudie, so thank you."
© Getty ImagesJasona and Clara are the proud parents of two other children, and the actor shares two elder children with his first wife, actress Caroline Harding.
Although Jason found a meaningful outlet through his work with bereavement and sepsis charities - as well as his 2023 documentary about his family's experience - he shares that navigating grief remains an incredibly painful process.
"We are an imperfect family who have survived the worst thing that can happen to a parent," he previously said. "It's indescribable: the sense of guilt, loss, the absence of your child, the light of your life is gone, and you don’t know how you can go on.
