Rolf Harris' final words to daughter and dying wish months before death
Convicted child sex offender Rolf Harris, who passed away at the age of 93 last year, imparted a poignant final wish to his daughter Bindi.
Once a distinguished figure on the telly, fronting shows like Rolf's Cartoon Club and Animal Hospital, Harris became a recluse towards the end of his days, living in seclusion removed from the glitz of his entertainment days. In his grand home, he spent his waning years with his Welsh spouse Alwen, who has also recently passed away at 93 following a stroke.
His career came to an abrupt halt in 2013 when allegations of historical sexual offences surfaced as part of Operation Yewtree. Convicted for 12 indecent assaults involving four teenage girls between 1968 and 1986 (with one charge later quashed), Harris served prison time until his release in 2017.
READ MORE:Who is Dave Grohl's baby mother as his long history of infidelity revealed
READ MORE:Prince Andrew to be 'relocated' by King Charles to Frogmore Cottage
The former entertainer, who battled severe sickness and spent much of his time indoors after serving his sentence, died of neck cancer and 'frailty of old age', as noted on his death certificate, reports the Mirror.
As he neared the end, surrounded by close relatives but speaking through a feeding tube within the confines of his Berkshire dwelling, Harris entrusted his daughter, at the age of 58, with a plea: "I always believed we would go on longer together but, if I go first, promise you'll take good care of your mum".
At the time, it was reported that his wife Alwen was receiving round-the-clock nursing care and was battling Alzheimer's Disease. In recent years, she had been seen in a wheelchair and, as confirmed by Harris' statement in 2017, her health was severely deteriorating.
She reportedly lived in the family home with carers attending to her until her passing. Alwen and Harris first crossed paths in the early 1950s while they were both studying at an art school in Kennington.
They exchanged vows at St Saviour's Church in Paddington in 1958. When he was charged, Judge Mr Justice Sweeney stated that he had exploited his celebrity status and exhibited "no remorse".
While still incarcerated in 2016, he faced charges related to seven separate historic allegations of indecent assault but was cleared on three counts.
The jury was dismissed before they could reach a verdict on the remaining four. Harris was retried for three offences and one new charge but was acquitted when the jury failed to reach a consensus.
He was later retried for three offences and one new charge but was acquitted after the jury could not agree on a verdict. "I feel no sense of victory, only relief," Harris expressed in a statement at the time.
He served nearly three years at HMP Stafford before being released in May 2017. He spent his remaining days residing at his multi-million-pound estate in Berkshire.
Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here.