Lead actress in Downton Abbey, Michelle Dockery, has said her final goodbye to her fiance John Dineen after he bravely battled cancer since the beginning of the year.
The Irish Independent reported that Michelle spoke at he fiance’s funeral service as she paid tribute to the man she called her “King”.
“Whether in his work or his personal life, John was extremely loyal. It was clear that when John was in your corner he was there. I was honoured to know John. To love him and be loved by him. He was my friend, my King, my hero, my everything. We celebrate him, we honour him and we will miss him,” the actress told the congregation at her partner’s Irish funeral.
“John’s charm was legendary. He could persuade anyone to do what he wanted in the least pushy way possible. Particularly the women.
“He had a presence that was electric when he came in to the room. He had a wicked sense of humour. He had a genuine interest in other people.”
According to the newspaper, Michelle then sung John’s favourite song The Folks Who Live on the Hill.
The actress – who marked her 34th birthday on Tuesday – was in the US promoting the final season of the show which propelled her into fame when she dropped everything to make a quick dash back to Ireland when she heard of John’s declining health.
Michelle was by her fiancé’s bedside on Sunday in his native Ireland at the Marymount Hospice in Cork when he took his final breath. He was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer earlier this year.
John was a public relations specialist who was introduced to the British actress thanks to fellow Downton Abbey star Allen Leech, but the couple have always remained private.
Michelle plays the lead role, Lady Mary Crawley, in Downton Abbey.
Michelle expressed her gratitude for the support she has received in a statement via her publicist.
“The family is very grateful for the support and kindness they have received but would kindly request that they are left to grieve in private,” it read.
Michelle and John have been together since 2013.
John lived and worked in London but after his diagnoses he spent some time with his family in Ireland, and despite heading to Germany for treatment the cancer tragically took his life far too young.
In 2014 Michelle briefly discussed the love of her life in an interview, “I have a wonderful man in my life from Ireland. We were introduced by Allen Leech. That’s all you need to know.”
A private funeral will take place in Cork today.
