Princess Charlene is mourning the loss of Desmond Tutu following his recent passing. On Sunday, the royal took to social media to share a sweet Instagram post that honoured her friendship with the prolific activist.

Princess Charlene calls Tutu her "dear friend"

Princess Charlene shared a couple photos of herself and Tutu together from her 2018 visit to the headquarters of Nelson Mandela Foundation. In the first image, they are captured in a candid moment, while the second sees them smile for the camera. Charlene wears a grey coat and the archbishop wears a black coat over his characteristic red attire.

"My dear friend, you will be missed," Charlene began the caption of her post. She mentioned that she "will always have fond memories" of the time that she was able to share with Tutu, and said that hearing him laugh is something that "will live in my heart forever."

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Princess Charlene of Monaco makes a short statement with Archbishop Emeritus, Desmond Tutu during their visit to a youth centre in Masiphumelele on July 8, 2011.

It has been a difficult year for the Monagasque royal, who also lost her beloved dog just a few months ago. While Charlene has been recovering from health complications, she was recently able to spend time with her family over the holidays. Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan have also publicly mourned the loss of Tutu, with a special message of their own reflecting on their meeting with him in 2019.