Australian socialite Primrose Dunlop, whose bridegroom 'prince' ran off with the best man on the eve of their lavish wedding, has died. She was 70 years old. Dunlop, the daughter of Australian society doyenne Lady Potter and an heiress to a $60 million fortune, entered full-time care with frontotemporal dementia in 2022. 'Vale Primrose "Pitty Pat" Dunlop. Star of one of Australia's great society scandals, left at the altar in Venice when the groom eloped with his best man,' journalist Andrew Hornery announced the news on Instagram.
'She not only survived but thrived for many years, an exemplar of getting on with it despite the enormous scrutiny surrounding her.'. Some of Australia's most prominent women - including rock publicist Patti Mostyn, author Janise Beaumont, painter Mary Pinnock and publicist-turned-celebrant Glen-Marie Frost - learned of Dunlop's ailing health three years ago. Expressing sadness, dismay and genuine affection for 'Princess Primmie' - who was witty, sharp, with a great sense of fun yet unpretentious - they said it was 'a horrible way to go' for 'such a lovely girl ... a dreadful disease'.
Australian socialite Primrose Dunlop has died, aged 70. They also reflected on the 'brilliant and exciting' life Primrose had, her high-spirited encounters with the rich and famous, and the ill-fated Venice nuptials that made world headlines. What made Primrose Dunlop a global cause celebre in April 1990 was meant to be Primrose's marriage at Venice's Basilica di San Pietro to diminutive Qantas flight steward Lorenzo Montesini.
