Esteemed royal biographer Judy Wade who reported on Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding and sensed their relationship was on the rocks before they split dies aged 81

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Royal biographer Judy Wade, who reported on the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana and was a confidante of the late princess, has died at the age of 81.

Australian-born Judy, who lived in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, after retiring in 2015, passed away at Whittington Hospital in London on July 5 following a brief illness.

Judy was in the congregation at St. Paul's Cathedral in 1981 for the wedding of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles, and noted that she was closer to the bride than the end of Diana's 25ft train.

Writing in The Sun, she described the occasion as 'heart-stoppingly, eye-mistingly marvellous'. 

Royal biographer Judy Wade, who reported on the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana and was a confidante of the late princess, has died at the age of 81

Royal photographer Mark Stewart paid tribute to Judy, who was friends with Sarah Ferguson and got to know Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice

She went on to become a close confidant of Diana and penned The Truth in 2000, which featured interviews with Natalie Symons, Diana's personal hairdresser, and Marie Sutton, a close friend who looked after the princess when she travelled to Australia to plan her new life with Dr. Hasnat Khan. She also published Diana: The Intimate Portrait in 2007. 

It is believed that Judy sensed all was not right in Charles and Diana's marriage before they announced their separation.

In 2017, former newspaper executive Roy Greenslade told People documentary The Story of Diana that Judy had a 'hunch' that their relationship was on the rocks, sensing a change in their body language on outings and royal tours - despite her colleagues detecting no problems.

Judy also helped royal photographer Arthur Edwards with his book I'll Tell the Jokes Arthur - the title of which was inspired by a jovial put-down from Diana. 

Australian-born Judy, who lived in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, after retiring in 2015, passed away at Whittington Hospital in London on July 5 following a brief illness

In 2017, former newspaper executive Roy Greenslade told People documentary The Story of Diana that Judy had a 'hunch' that their relationship was on the rocks, sensing a change in their body language on outings and royal tours - despite her colleagues detecting no problems

One of the few women on the royal beat at the time, Judy travelled the world interviewing royals and celebrities in 69 countries, often on the same planes as those she was writing about.

She was friends with Sarah Ferguson and got to know Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice. 

Judy also attended the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in 2011. Diana's eldest is known to have joked that Judy probably knew more about his life than he does.

Her favourite royal was allegedly Prince Philip, because he is 'so rude and makes your laugh'. She told The Sun he once approached her at Sandringham and said, 'Having a good snoop, are we?'

One of the few women on the royal beat at the time, Judy travelled the world interviewing royals and celebrities in 69 countries, often on the same planes as those she was writing about

Judy helped royal photographer Arthur Edwards (pictured together) with his book I'll Tell the Jokes Arthur - the title of which was inspired by a jovial put-down from Diana

Royal photographer Mark Stewart paid tribute to Judy on social media this week, writing: 'Remembering great friend and doyenne of royal reporters Judy Wade who passed away yesterday. 

'One of the very best journalists of her generation; from royal births to royal weddings and royal tours, Judy was there witnessing and reporting history as it happened in her own unique style.'

Judy was a close confidant of Princess Diana

Judy's daughter Jordan McGarry, a mother-of-two, also shared a heartfelt tribute to her mother on Twitter earlier this week, admitting: 'We're all a bit broken.' 

Her family have set up a JustGiving page to raise money for the hospital which took care of her before she died.

Writing on the page, Jordan said: 'How can I ever write words in this little box that will do justice to my mum, the super scribbler?

'Mum became very unwell about 10 days ago, and I'm completely gutted to say we lost her yesterday, on the 72nd anniversary of the NHS. At the end, she was very comfortable, in a sunlit room with a large open window and a lot of Hey Jude playing in the background. I am very glad to say I was there to hold her hand.

'I'll have more to say in the days ahead but for now, if you'd like to pay tribute to Mum, rather than sending flowers to me I'm asking people to please donate to the Whittington Hospital, who took such amazingly good care of Mum in the last week of her life.

'Alternatively, just turn up the volume and sing along with the Na Na Nas next time you hear her theme song.'