Paul O’Grady’s widower Andre Portasio reveals Queen Camilla reached out to him after the presenter’s death: ‘I must confess, it took me so long to reply’

Paul O’Grady‘s widower Andre Portasio revealed on Loose Women on Tuesday that Queen Camilla reached out to him after Paul’s death.

Comedian and presenter Paul died from cardiac arrhythmia in March 2023 at the age of 67 leaving behind Andre and his only child Sharon.

Paul was a close friend of Camilla’s and she made an appearance in a special episode of Paul’s documentary series For The Love Of Dogs.

Andre told the panellists: ‘I was shocked to receive a letter from her and, I must confess, it took me so long to reply.

The Brazilian added to the audience’s amusement: ‘It’s not every day you that you receive the letter from the Queen!’

He went on: ‘So, I would wake up and think: “I must reply to her letter”, and I would sit down and I would be like: “Dear Camilla…”‘

Andre mimed crumpling up a piece of paper and said ‘No!’ before continuing: ‘”Dear Queen Camilla…”‘ and repeating the action and exclamation.

It comes after Andre revealed that he plans to donate dresses belonging to Paul’s drag alter ego Lily Savage.

Andre, who married Paul in 2007, admitted that Lily’s wigs and belongings ‘do not belong to him’, and instead they belong ‘to the nation’.

Paul, who was a social worker in Birkenhead before moving to London, kicked off his glitzy showbiz career as a drag entertainer in the 80s.

He would tour local pubs and clubs across the UK as the iconic Lily Savage.

Speaking to The Mirror about his heartbreak and keeping his late husband’s legacy alive, Andre said he used to tell the TV personality that Lily costumes were a ‘slice of history’. 

But in Paul’s typically modest fashion, he brushed it off and said the prized possessions were just ‘tat’. 

Revealing that he homes an attic-full of memorabilia, Andre told the publication: ‘I think by the end he was very tired of having to put on all the make-up and all the practical aspects of becoming Lily although he never fully retired her and she kept making comebacks.’ 

When Paul was alive, his partner persuaded him to donate some items to the V&A, but there are still many other pieces he is setting aside.

‘They don’t belong to me, they belong to the nation. I feel the audience at large would absolutely love to see them again, and it’s weighing on me very heavily how I take his legacy forward.’ 

Andre also admitted that the nation’s response to the TV star’s first anniversary  humbled him as they left him an overwhelming amount of support through cards and miniature dog teddy bears.

It came just days after fans admitted they ‘couldn’t watch’ The Life and Death of Lily Savage, as ITV marked the first anniversary of Paul’s tragic death.