Kate Beckinsale has shared a touching tribute to her late stepfather Roy Battersby on the first anniversary of his death.
His stepfather Roy was hospitalized in Los Angeles in December 2023 after suffering “a massive stroke” while battling two forms of cancer, which he was diagnosed with in the summer.
Then, sadly, he passed away a month later, at the age of 87.
In the heartfelt Instagram post, Kate revealed she will always be “haunted” after watching Roy die.
Alongside a beaming photo of Roy, Kate wrote: “Finding my father’s body alone in the middle of the night when I was five marked my entire life. Watching my beloved stepfather die a year ago today will haunt me forever.
“It seems terribly careless to have managed to be present at both deaths and not been able to prevent either, the second time trying with everything you had. It wasn’t enough.
Kate Beckinsale has shared a touching tribute to her late stepfather Roy Battersby on the first anniversary of his death.
His stepfather Roy was hospitalized in Los Angeles in December 2023 after suffering “a massive stroke” while battling two forms of cancer, which he was diagnosed with in the summer.
‘In the process of losing my beloved Roy, I lost family, friends, at times my own health and all the money I had because of how disgusting the American healthcare system is for the uninsured. I would do it again. No doubt.
“I can’t help but feel like I failed terribly, but today I’m trying to take solace in all the preparation he did in the last few years of his life, how deeply he studied and practiced as a Jungian, and how thin the veil is between the two energy of this life. and whatever comes next, that a part of him was at peace with her.
“However, it seems like a lie that I am telling myself to try to feel better. Perhaps, unfortunately, I am not enlightened enough to convince myself of my sense of loss, guilt and failure.
He added that although it is a “hard day” to talk about the tragedy, he wants to “honor it.”
‘He taught me to be brave. He taught me that it doesn’t matter if people don’t like you as long as you do the right thing, he lost everything fighting for justice for the unions, for the Palestinians in the 70s, living with them in refugee camps in Lebanon for several years making his 1977 documentary ‘El Palestino’, fighting for the miners who lose everything in the strikes.
‘It was Roy who lovingly helped my Jewish adoptive grandmother, who fled Germany at age 14, to painfully discover what had become of her brother and parents who did not survive.
‘I was blacklisted by the BBC and other places. He would have had a completely different career if he had followed the line and not cared so much about what was right.’
She signed off saying: ‘I am very fortunate to have been raised by someone who knew uncompromisingly what was right and lived it. And he loved me. Thank you for being my father. I miss you a lot.’
Then, sadly, he passed away a month later, at the age of 87.
In the heartfelt Instagram post, Kate revealed she will always be ‘haunted’ after watching Roy die.
The tribute post comes after his stepfather Roy was hospitalized in Los Angeles in December after suffering “a massive stroke” while battling two forms of cancer, which he was diagnosed with in the summer of 2023 (pictured by LR in 1996, Kate, Roy and their mother Judy Loe)
At the time of Roy’s death, the actress shared an untitled black square on her Instagram account and her friends and fans offered their condolences in the comments.
The British actress had been quietly caring for her beloved mother and stepfather as they battled a series of serious health problems, DailyMail.com previously revealed.
Kate’s actress mother, Judy Loe, married Roy in 1997, 18 years after the death of Kate’s father, Porridge star Richard Beckinsale.
Roy enjoyed his successful career as a director, working on major British screen hits including Inspector Morse and Cracker. His most recent directing credit was for a 2006 episode of A Touch Of Frost.
“I have no words yet,” Kate captioned an Instagram video, before thanking a fan account for editing it. ‘Oh Roy, I’m so sorry I lost.’
The clip began with a moving recording of Roy recalling how he was forced to hide in a shelter during the Blitz at the beginning of World War II as Nazi bombs rained down.
He called the eventual announcement of Victory in Europe Day “a wonderful thing”, because it meant that they would no longer hide in shelters and that young men would no longer have to leave their families to go fight across the continent.
The video also features several sweet photos of Kate with her stepfather and mother, including a funny photo that shows her and Roy smiling at each other while holding playfully insulting cups of tea.
It comes after Kate admitted she was preparing for her first year ‘without a father figure’ on the anniversary of her father Richard’s death last month (pictured by LR in 1978 Richard, Kate, Judy).
Kate rushed from the Golden Globes ceremony on Sunday, January 7, to the hospital, sharing photos of herself on the red carpet and at Roy’s bedside with the caption: “Golden Globes 2024 from start to finish.”
She was still dressed in her glamorous Atelier Zuhra dress for the hospital visit, as she ate a burger and chatted with her friends and family in Roy’s room.
Friends and followers rushed to see the star, with one commenting: ‘I don’t know how you survived last night with everything going on. You are strong and a consummate professional.
‘Having to leave your beautiful Roy’s side to honor this engagement at the Globes was beyond. Sending love and prayers to you and your family. I’m so happy you were able to return to the hospital. ‘
Kate replied: ‘Thank you and thank you for your supportive texts throughout. That was very kind xx’