Petula Clark’s husband, Claude Wolff, died at the age of 93 after a short illness.
The 91-year-old British singer announced the news on her social media page on Wednesday, admitting she was “at a loss for words” to describe how she felt.
Petula wrote: “Our hearts are heavy. This afternoon – Claude, my husband of so many extraordinary years – passed away – leaving us without words to describe this horrible emotion – grief.
“Thank you, my lovely children and friends, for giving me the strength to overcome this immense sadness. Peace be with you darling. RIP Claude Wolff (1931-2024).’
Petula’s Facebook post was flooded with messages of sympathy in the comments section, as friends and fans sent their condolences to the star.
Claude Wolff, Petula Clark’s husband, died at the age of 93 following a short illness.
The 91-year-old British singer announced the news on her social media page on Wednesday, admitting she was “at a loss for words” to describe how she was feeling (pictured together).
Petula shares three children with Claude, two daughters named Barbara and Katherine and a son named Patrick, 52.
The actor and producer was known for his work in the film industry and collaborated on several projects with his ex-wife.
Petula and Claude met in the fifties and stayed together for three decades before separating romantically but remaining married until his death.
The former couple met at the Vogue label during a meeting to discuss Petula’s contact in Paris in 1957, where Claude was “immediately attracted” to Petula.
Following the meeting, Petula was informed that Claude would work with her if she recorded in French and she agreed.
They collaborated on the 1968 film Petula where Claude worked as a producer and on Here’s Lucy, filmed the same year, where he was an actor.
Petula, who shares three children with Claude, spoke to Loose Women about their unusual arrangement during a 2016 appearance.
She said: “We are still married. Claude is the father of our wonderful children.
“We still live together but he has his own life and I have mine and it works out somehow.”
Petula wrote: “Our hearts are heavy. This afternoon – Claude, my husband of so many extraordinary years – passed away – leaving us without words to describe this terrible emotion – grief.
The couple photographed on their wedding day in June 1961
“These things are hard to talk about in public, but it works.”
Since 2012, Petula and Claude have lived together in Switzerland. They are the parents of their son Patrick, 52, and their two daughters Barbara and Katherine.
Despite her arrangement with Claude, Petula found love again, although she admitted it wasn’t a “light bulb” moment like it was with Claude.
She told the Loose Women panel: “There’s someone there and it’s very nice and Claude knows about it. There is no secret.
“We became friends first and the romantic side came later. I think it’s pretty good too, because it’s not about frenzied passion. It’s good to be friends with your man !’
Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2016, Petula said of her husband: “He’s in Geneva and I’ll see him when I get back. It’s funny. Life does these things to us.
“Of course it’s painful to think that something so wonderful has changed, but he has his life and I have mine. We had three wonderful children together and we love each other very much.
“It’s just different now. It may not be perfect but we make the most of it.
They separated in the 1980s and have remained close ever since and never divorced. Claude also found a new partner but they remained discreet about the identity of their new loves.
Since 2012, Petula and Claude have lived together in Switzerland. They are the parents of their son Patrick, 52, and their two daughters Barbara and Katherine (photo from 2001)
They separated in the 1980s and have remained close ever since and never divorced.
Petula Clark in the mountains with her husband Claude and their children Barbara and Patrick in December 1976
During an interview with the Daily Mail in 2013, Petula said she thought her busy career was “keeping her from being a good mother.”
She said: “I wasn’t a good mother because I was away a lot. I tried my best to be the perfect mother, the perfect wife and a great artist.
“I thought I could do anything, but that’s not possible. Sorry, but that’s just not possible. I’ve tried, but being a parent and being married is a full-time job.
Speaking about letting her children perform on stage, she said: “Emotionally, it was a real tear each time I had to leave, and I think the whole sad story of saying goodbye so many times remained with children for many years.
“I always went home as soon as I could and turned down a lot of job offers so I could be with them, but I still had to make a living.
“Whatever I may have gotten wrong then, I hope I’ve managed to fix it since.” Petula first took to the stage at the age of six and grew up to become one of the most successful British female artists in history, with over 68 million records sold worldwide and a series of number one hits, including I Know A Place.