Charlotte Church's biological father Stephen Reed dies from coronavirus, aged 56 - without ever reconnecting with his estranged daughter
- Mr Reed was admitted to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, with Covid-19 before Christmas, and it is understood he later died at his home
- He walked out on wife Maria and two-year-old Charlotte to start a new life with hospital podiatrist Alison, who he married 33 years ago
- In 2008, he made a heartfelt public plea begging Charlotte for a reconciliation, and even turned up at her home
- Charlotte had previously declared she had no intention of getting reacquainted with her biological father or his immediate family and called them 'strangers'
- The classical singer stayed loyal to her mother Maria and stepfather James, who had adopted her when she was three
- Charlotte, who was dubbed 'Voice of an Angel', previously told how finding fame at the age of just 11 tore her family apart
- Charlotte rose to fame when she performed Andrew Lloyd Webber's Pie Jesu over the telephone on This Morning in 1997
- She went on to sell 10 million records worldwide and has an estimated wealth of £10 million, but has remained largely out of the limelight for the past few years Charlotte Church's biological father has died of coronavirus aged 56 without being able to reconnect with his estranged daughter, it was revealed on Wednesday.
Stephen Reed was desperate to make amends with the former Voice Of An Angel child star, 34, who he walked out on when she was just two.
Mr Reed was admitted to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, with Covid before Christmas.It is understood he later died at his home in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan with his family at his side.
Tragic: Charlotte Church's biological father (pictured in July 2020) has died of coronavirus aged 56 without being able to reconnect with his estranged daughter
Loss: Mr. Reed was desperate to make amends with the former Voice Of An Angel child star, 34, (pictured in 2019) who he walked out on when she was just two
A post mortem examination was carried out for the Glamorgan Coroner but it is understood there will be no inquest because he died of natural causes.
It is believed Charlotte and her father did not make up prior to his death, and he did not meet her two children Ruby, 13, and Dexter, 12.
MailOnline has contacted Charlotte's representatives for comment. In 2008, Mr Reed made a heartfelt public plea begging Charlotte for a reconciliation, and even turned up at her home.
Ten months after her daughter Ruby's birth, and as she was pregnant with her son Dexter, Mr Reed said: 'Please get in contact with me – I still love you.
'It upsets me very much that I've got a grandchild who I don't know and another on the way, but what can I do?
Family: Mr Reed leaves behind wife of 33 years, Alison, and the couple's two sons, Luke, 32, and Alex, 28, (pictured in 2000)
Success story: Charlotte became a household name at the age of just 11 thanks to her powerful voice (pictured in 1999)
'When I see photos of Ruby, I see a lot of myself in her. I'm a good dad. I think I would be a good grandparent. I don't see what the problem is.'
Charlotte had previously declared she had no intention of becoming reacquainted with her biological father or his immediate family.
In an interview at the time, she claimed: 'They are strangers to me. I don't know if they are moral.
'Ignorance is bliss. I'm staying in my own ignorant bubble, right or wrong.'
Mr Reed walked out on wife Maria and then two-year-old Charlotte to start a new life with hospital podiatrist Alison, who he married 33 years ago.
The couple have two sons Luke, 32, and Alex, 28, and several grandchildren.
Sad: Mr Reed (pictured in 2000) was admitted to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, with Covid before Christmas and later died at his home in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan
Estranged: Charlotte had previously declared she had no intention of becoming reacquainted with her biological father or his immediate family (pictured with her mother Maria in 2019)
Mr Reed was a former computer engineer but became a successful beekeeper.
His business, the Wildflower Honey Company, is a regular at food festivals and agricultural shows in Wales and the West Country.
Charlotte lived just 12 miles away from her estranged father in the village of Dinas Powys where she runs a private school.
She was engaged to former Wales and British Lions rugby star Gavin Henson when her natural father tried to get in touch in 2008.
Charlotte stayed loyal to her mother Maria and stepfather James, who had adopted her when she was three.
The classical singer told of her fears of losing James after he was diagnosed with a rare terminal blood disorder, AL amyloidosis, in 2019.
Moving on: Mr Reed walked out on wife Maria and two-year-old Charlotte to start a new life with hospital podiatrist Alison (pictured on their wedding day in 1988)
At the time, she said of his illness: 'It's absolutely terrifying the idea of not having him around. I rely on him for so much, he's my buddy, my absolute best friend and has been for years.'
Charlotte married musician Johnny Powell in 2017 and the couple welcomed a baby girl together in August last year.
The musician previously told how finding fame at the age of just 11 tore her family apart.
Charlotte discussed the 'stress and pressure' placed on her and her family - including dealing with kidnap threats and mental health issues - on ITV's This Morning in October 2019.
The singer's mother Maria, who also appeared on the show, admitted that after Charlotte left home, after many years of 'living in each other's pockets' - she had a nervous breakdown.
Apart: In 2008, Mr Reed made a public plea begging Charlotte for a reconciliation (pictured with her mother and stepfather James in 2000)
Charlotte said: 'I don't think anything went wrong, it was just like a pressure cooker.
'There was a couple of kidnap plots when I was a kid, a whole load of stress and pressure, we were living in each other's pockets.'
In her darkest moments, Maria's bipolar disorder drove her to excessive drinking and self-harm, and she has also previously attempted suicide.
When Charlotte was 16, she and Maria fell out and didn't speak for a year and a half.
Opening up about the traumatic time, Maria said: 'When Charlotte left home, it was very, very brutal and very sudden, she broke my heart, I ended up having a nervous breakdown. Adding that she is still in therapy, Maria added: 'It's early days but I'm trying to do something about it now, I've always suffered with mental health issues, mine are quite complex.'
'We stayed in Cardiff which was really important, if I'd have moved her to London, I think that glitz lifestyle could have got the better of us, but we always went back to our roots.'
Charlotte rose to fame at the age of just 11 when she performed Andrew Lloyd Webber's Pie Jesu over the telephone on This Morning in 1997.
She went on to sell 10 million records worldwide and has an estimated wealth of £10 million, but has remained largely out of the limelight for the past few years.
Family: Charlotte stayed loyal to her mum Maria and stepdad James, who had adopted her when she was three (pictured together in 2004)
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