Former British number one tennis player and beloved BBC pundit Annabel Croft is basking in family joy after welcoming a beautiful new granddaughter into the world.
The 59-year-old sports icon is said to be “bursting with pride” following the birth of the newborn. Her 29-year-old son, Charlie Coleman, and his wife, Honour Wainwright, 30, officially confirmed the arrival of their first child together earlier this month, revealing they have named their daughter Cosima Elizabeth Annabel Coleman.
A Beautiful Name with a Heartfelt Double Tribute
The moniker chosen by the young couple holds immense sentimental value, bridging both sides of the family.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, new mother Honour explained: “Cosima is named after both her amazing grannies.” She noted that her own mother is named Elizabeth (who goes by Annie), while the baby’s middle names are a direct, loving nod to the tennis star herself.
Pure Joy Following Devastating Loss
The arrival of baby Cosima marks a deeply poignant and healing milestone for the Croft-Coleman family. It comes just over three years after the tragic passing of Annabel’s husband, Mel Coleman, who died in May 2023 at age 60 from sepsis just weeks after a stage-four colon cancer diagnosis.
“Annabel is bursting with pride,” a close family friend revealed. “She has been counting down the days to meet her new grandchild. This is such a special time for the family.”
While Cosima is Charlie and Honour’s firstborn, this isn’t Annabel’s first taste of grandmotherhood. The broadcaster—who has proudly adopted the affectionate nickname “Grannabel”—became a grandmother less than a year ago when her eldest daughter, Amber Rose, welcomed a son named Arlo William Melvyn Llewellyn. In a touching parallel tribute, Amber also honored her late father by giving her son the middle name Melvyn.
From Safari Honeymoons to High-Society Weddings
Charlie, a finance professional, and Honour, the marketing director for her family’s luxury jewelry empire Boodles, first announced they were expecting back in February. At the time, Honour shared a picturesque snap of her baby bump during the couple’s honeymoon at a high-end safari lodge in South Africa.
Their lavish wedding last August in Hampshire was a star-studded affair, with Honour previously stating she wanted the vibe to feel “more Kate Moss than Kate Middleton.”
The celebration featured plenty of nods to Annabel’s legendary sporting legacy, with the newlyweds driving off in a vintage Land Rover adorned with tennis rackets. Annabel, who looked stunning in a floral gown and feathered fascinator, allegedly let her hair down at the reception, crowd-surfing alongside her new daughter-in-law after Charlie performed an energetic wedding dance to You’re the One that I Want from Grease.
According to reports, exclusive family photographs show a beaming Annabel cradle the newborn alongside Honour’s mother, cementing a joyful new chapter for the family.
