Socialite Primrose Dunlop dies, 70, after dementia diagnosis

An Australian socialite, who infamously was left by her fiance the night before their luxurious European wedding, has died, aged 70.

Australian socialite Primrose ‘Pitty Pat’ Dunlop, whose Italian prince fiance left her for his best man the night before their luxurious European wedding, has died aged 70.

Ms Dunlop, who was heiress to a massive $60m fortune and the daughter of philanthropist Lady Primrose Potter, entered full-time care with frontotemporal dementia in 2022.

Lady Potter confirmed her daughter died on February 5 after years suffering from the “heart-wrenching disease”.

Australian socialite Primrose Dunlop has died aged 70.

Ms Dunlop made worldwide headlines in 1990 after her wedding to Qantas flight attendant Lorenzo Montesini was sensationally called off at the last minute.

Mr Montesini, who claimed to be a European prince, had left his bride to be the night before the wedding and ran away with his best man, Robert Straub.

The pair had been in a secret relationship for years after meeting in the Vietnam War.

Mr Montesini claimed to hold the titles of Prince Giustiniani, Count of the Phanaar, Knight of St Sophia and Baron Alexandroff while courting Ms Dunlop.

The jilted bride however went onto marry Polish Count Jerzy Krasicki v Siecin in 1993, where after she went by the official title of Countess Anne Margaret Primrose Krasicki v Siecin.

Lorenzo Montesini and Primrose Dunlop were due to wed in Venice.

Primrose Dunlop went onto marry a count in 1993.

Lady Potter announced on Wednesday she would be donating $1m donation to The Florey in honour of her daughter.

The Florey’s executive director Professor Peter van Wijngaarden shared his condolences to Ms Dunlop’s family.

He said the generous donation will go a long way to help researchers investigate “better ways to diagnose FTD and other dementias”.

“Frontotemporal dementia is a devastating disease and a focus for research effort at The Florey and globally,” Mr van Wijngaarden said.

“With the generous donation in honour of Countess Krasicki v Siecin from the Potter family, a team of Florey researchers will investigate better ways to diagnose FTD and other dementias.

“We hope that this research will pave the way to improved diagnosis and treatments.

“We are enormously thankful to Lady Primrose Potter for this significant and impactful gift.”

Ms Dunlop’s family will hold a private memorial service.

Commentator Melissa Hoyer shared her condolences on social media.

“Vale Countess Anne Margaret Primrose Krasicki v Siecin (nee Dunlop) who died after a long battle wit frontotemporal dementia (FTD) – a type of dementia commonly affecting adults in 50s or 60s,” she wrote.

“She was Primmie or Pity Pat to her mates. May she RIP.”

Originally published as Socialite Primrose Dunlop dies, 70, after dementia diagnosis