Following the death of her younger sister Jackie Collins, Joan Collins has paid tribute to the "beautiful" and "brave" star. Dame Joan, who only found out recently that her sister was suffering from stage four breast cancer, shared a touching photo on Twitter.
The sepia-toned snap showed the pair in their childhood years, with Joan wrapping a protective arm around her little sister.
"Farewell to my beautiful brave baby sister," wrote Joan. "I will love you and miss you forever. Rest in peace."
"Growing up, I was the wild one and Joan was the goodie goodie," Jackie recently told HELLO!
The picture struck a chord with thousands of Joan's fans, who posted their condolences for the 82-year-old actress.
Jackie, who passed away in her Beverly Hills mansion aged 77, was diagnosed with breast cancer six-and-a-half years ago and had primarily confided in her three daughters. She only told her sister Joan that she was terminally ill recently.
"I just felt she didn't need it in her life," Jackie told People earlier this month. "She's very positive and very social but I'm not sure how strong she is, so I didn't want to burden her with it."
The author passed away at the age of 77 in her Beverly Hills home
Stars from the celebrity world also reacted to the news online, with Kris Jenner sharing a picture of herself and the glamorous sisters on Instagram.
"I'm so sad to hear about the passing of Jackie Collins," she wrote. "My love and prayers go out to her family and friends and to her sister Joan.. what an amazing woman.... It was a joy and honour to have known her. @jackiejcollins @joancollinsdbe #love."
Tributes have poured in from across the celebrity world
Also posing alongside the two sisters, Piers Morgan tweeted a photo and captioned it: "RIP Jackie Collins - so glamorous, so generous & such fun. The best party host in Hollywood. Such sad news."
"Horribly sad news about Jackie Collins," wrote Elizabeth Hurley. "She was a lovely, very special woman. RIP."
Ross King tweeted: "The world has lost a beautiful woman....inside and out. I was so lucky to know you @jackiejcollins. My love and thoughts with your family. X."
Jackie pictured with HELLO! magazine editor Rosie Nixon
Earlier this month Jackie invited HELLO! magazine into her California home, where she spoke about the close bond she shared with her sister. "Growing up, I was the wild one and Joan was the goodie goodie," the late star said, adding that it was Joan who introduced her to Hollywood at the age of 15.
HELLO! magazine editor Rosie Nixon shared a photo of herself and Jackie on Twitter, writing: "Terribly sad news. But I feel truly honoured to have spent such a great time with Jackie Collins just weeks ago #Rip. Jackie Collins, you had such spirit & were so strong & kind until the end - a true star; one of the absolute best. #RIP #jackiecollins."
