Wally Lewis’s public rift with his children shows no signs of healing – but the footy icon was still able to share a milestone moment with a beloved family member last weekend.
The 66-year-old’s adult children Mitch, 40, Lincoln, 38, and Jamie-Lee, 36, have rejected him since he moved on from first wife Jacqui with his new love, Lynda.
None of his children attended Lewis’s second wedding, which was held in Brisbane in April last year.
But the man known to generations of footy fans as ‘The King’ was surrounded by family as he attended the wedding of his niece Amber Lewis at a scenic spot just west of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
‘What a great pleasure it was to see my beautiful niece Amber Lewis marry Jack Dwyer last weekend in Montville,’ Lewis wrote on Instagram.
‘It was a very special weekend for all. Congratulations again, guys.’
Wally Lewis and his wife Lynda are pictured at his niece Amber’s wedding last weekend
The footy icon had a ‘very special weekend’ with family and loved ones at a scenic spot just west of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast
Pictured: Lewis’s niece just after tying the knot with Jack Dwyer
The post featured shots of the former Broncos star enjoying the occasion with loved ones including Lynda.
Lewis’s happy family day comes just after he opened up about the split with his children in rare comments about the ongoing effects of his second marriage.
He became emotional as he apologised for the split, which came after he’d been married to Jacqui for 36 years.
Lewis was on the verge of tears as he spoke out about the ‘sad’ situation, which one source close to the family recently said has ‘zero chance’ of reconciliation.
‘I had a bit of a tough time in my life and sad departure from my family,’ the former Broncos and State of Origin star told News Corp.
‘I don’t feel good about that and I don’t get the chance to spend much time with my kids.
‘They are three wonderful kids and I’m very sorry it affected them.
‘But I’m very proud of them and the support they give their mother.’
Lewis recently became emotional as he made rare comments about his split with his adult children (pictured left to right, Lewis’s son Lincoln, daughter Jamie-Lee, Lewis, his ex-wife Jacqui and son Mitch)
‘The King’ married Lynda (pictured together) in April last year, but none of his children attended the ceremony
The remarks are a rare departure for Lewis, who has previously stayed very private about the rift.
Lewis revealed his split with Jacqui in a statement released through his employer Channel Nine in February 2021.
‘Wally and Jacqui Lewis separated last year after 36 years of marriage. It has been a difficult time for everyone in the family and they are still working through the details of the separation,’ the statement said.
‘This is a deeply personal matter that we do not want to discuss publicly, but I want to acknowledge the pain and upset my family has gone through since Jacqui and I separated last year.
‘I hope over time we can rebuild our ties and move on with life.
‘I will confirm I am now in another relationship.’
Lewis married Jacqui in November 1984, and he has previously opened up about how she was a rock for him when he was diagnosed with epilepsy after having a seizure on live TV while reading the sport on Nine’s news bulletin.
