Pop icon Robbie Williams has revealed the devastating toll dementia has taken on his family, sharing that his beloved mother no longer recognises him.
The Angels singer, 51, made the emotional admission during a recent performance in Germany, telling fans that his mother Janet’s condition has now progressed to the point where she doesn’t know who, or where, she is.
“My mother has dementia and she doesn’t know who I am anymore,” he said quietly. “She doesn’t know where she is anymore.”
Williams, who rose to fame with Take That before becoming one of the UK’s biggest solo artists, went on to detail the mounting challenges his family is facing. His father, Peter – also a performer – has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and is no longer able to leave the house.
“He used to sing with me every night on stage,” Robbie recalled. “He would come out, steal the show, be charming… and then wander backstage for a glass of red wine. Now he can’t leave the house.”
He also shared his concern for his mother-in-law, who is currently battling lupus, Parkinson’s and cancer.
“She is the most courageous lady and she is fighting, fighting, fighting,” he said, paying tribute to her strength.
Clearly moved and grappling with the weight of his family’s health battles, Williams told the audience: “It’s a strange place to be, this place we find ourselves, 51 years old. It’s very strange to be the grown-up. I’m not ready for it.”
Robbie has spoken before about his mother’s battle with dementia (an illness that also affected his grandmother) but now, the moment he feared has come: she no longer knows her son.
“I’m in a different part of my life right now,” he reflected.
The deeply personal revelation comes at a time when Robbie is also being recognised for his extraordinary contributions to music and charity. He was recently nominated for a knighthood, an honour that, if approved, will be confirmed by King Charles following recommendations from the honours committee and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
With 15 No.1 albums in the UK – tying The Beatles – and a legacy that includes seven chart-topping singles, 11 Comic Relief appearances, and over £100 million raised for UNICEF through Soccer Aid, Robbie is one of Britain’s most celebrated entertainers.
But in the face of such public recognition, his thoughts remain firmly with his family.
“I think Robbie should be knighted, 100 per cent,” said BBC Radio 2 host Scott Mills. “Let’s not forget, he’s the most decorated Brits winner in history. I think we should celebrate and acknowledge how much joy he has brought.”
For Robbie, however, no accolade can ease the pain of watching those he loves fade before his eyes.
Images: Instagram
