generic Jamie Oliver's daughter is celebrating her 19th birthday and we officially feel old
Jamie Oliver has shared a touching message to his daughter Poppy to celebrate her 19th birthday, and now we officially feel ancient.
Accompanied by a sweet father/daughter selfie, the TV chef wished his eldest daughter a happy birthday while expressing his sadness that he can't be with Poppy on her special day.
"Happy 19th Birthday Poppy!! I love you so much wish I could be with you today have a great day honey," the dad-of-five wrote.
Jamie's wife Jools Oliver also issued a heartfelt tribute to the couple's eldest child on Instagram.
Alongside an image of a homemade crown decorated with pom poms, rainbows and glitter, the mum-of-five shared a touching tribute to the 19-year-old.
"Happy happy birthday Pops my little number 1 the first time in 19 years that we don’t get to wake you up way too early and present you with your crown," she wrote.
"I know I said the 18th crown was the last one but you didn’t look too happy so of course I am going to carry on."
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Like her husband, Jools also expressed how much she would miss seeing her daughter on her birthday but promised to make up for it when the family were reunited.
"Love and miss you so much," she continued. "We are so very proud of you we have lots of surprises for you when you get home. Have a wonderful day my darling."
The couple's eldest daughter is currently studying at university and last year, her parents both shared tear-jerking posts about Poppy's departure from the family home.
"Clearly still can't get my head around it," Jools wrote alongside a sweet slideshow of images of Poppy and her siblings.
"Pops you will be pleased to know I have worked out how to add music to these slide things (see I am able to use technology without you) but every bone in my body misses you, that's the only way to describe it," she continued.
"Can't wait to spoil you when you come home, we are all so proud of you little legend number 1," she added.
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Poppy's dad went for a simpler picture collage, in which the homemade birthday crown Jools referred to in her birthday message can be spotted on a tinier Poppy aged 8.
"I can't believe this young lady my first born Poppy has headed off to university, OMG where did that little girl go!?!?" Oliver wrote.
"Emotional and exciting times for young people all around the country in these very strange times.
"I wish you all the best of luck. Good luck Pops love you so much, take this great opportunity and run like the wind!!!! Go do all you dream of... it's waiting and hoping for you.... Love Dad x xx x."
We're not crying, you are!
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News that Poppy has entered the last year of her teens will no doubt make many feel their age, particularly as Oliver first appeared on our screens in his TV show The Naked Chef way back in 1999.
After dating for eight years, Jamie and Jools married in June 2000, and went on to welcome five children - Poppy, 19, Daisy, 17, Petal, 11, Buddy, ten, and four-year-old River.
Despite having a busy household, the couple haven't ruled out the possibility that they might add to their brood.
In September 2020, Jamie revealed that though he thinks their family is at its "limits" in terms of size, his wife is "truly happy" being a mother.
Appearing on The Joe Wicks Podcast, when asked by Wicks: "Who's the one who wants all the kids, is it Jools?" the 45-year-old chef said: “Jools. She's literally nuts and she wants another one.
“It's definitely an interesting one but it's her thing right, that's all she's ever dreamt of and that's the thing that makes her truly happy.
“She just loves being a mother and for that I'm grateful, but I think, you know, at 45, we're sort of probably on the limits.”
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Like many families, the Olivers have celebrated lots of family birthdays during lockdown.
Last year, they marked their three daughters' birthdays back in March and April. As well as Poppy's 18th in March, Daisy also turned 17, while their youngest sister Petal turned 11 in April.
