An “inspirational” cancer sufferer who received a private letter from the King died just hours before he was due to meet the monarch and the Queen.
Simon Boas had hoped to meet the royal couple this week during their official visit to Jersey.
The King sent the personal note to Mr Boas, 47, last week, shortly after the aid worker took a turn for the worse and was moved into a hospice.
He died on Monday, just hours before the King and Queen arrived in St Helier for a two-day visit to the Channel Islands.
Mr Boas, who worked for Jersey Overseas Aid, had been due to join the royal couple at a tea party on Monday.
However, when his condition worsened just days before the royal visit, the King sent him a personal letter, telling him what an inspiration he had been.
While the contents of the letter are private, it is understood that the King said he was deeply moved by his story and how much he had hoped to meet him.
The letter was hand-delivered to Mr Boas by Vice-Adml Jerry Kyd, the island’s Lieutenant Governor, at Jersey Hospice on Thursday.
A bottle of Muscadet, a tipple Mr Boas enjoyed, was also brought over to Jersey as a gift.
However, the aid worker died shortly before the King and Queen arrived, so instead the wine will be sent to his family.
Mr Boas was diagnosed with throat cancer last September.
He went on to write several articles about his illness, as well as a book called A Beginner’s Guide to Dying, which is due to be published later this year.
On Monday, the King and Queen were rushed out of an engagement involving cows and potato farmers in Jersey because of a security concern.
The visit to the outdoor expo event in St Helier was suddenly cut short and the couple were ushered into a nearby hotel. However, following an investigation it turned out to be a false alarm.