John Frieda's bond with his three children including Lulu's actor-turned-restaurateur son and Fiat heiress stepdaughter who labelled him 'best man to ever exist'

Princess Diana's hairstylist John Frieda has been labelled the 'best man to ever exist' by his grief-stricken stepdaughter, Fiat heiress Asia Agnelli.The creator of the Frizz Ease range, who was married to singer Lulu, died at the age of 75 yesterday, leaving behind his three children, Jordan, 48, Jackson, and Leyla.He was also a stepfather to Asia from his marriage to British architect Frances Avery Howe, whose first husband was Fiat heir Giovanni Alberto Agnelli.John's eldest, Eton-educated Jordan, was from his relationship with Lulu before their acrimonious divorce in 1991 and, like his father, who styled Princess Diana's hair, he also boasts a royal connection.In 2002, the aspiring actor somewhat unwisely portrayed Prince William in a tasteless American TV movie that received poor reviews. He has since pivoted to the restaurant business and is now believed to be living happily with his wife and two children.Meanwhile, Asia tied the knot with her dashing beau Frankie Lagrange, the son of Pierre Lagrange, at a fairytale high-society wedding that was the talk of the town last December. The Italian heiress and philanthropist frequently shares pictures with her younger step-siblings on Instagram, from snaps taken during fun-filled holidays to quieter moments at home with Frieda. John Frieda with his second wife Frances Avery Howe, stepdaughter Asia and son Jackson (left) (Instagram/Asia Agnelli) Frieda died suddenly on Wednesday after an illustrious 50-year career that made him one of the most influential names in the British beauty industry. He leaves behind his widow, Avery Agnelli, and three children. The Kenton-born stylist was previously married to Scottish singer Lulu (born Marie Lawrie) in 1976, and they welcomed their son Jordan Frieda the following year. The couple tried for another child, but in 1988, Lulu suffered a miscarriage at the age of 40. The family moved to Manhattan in 1990 to expand Frieda's haircare business, but their marriage ended soon after, with Lulu saying: 'I think John left me in 1988 when I lost the baby. 'I was in denial of my marriage going wrong. I didn't see us drifting apart. I always thought there would be signs. Perhaps there were. I just didn't see them.' After his parents' split, Jordan continued to attend school in New York while Lulu shuttled between the US and UK for four years during what she described as a 'dark' period of her life in an interview with The Times. When Jordan returned to live with her for the sixth form, he was enrolled in Eton and earned a bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Cambridge University. His heart was set on a career in the performing arts, as Jordan recalled his childhood in 'theatres, dressing rooms and hair salons' in a 2004 interview with The Telegraph. It was two years after Jordan portrayed the Prince of Wales as a 'womaniser' in a 'tacky' American television movie that aired in 2002 and received scathing critical reviews. Speaking to the paper, Jordan admitted he only accepted the role because 'I hadn't worked for eight months', adding: 'I thought it might lead to other work.' After struggling to make it as an actor in New York and Los Angeles, Jordan returned to the UK and got a job working as a commis chef at the Claridge's under Gordon Ramsay. He was 26 at the time. Jordan Frieda with his mother, pop singer Lulu Like his father, who styled Princess Diana's hair, Eton-educated Jordan also has a royal connection as he played Prince William in an American TV movie 'It was one of the most extreme experiences working 16 hours a day for £14,000 a year,' Jordan recalled. 'I couldn't even get back to my flat in Putney, so I was bicycling back to Maida Vale to sleep on a camp bed in my mother's home.'He quit two weeks later as Jordan recalled Ramsay telling him he was 'too soft' to work in a kitchen, adding: 'A kitchen isn't like a f***ing hairdresser's.' At the time, Jordan also gave a rare glimpse into his relationship with Frieda when he told the newspaper his father 'still cuts his hair'. Jordan was romantically involved with Chris Patten's youngest daughter Alice as well as James Fox's daughter Lydia but is now happily married. He tied the knot with venture capitalist Alana Rice in 2009, and they have two children together, daughter Isabella Rose and son Edward. Last year, Lulu told The Times that she 'adores' Jordan's wife and her grandchildren, adding: 'There are no words.' Now 48, Jordan works as a restaurateur and shares a close relationship with his mother, as Lulu said: 'We understand each other so well. There is something very sweet about this point in my life. It comes from acceptance.' Frieda found love again when he met British architect Frances Avery Howe, widow of Fiat heir Giovanni Alberto Agnelli, at a dinner party in Italy in 2002. They married in 2019 and welcomed two children, son Jackson and daughter Leyla, whilst Frieda also helped raise Avery's daughter from her first marriage, Asia Agnelli. Fiat heiress Asia Agnelli labelled her stepfather Frieda 'the best man to ever exist' after his death Asia as a youngster with Frieda (Instagram/Asia Agnelli) Azzi with her 'guardian angel' stepfather FriedaAccording to her LinkedIn, the Italian heiress studied at Leeds Art University after Frances relocated to the UK following Giovanni’s tragic death from cancer at the age of 33. Asia, who goes by Azzi, was just three months old at the time. Now 29, she is the founder of the Azzi Agnelli Foundation, which supports organisations across healthcare, education, youth empowerment and humanitarian relief.She is also the sole founder of Lifecycles, an early-stage, category-agnostic investment platform backing ventures across AI, UK defence, human wellbeing and healthcare.Some of the companies backed by Lifecycles include Hyper, which automates non-emergency 911 calls 'to speed up response times and save lives', and Banquet Health, a software company for food and nutrition teams in hospitals. ‘The early death of her father instilled a deep sense of responsibility toward building things that endure,’ a message on her website read, noting her ‘path has been shaped by both legacy and loss’. Photos on her Instagram account give a closer look at Frieda's warm relationship with Asia over the years. On Frieda's 74th birthday last July, Asia posted several pictures from beach holidays and family dinners, alongside her step-siblings and captioned them: 'Happy birthday my J. I love you.' Asia has previously spoken of her 'winning battle with bulimia' and thanked those 'who have got me to this point' in an emotional Instagram post on her September 16 birthday in 2019. 'I have been struggling somewhat under the radar with an eating disorder which crippled me inside and out, and today I look back at all my achievements with a sense of gratitude and empowerment,' she wrote. After news of Frieda’s death broke, Asia honoured ‘my J’ on Instagram with a series of personal and moving snaps of her stepfather over the years.Her caption read: 'Sadly, my J has passed away. Today we lost the best man to ever exist. I share this because I know he touched the lives of so many.’Asia's close friend, Lady Lola Bute, expressed her condolences in a comment that read: 'He was your guardian angel on earth and now in heaven. His love for you knew no bounds, a loss too huge for words, I love you forever.'Asia’s post was flooded with messages of love and support for ‘your mum, sister and brother’, as a member of the Agnelli clan, Daniela sent love to Avery, Azzi and her two step-siblings, Jackson and Leyla.On December 13, 2025, the low-key Italian heiress tied the knot with Frankie Lagrange, the son of Pierre Lagrange, in a stunning Italian wedding. The guest list for Asia and Frankie’s gorgeous winter wedding read like a who’s who of British high society. (From left to right): Jean Campbell; Lady Helen Taylor, Azzi Agnelli and Lola Bute attend 'Marsden @ 180', a fundraising evening in support of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity's Oak Cancer Centre Appeal at 180 The Strand on March 24, 2022 in London Azzi, 29, she is the founder of the Azzi Agnelli Foundation, which supports organisations across healthcare, education, youth empowerment and humanitarian reliefGuests included Prince William’s distant cousin Daisy Knatchbull, Princess Maria Olympia of Greece, and London ‘It Girls’ and step-sisters, Lady Lola Bute and Jazzy de Lisser.Azzi was radiant in an ivory Prada gown with a plunging back for her wedding to Frankie, the son of Belgian hedge fund manager Pierre Lagrange, with an estimated net worth of £500million. Sharing snippets from their wedding day on Instagram, Asia showed off three bridal looks - including a tailored blazer emblazoned with the words 'Mrs Lagrange' on the back and an edgy Stella McCartney creation for the after-party. The date was a poignant nod to her father, who tragically died 28 years prior. The Tuscan venue was also a symbolic choice, as Azzi exchanged vows at the Varramista Gardens in Montopoli in Val d'Arno, Giovanni’s family home where he married Frances in 1996.Although Giovanni's death loomed large at Asia’s wedding, the bride - who wore custom Prada - was lovingly supported by Frieda. In a touching tribute to the hairstylist after his death, Asia posted a snap from her wedding day that showed a beaming Frieda by her side as she sat for hair and makeup. Asia also marked Frieda's 75th birthday on July 5 with pictures of him at the wedding, including a snap of the celebrity hairstylist embracing his stepdaughter and her groom.Relatively little is known about Frieda's two youngest children, although they appear to be close with Asia and Avery. Leyla is believed to be pursuing a modelling career and is signed with London-based agency Select. It comes after the creator of the Frizz Ease range was remembered as a 'true icon of the industry' after his death yesterday. He revolutionised styling for women with curly and wavy hair nearly 40 years ago, and the range that carried his name made Frieda a millionaire and one of the most influential names in the industry. During his career, he worked with celebrities including Mick Jagger, Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, Scarlett Johansson and Joanna Lumley, for whom he invented the Purdey bowl cut in 1976.His death was announced on the salon's Instagram page: 'John was more than a mentor to us; he was a true icon of the hair industry. He was the person who taught us everything, believed in us, and made us better.'His talent and passion touched so many, and his legacy will live on in every single one of us. We will continue to do him proud.' Born Alan Freida in Kenton, north west London, in 1951, he followed in his father's footsteps at a salon in Ealing. He later moved to House of Leonard, where he changed his name after discovering another Alan already worked there because 'you can't have two hairdressers going by the same name'.After he was handpicked by the 60s 'super stylist' Leonard Lewis to be his personal assistant, Mr Frieda started working with British Vogue and famously styled Princess Diana's blonde pixie for her engagement portrait in 1981.Mr Frieda launched his first salon in his mid-20s, before creating the famous Frizz Ease range.By the time he sold the brand to a Japanese company for £260million in 2002, it was already on its way to becoming a household name.He continued running his eponymous salons and, by 2025, was ranked fourth on a list of the UK's wealthiest beauty industry leaders alongside Charlotte Tilbury and The Fragrance Shop founder, Sanjay Vadera.