Jonah Lomu: The Queen sends message of condolence to All Blacks wing's family after his tragic death

Lomu met the Queen on a visit to Buckingham Palace in 2002 and a message of condolence has been passed on to his wife Nadene

Jonah Lomu meets the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2002 (Getty Images)

The Queen has joined the worldwide tributes being paid to former New Zealand international Jonah Lomu after he died earlier this week at the age of 40.

Lomu died of a heart attack on Wednesday morning, and leaves behind him his wife, Nadene, and their two sons.

Lomu was a global superstar after starring at the 1995 and 1999 Rugby World Cup, leading to tributes from outside of the sport as well as those household names who played alongside and against the wing during his career.

Former All Blacks coach, John Hart, has revealed that Queen Elizabeth II has sent her condolences to the Lomu family, with the office of New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key helping to relay the message to his widow.

"She [the Queen] has written to the prime minister specifically asking for a message to be sent to Nadene and the family to say how much she mourns the loss as well," said Hart, who has been acting as the Lomu family’s spokesman having coached the player between 1996 and 1999 on the international stage.

Jonah Lomu meets the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2002 (Getty Images)

Lomu won 63 caps for the All Blacks, but had his career cut short at the age of 27 when he was forced to retire in 2002 after being originally diagnosed with a rare kidney condition in 1995.

Hart also added that a public memorial could take place at Auckland’s Eden Park stadium, the scene of New Zealand’s two World Cup final victories on home soil that can hold up to 50,000 fans, although he stressed that no decision has been taken yet and that the family are still in talks with the central and local government over what was “most appropriate”.

"I am delighted with the tremendous support we are getting from government and local government to celebrate Jonah's life," Hart added.

"We have agreed that there will be a public memorial service and that will be followed by a private family church service."

Lomu met the Queen in November 2002 after the All Blacks visited Buckingham Palace as part of their northern hemisphere tour that year.