A 61-year-old grandmother who found herself in a romantic relationship with a 26-year-old Egyptian man she met online has expressed self-blame following the breakdown of their connection.

Jacqueline Dube, a chef from St Albans, Hertfordshire, fell for the young pastry chef after connecting on TikTok. Despite the significant 35-year age gap and a distance of 2,500 miles between them, the duo communicated daily for 16 months. Their first in-person meeting occurred in September after Jacqueline flew out to meet him, where they professed their love for each other.

Following a subsequent visit a month later, during which he proposed and they began planning a wedding, Jacqueline started to question the future of their relationship. She realized that cultural, financial, and geographical differences posed insurmountable challenges. Jacqueline estimated that she had spent approximately £4,000 on travel, gifts, and accommodation throughout their time together.

Eventually, Jacqueline decided to call off their engagement and end the relationship permanently, citing heartbreak as the reason. Reflecting on her experience, she expressed regret, stating that she felt responsible for the situation. Despite feeling a deep attachment after being single for a decade, Jacqueline acknowledged that she should never have embarked on the journey that led to their engagement.

The man from Alexandria, Egypt, who Jacqueline was involved with, referred to her as “crazy” when approached for comment. Jacqueline recounted their initial interactions on TikTok, where they exchanged numbers innocently, leading to a whirlwind romance that ended in disappointment.