David Bowie's wife Iman posts moving messages ahead of his death

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Musician David Bowie and supermodel Iman attend the DKMS' 5th Annual Gala: Linked Against Leukemia honoring Rihanna & Michael Clinton hosted by Katharina Harf at Cipriani

David Bowie's wife Iman Abdulmajid hinted at the sad news of his secret illness in an emotional Instagram post the day before he passed away.

In the message she emphasised the importance of savouring every day, with a quote: "sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment, until it becomes a memory."

The former supermodel, 60, was married to the 69-year-old Space Oddity star for 24 years.

They have one daughter together, Alexandria Zahra, 15, and lived a very private life behind closed doors.

She was also step-mother to Duncan Jones, Bowie's son with former wife Angie Barnett.

While she has not made an official statement since her husband's death, Iman did take to Instagram to share her sadness in a series of messages.

The latest, which appeared the day he died reads simply: "the struggle is real, so is God".

However, the very first clue came a week ago when she reposted a photo of Bowie overlayed with the words to Lazarus, a song believed to be about his secret struggle with cancer.

View this post on Instagram

#Repost @davidbowie with @repostapp. ・・・ LAZARUS LYRICS IN FULL “I’ve got drama, can’t be stolen...” See DavidBowie.com for more (Picture by Jimmy King) + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + Lazarus (David Bowie) Look up here, I’m in heaven I’ve got scars that can’t be seen I’ve got drama, can’t be stolen Everybody knows me now Look up here, man, I’m in danger I’ve got nothing left to lose I’m so high it makes my brain whirl Dropped my cell phone down below Ain’t that just like me By the time I got to New York I was living like a king Then I used up all my money I was looking for your ass This way or no way You know, I’ll be free Just like that bluebird Now ain’t that just like me Oh I’ll be free Just like that bluebird Oh I’ll be free Ain’t that just like me + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + #LazarusSingle #LazarusBowie #Imablackstar #Blackstar

A post shared by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on Jan 3, 2016 at 11:35am PST

She followed up with more reposts celebrating his 69th birthday and the release of his last album, Blackstar.

In one image, where a young Bowie's embracing Tina Turner, she writes: "I will love you til I die, I will see you in the sky #tonight" happy birthday Mr. Bowie."

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#Repost @sartorialgirl with @repostapp. ・・・ "i will love you til i die, i will see you in the sky #tonight" happy birthday mr. bowie 🎈

A post shared by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on Jan 8, 2016 at 9:22pm PST

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#Repost @ellenvonunwerth with @repostapp. ・・・ Happy Birthday!💥❤️🎼🎈 @davidbowie

A post shared by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on Jan 8, 2016 at 9:06pm PST

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#Repost @rosariodawson with @repostapp.

A post shared by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on Jan 8, 2016 at 8:58pm PST

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#Repost @zoesaldana with @repostapp. ・・・ #DavidBowie #Birthday

A post shared by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on Jan 8, 2016 at 8:32pm PST

- nzherald.co.nz