Rihanna paid a heartfelt tribute to one of her most devoted fans on Instagram on Thursday, just hours after she passed away from cancer.

The singer mourned the loss of Monia as she shared a selfie from when they first met in London back in June, describing it as the ‘start of their friendship’.

Rihanna, 30, told fans she was ‘heartbroken’ as she penned a touching message alongside the photo.

Heartbroken: Her trip to London came as she mourned the loss of Monia as she shared a selfie from when they first met in London back in June, describing it as the 'start of their friendship'

Heartbroken: Rihanna paid a moving tribute to one of her most devoted fans, Monia, on Instagram on Thursday, just hours after she passed away from cancer

She wrote: ‘Navy Angels! This Christmas, we lost a beautiful spirit who was such a pillar of strength to us!

‘Most of our friendship she’s spent in a hospital or doctor’s office! This picture was just a few months ago, she looked at me and said “Rih the cancer is back” I’ll never forget the fear in her eyes this day!

‘Still she pushed forward, fighting the fight everyday with the Navy behind her supporting her every step of the way!

Upset: Rihanna, 30, told fans she was 'heartbroken' as she penned a touching message alongside the photo

Upset: Rihanna, 30, told fans she was ‘heartbroken’ as she penned a touching message alongside the photo

'Fly in peace': She wrote: 'Navy Angels! This Christmas, we lost a beautiful spirit who was such a pillar of strength to us!'

‘Fly in peace’: She wrote: ‘Navy Angels! This Christmas, we lost a beautiful spirit who was such a pillar of strength to us!’

‘We are all heartbroken about this!!! You will never be forgotten! Love you my angel @moniasto fly in peace.’

Rihanna also shared a video of the pair hugging from their meeting in June, with Monia later telling her followers she had told the singer her cancer had returned.

Earlier this month, Monia shared a personal message from the Work hitmaker as she updated fans on her cancer battle.

Rihanna wrote: ‘Sis we are all praying for you! Your strength and your ability to let the beauty in your spirit shine through, even in the midst of adversity, is tremendously inspiring!!

Emotional: Rihanna also shared a video of the pair hugging from their meeting in June, with Monia later telling her followers she had told the singer her cancer had returned

Emotional: Rihanna also shared a video of the pair hugging from their meeting in June, with Monia later telling her followers she had told the singer her cancer had returned

Tribute: Rihanna also shared a picture of Monia adding a halo as she captioned the photo 'navy angels'  Tribute: Rihanna also shared pictures of Monia adding a halo as she captioned the snaps'navy angels'

Tribute: Rihanna also shared pictures of Monia adding a halo as she captioned the snaps’navy angels’

‘Thank you for continuing to share your journey with us!

‘I imagine it’s quite a lonely one, hours on end in hospital walls, being scared to even fall asleep because you’re afraid you won’t wake up, feeling like nobody with ever understand that.

‘The physical agony, the medication and all their side effects, I can’t begin to imagine what you feel, so I want to know we are all here for you and I encourage the NAVY to rally around you during these times! Love you!’

Supportive: Earlier this month, Monia shared a personal message from the Work hitmaker as she updated fans on her cancer battle

Supportive: Earlier this month, Monia shared a personal message from the Work hitmaker as she updated fans on her cancer battle