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Monday April 7, 2008

Sir Paul McCartney paid an emotional tribute to his late first wife Linda — and took a thinly-veiled swipe at his recent ex-wife Heather Mills for being a publicity-seeker at the same time.

The former Beatle, 65, spoke of his love for photographer Linda — who died of breast cancer in 1998 — ahead of a London exhibition of her work, saying: “She didn’t go on TV and say, ‘This is who I am – hello’ and try to ingratiate herself. Her priorities were private rather than public.

“She was a very natural girl, naturally blonde,” he added.

“She was so funny, smart and talented.

“Probably the most haunting photograph in this collection is the self-portrait she took in 1997.

“She’d had chemo and her hair was growing back – it was a very chic look.

“She didn’t know she was dying. She was such a strong, forward-thinking lady.

“She was fighting right up to the end.”