Larry Birkhead says Anna Nicole Smith would be 'so proud' of daughter in 17th birthday message

Larry Birkhead has shared a heartfelt tribute to his daughter Dannielynn in honor of her 17th birthday and ensured she knows just how proud her late mother would have been of her.

Dannielynn was just six months old when her mother, Anna Nicole Smith, tragically died at just 39 years old after being found unresponsive at a hotel in Florida.

While Anna Nicole sadly did not get to see her daughter grow up, Larry has made sure to keep her memory alive throughout Dannielynn's life.

He took to Instagram to share a series of photos of Dannielynn from when she was born until now, set to Heather Headley's song 'I Wish', alongside a heartfelt message.

Larry wrote: "Happy 17th Birthday Dannielynn! I am so proud of you in each and every way. Wishing you the best day ever!

"You are funny, crazy smart, pretty and just about everything I could ever imagine. Your Mom would be so proud of you, I sure am. Happy Birthday! Love Dad."

He jokingly added: "By the way, when you asked me if you could live in my basement forever. I said yes, but I didn’t have the heart to tell you there aren’t any basements in Florida."

Larry, 50, who is an entertainment photographer, shares a very close bond with his daughter, as is evident through the touching moments he often shares on social media.

Following Anna Nicole's tragic death from an accidental overdose, Larry had fought to establish paternity of their daughter after her father was initially listed as attorney Howard K. Stern.

Despite her birth certificate, which was created in the Bahamas where she was born, having Howard recorded as the father, Larry filed a lawsuit to establish paternity, with a judge in the US ordering that a DNA test be performed to establish paternity.

Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband, Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt, also came forward as a potential father after claiming to have had a decade-long affair with Anna Nicole, as did Alexander Denk, who was her former bodyguard and chef.

In April 2007, a Bahamian judge ruled that the DNA test had established that Larry was Dannielynn's father and he applied for an amended birth certificate listing him as her father before getting her a passport to allow him to return to the US with her.

Larry and Dannielynn have been inseparable ever since, and Anna Nicole has never been far from their thoughts, as in May the pair appeared at the 149th Kentucky Derby Gala together, where Dannielynn wore a Guess dress featuring black and white images of her late mom, and Larry's tie matched the outfit.

Larry and Dannielynn recently honored Anna Nicole Smith with their outfits. Credit: Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images

He revealed that he had first met Anna Nicole at the Kentucky Derby Gala 20 years earlier in 2003, writing: "Tonight is the 20th anniversary where I met Dannielynn’s Mom at the same event...

"I met Anna first in 2003, and she blew me kisses. I always thought she was so beautiful. When she returned to the Derby in 2004, she was in her best shape."

The pair started dating in 2004 and Larry moved in with Anna Nicole in Los Angeles, but she relocated to the Bahamas while pregnant due to a legal dispute over her late husband, billionaire J. Howard Marshall's fortune.

She had married the billionaire in 1994 when he was 89 and she was 26, just 14 months before he died.

Anna Nicole Smith tragically died when Dannielynn was just six months old. Credit: Kypros/Getty Images

Larry previously addressed raising Dannielynn by himself, revealing: "After nearly 17 years of raising my daughter on my own, people see that's a resume that speaks for itself," adding that she is "grounded and very humble."

He also raved about her academic prowess, adding: "Dannielynn is on the honor roll and taking college-level classes. Anna would be very, very proud of her. I know I am."

Anna Nicole would be very proud of her indeed.

Featured image credit: Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images