Press claims Pilar Abel is not Dalí's daughter

But as neither she nor her lawyer have heard anything via official channels, and the paternity hearing is not due until September 18, Pilar Abel has not ruled out a 'possible error', or that reporters have got the wrong end of the stick.

“I'm not frustrated or bitter about it – I've had no communication as yet, and neither has my solicitor; I found out from reading your paper,” Pilar told Catalunya's regional daily, La Vanguardia.

In response to rumours that the artist's ascendents want to sue her for the costs of exhuming Dalí's body in light of the allegedly failed paternity suit, Sra Abel says she is 'sceptical' and insists she 'has a right to try to prove her identity'.

Pilar's mother had a brief relationship with Dalí in 1955 whilst working as a nanny for a family in Cadaqués (Girona province), where the artist lived.

She had always maintained Pilar was the result.

Obtaining DNA to compare with that of Pilar involved exhuming the painter's body, which the Salvador Dalí Foundation – partly run by his surviving family – was dead against.

A court order was produced authorising his grave to be opened when the Foundation refused to allow it.

When Dalí's body was uncovered, his famous handlebar moustache was said to be still completely intact.

Although reports worldwide claim Pilar is not Dalí's daughter, she insists she will wait to hear it in writing from the judge, or until the hearing in 11 days' time, whichever comes first.

Picture from Sir Elton John's personal photograph collection