The Duke of Norfolk has a busy year ahead.
Not only is he tasked with organising King Charles’s Coronation, as Earl Marshal, but he now also has another big gig: the wedding of his youngest son.
I hear that Lord Philip Fitzalan Howard, 26, who founded the Fauna brewery, has become engaged to events manager Georgia Fowler, 27, co-founder of the British Racing Club.
‘I am absolutely delighted,’ the Duke, Edward Norfolk, tells me from his family seat, Arundel Castle in West Sussex.
Lord Philip says: ‘We got engaged at Arundel. We are planning a long engagement.’
No chance of it interfering with the King’s big day then . . .
Not only is he tasked with organising King Charles’s Coronation, as Earl Marshal, but he now also has another big gig: the wedding of his youngest son. Pictured: Edward Fitzalan-Howard with Francesca Herbert (left) and Lord Philip Fitzalan Howard and Georgia Fowler (right)
‘I am absolutely delighted,’ the Duke, Edward Norfolk, tells me from his family seat, Arundel Castle in West Sussex. Pictured: With Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the State Opening of Parliament in 2015
Sussexes are to blame for ‘civil war’, says ex-royal chaplain
Prince Harry and Meghan’s lawyer, Jenny Afia, talks about a ‘war’ being waged against her clients in the new trailer for the couple’s Netflix reality show.
However, one of Queen Elizabeth’s chaplains believes it’s the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who have launched hostilities.
Dr Gavin Ashenden, who was a chaplain to Her Late Majesty for nine years until 2017, says the Royal Family should be deeply concerned about the ‘docu-series’.
‘I’m afraid they have to be very worried,’ Dr Ashenden says. ‘Meghan and Harry have created a kind of existential civil war and there’s no doubt at all they’re capable of landing severe damage on the Royal Family, partly because they’re fitting in with a certain social mind set, and society is divided into two halves, a reactionary and a progressive half.
‘The progressive half will support them without thinking, and the reactionary half, the conservative half, if I can call it that, has no protection against them.
‘It would be much better if this civil war wasn’t happening, but it is, and it will cause damage all round.’
Dr Ashenden, 68, resigned as chaplain to the Queen after criticising a service at St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow, at which a Muslim student had been invited to read (in Arabic) a passage from the Koran that explicitly declared that Jesus is not the Son of God.
His advice to the royals on how to respond to the brickbats from Montecito? ‘They have to ignore it and pretend it’s not happening,’ he says on LBC. ‘Given the position they hold in society, they don’t have a mandate to attack.’
Catherine puts Lenique in the loop
The Princess of Wales has been quietly showing her support for a jewellery designer who started her business with a loan from the Prince’s Trust
I can reveal that Catherine, during her visit to the U.S. last week, wore a pair of earrings that were created by Londoner Lenique Louis
The Princess of Wales has been quietly showing her support for a jewellery designer who started her business with a loan from the Prince’s Trust.
I can reveal that Catherine, during her visit to the U.S. last week, wore a pair of earrings that were created by Londoner Lenique Louis.
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‘Kate makes a conscious effort to support British brands,’ Lenique tells me.
‘She could have gone to any of the big houses, but she wanted to get them from an independent designer — who was helped by her father-in-law.’
Miss Louis, 37, used a £2,000 loan from the charity founded by King Charles to start her business in 2009.
Catherine wore a bespoke version of Lenique’s £285 Gold Spine hoop earrings.
‘I use recycled gold and my packaging is sustainable,’ said the designer.
A Dames’ knight out
Sir Derek Jacobi appeared in Vicious, a mildly amusing ITV sitcom with fellow knight Ian McKellen, but how about a show with a couple of dames?
The celebrated star of Last Tango In Halifax, Jacobi, 84, enjoyed catching up with Dame Maggie Smith, 87, and her Downton Abbey co-star Dame Penelope Wilton, 76, at The Ivy in Covent Garden, London.
Joining the illustrious trio, standing behind, was Samantha Bond, 61, who played Miss Moneypenny in four James Bond films.
They were taking part in the One Night Only charity gala, which provides support for theatre workers in times of need.
They were taking part in the One Night Only charity gala, which provides support for theatre workers in times of need. Pictured left to right: Dame Maggie Smith, Samantha Bond, Dame Penelope Wilton and Sir Derek Jacobi
Is Sir Mick Jagger the best singer in the Rolling Stones? Irish star Andrea Corr, who has recorded a licentious version of Blue Christmas with Ronnie Wood, tells me: ‘Isn’t Ronnie’s voice a beautiful sound? There’s life and earth there, I love it.
‘I wanted someone to duet with, so I texted Ronnie and he called me. We worked it up in a hotel bedroom in LA when he was on tour with the Stones.’
After rocking out with wrinkly hellraiser Ronnie, Andrea, 48, has found a more saintly duet partner.
‘I’m singing Saviour’s Day with Cliff Richard on his BBC Christmas special,’ says Andrea.
Is Sir Mick Jagger (left) the best singer in the Rolling Stones? Irish star Andrea Corr (right), who has recorded a licentious version of Blue Christmas with Ronnie Wood, tells me: ‘Isn’t Ronnie’s voice a beautiful sound? There’s life and earth there, I love it’
The Italian choreographer Bruno Tonioli, 67, is sitting on more than £3 million
Bruno Tonioli might have waltzed his way off the judges’ panel on Strictly Come Dancing, but he’s still showing off some impressive (financial) moves.
The Italian choreographer, 67, is sitting on more than £3 million, according to newly released accounts for the company used to channel his earnings, Fulvia, named after his late mother. They show that Tonioli has millions in net assets, including more than £2 million in cash at the bank.
Though now a judge on Dancing With The Stars in the U.S., he is expected to return for this year’s Strictly Christmas special.
Many TV chefs launch restaurant chains under their names, but Aldo Zilli is scathing about those who fail to put in the face-time.
‘A lot of people open a restaurant but they don’t bother showing up,’ he tells me at the launch of Lucarelli restaurant at Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge. ‘You can’t just put your name to it — you have to be there, training staff and ensuring quality.’
