Kate’s secret fear… who she won’t want you to read about
These are testing times for the royals. The approaching 20th anniversary of Diana’s death and the controversy over the TV documentary Diana: In Her Own Words have reminded the public of the Princess’s colourful love life.
In addition, as the Duke of Edinburgh retires from public life, and Prince William returns to full-time royal duties, there is intense global scrutiny on ‘The Firm’ right now.
As Kate prepares to leave her Norfolk sanctuary and return to London, where George will be enrolled in school, she must be fearful of the unforgiving spotlight.
While the Duchess herself has a flawless reputation, there are men in her own family circle who have the potential to cause her embarrassment.
A friend of Kate told best, ‘The phrase “you can’t choose your family” is never more true than with Catherine right now. She is worried about what her relatives and inlaws might say or do, and the damage it indirectly does to the Royal Family.
‘Her uncle Gary Goldsmith has been a total loose cannon in the past, and Pippa’s brother-in-law, Spencer Matthews, is a reality star famed for his partying and womanising ways – even claiming in his explosive autobiography that he once had a group sex session, dubbed a “sixsome”.’
Gary, 52, – a multimillionaire who made his fortune in recruitment – is a legendary figure in the Middleton clan, famed for his hard-partying antics and, some years ago, being caught up in a tabloid sting for alleged drug-taking.
In a 2013 interview, Gary said, ‘People like to think that I’m this black sheep, a bad boy. I’m not really... I’ve got a good heart and I care about people. We have never fallen out.’
Our source told us, ‘Kate thought Gary had started
With all eyes on the Royal Family, Kate may be hoping to avoid publicity when it comes to two members of her side of the family...
to behave himself after his infamous druggy days at La Maison de Bang Bang ( his holiday home in Ibiza), but, in recent months, he’s made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
‘Pippa couldn’t not invite him to her wedding but, significantly, he wasn’t at the evening reception where he could have caused mayhem.’
In May, a 37-year-old woman and her teenage daughter alleged Gary made crude sexual remarks to them in Portugal while on holiday, but he categorically denied making those remarks, and claims he was just dancing at the disco.
And on the morning after the Grenfell Tower tragedy, he sent an unfortunate tweet.
As at least 80 people lost their lives, he complained that he couldn’t get out of London because the traffic was in chaos. He later apologised and said he didn’t know about the tragedy.
‘I’m sure that was a genuine mistake, but it shows the dangers of social media, and Catherine would be happy if he got off it,’ said the source.
‘It’s a constant worry for her. She’s also conscious that she is not seen to abuse her position, for example now she is patron at Wimbledon.
‘It was noted how often her family ended up in the Royal Box on Centre Court, and she realises they mustn’t abuse the hospitality or it could backfire and look bad.’
Another famously eccentric character in Kate’s orbit is, of course, her sister Pippa’s new brother-inlaw, Spencer Matthews.
Spencer, 27, has appeared on Made In Chelsea, The Jump, The Bachelor, and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (though he had to leave after three days after admitting a potentially dangerous steroid habit).
In his autobiography Confessions Of A Chelsea Boy, he confessed to taking the illegal hallucinogen LSD.
Handsome Spencer is known for his playboy reputation – he claims to have slept with over 1,000 women.
He’s now settled with model Vogue Williams.
Our source said, ‘Catherine was pleased with the way Spencer behaved at Pippa’s wedding, but he has a track record of bad behaviour and could do something reckless at any moment.’
Poor Kate – we suspect she’s hoping these two will keep a very low profile...