Ephraim Hardcastle
THE Queen’s Young Leaders, a group of future movers and shakers from across the Commonwealth, meet HM today. The monarch has asked Prince Harry to be at her side for the event. Having queried why anyone might want to become king, or queen, perhaps it will be a learning experience for the seemingly callow 32-year-old prince.
ONCE a young rascal, the 12th Duke of Marlborough, 61, recalls a final reconciliation with his father, Sunny, who had disinherited Jamie over his drug problems: ‘When he was in hospital for the last time and I rang to ask him if I could visit, he said, “Not to worry. I’ve just been pumped full of morphine. I now realise what you saw in the stuff.” I knew he’d finally crossed over to my side of the road. He died the following day.’
EDUCATION minister Marcus Jones, speaking at the despatch box on Tuesday night, had his Secretary of State, Justine Greening, perched beside him. Tentative Jones meant to say Greening (an out and proud lesbian) had been ‘very clear’ about funding for schools. Alas, it came out as ‘very queer’. My source says: ‘His gaffe tested the straight faces of several people on the front bench, including the charming Ms Greening.’ I trust hapless Jones isn’t scarred by the experience.
SOPHIA Loren, now 82, commenting on a famous photo, above, of herself and the late Hollywood siren Jayne Mansfield, says: ‘I’m staring at her nipples because I am afraid they are about to come on to my plate.’ Ms Mansfield died aged 34 in a New Orleans car crash 50 years ago today.
APROPOS Harry, talk about plans to renovate Apartment 1 at Kensington Palace for him (and possibly his girlfriend, actress Meghan Markle) concerns some courtiers. What will it cost the public purse to refurbish the 21-room property? Improving William and Kate’s next-door pad cost £4million. Add to the bill the cost of relocating the current occupants, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. With £369million being allocated to the Queen for Buckingham Palace repairs – and £5million originally allocated for the Grenfell Tower survivors – flunkeys are nervous about splashing out tens of millions on a new pad for Harry. His present roost there is the Christopher Wren-designed, two-bedroom Nottingham Cottage, previously occupied by William and Kate before they had children.
THE Duchess of Cornwall was conspicuously absent at Tuesday’s funeral of Countess Mountbatten. Nor was she represented. The countess’s father, Earl Mountbatten of Burma, contrived to have Prince Charles sent abroad on military service – away from then girlfriend Camilla Shand – hoping the heir to the throne would propose marriage to his teenage granddaughter Amanda Knatchbull. While he was away, Camilla became Mrs Parker Bowles, which caused Charles great distress, says royal author Penny Junor, in her sympathetic-to-the futureking new book.