Ephraim Hardcastle
THE Queen’s former press secretary, Dickie Arbiter, accuses Diana’s voice coach Peter Settelen of making ‘grubby blood money’ by selling video recordings of her indiscretions to Channel 4. Likeable Dickie’s own 2014 memoir, On Duty With The Queen, was more discreet but did highlight Prince Charles’s friendship with paedophile Jimmy Savile, writing: ‘He [Savile] would walk into the office and do the rounds of the young ladies, taking their hands and rubbing his lips all the way up their arms if they were wearing short sleeves…’ LADY Thatcher’s old attack dog, ex-media spokesman Sir Bernard Ingham, 85, takes aim at ‘Eurofanatics’ Tony Blair, Lord Heseltine and Sir Vince Cable, advising readers of his Yorkshire Post column: ‘In my book the lot of them are guilty of un-British activities. People have been tried for treason for less.’ Much less, he might have said. ACCEPTING a lifetime achievement award at Chicago International Film Festival, Jane Fonda, 79, is asked how she wants to be remembered. The star, pictured, replies: ‘I’m too young to be able to answer that.’ That’s the spirit. Woody Allen, 81, when talking about his own lifetime’s work, protested he didn’t want to live on in the hearts of New Yorkers: ‘I’d prefer to live on in my apartment!’ ACTRESS Jeanne Moreau, who has died aged 89, will long be remembered by former Cabinet minister Stephen Dorrell. While heritage secretary (precursor of culture secretary) in John Major’s mid1990s government, he attended the Cannes Film Festival when Ms Moreau, best known for the classic movie Jules Et Jim, was on the jury. Dorrell referred to her as Monsieur Jean Moreau. Later he was moved to the health department. EX-Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik says of his former leader: ‘I think Nick Clegg has a duty to put right what he did wrong. But that would be a lifetime’s work, and I doubt he’s going to bother.’ He adds: ‘My repeated offers of assistance were consistently rejected.’ No doubt Clegg now regrets his short sightedness in this regard. ECCENTRIC Tory MP Michael Fabricant, 67, announces: ‘I’ve always loved [broadcaster] Sandi Toksvig. Does that make me a lesbian?’ Surely he doesn’t expect Ms Toksvig, 59, co-founder of the Women’s Equality Party, to reciprocate? MIGHT Prince Charles come to regret his decision to attend the Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast next April? His visit Down Under with Camilla in 2015 did little for the monarchist cause. Some royalists there hoped William, Kate and their children would come. The Cambridges visited in 2014, taking Prince George with them, encouraging those who wish to retain Australia’s links to the Crown. Charles is somewhat eclipsed by William, but that might change now the latter is becoming a full-time royal. The heir to the throne also performed well at the 100th anniversary of the Passchendaele battle yesterday.