Ephraim Hardcastle
DID surly Labour frontbencher emily Thornberry, 57, who shouted ‘HOW DAre YOU?’ at Tory MPs during Wednesday’s Commons debate on the russia crisis, also utter the F-word? A minister sitting opposite Ms Thornberry tells me she may also have said ‘Oh f*** off!’ when Theresa May passed comment on Jeremy Corbyn’s much-deplored attempt to muddy the waters in russia’s favour. Ms Thornberry resigned her Shadow Cabinet position in 2014 after tweeting a photo of a house carrying a flag of St George, with a white van outside it. Her snobbishsounding caption – ‘Image from rochester’ – caused offence.
SHOULD Prince William, as president of the FA, have ever had to fly to Russia in the event of England succeeding in getting into the later stages of the World Cup? During the bidding process, then-PM David Cameron asked him to lobby on our behalf but Russia won the allegedlyrigged contest to be the 2018 host, despite doping Olympic athletes. Humiliatingly, William wrote in Premier League match programmes: ‘I want so desperately for the Fifa World Cup to come here.’
MIGHT the services of Sir elton John be utilised to defuse our row with Vladimir Putin? In 2015, describing the russian billionaire as ‘very affable’ and ‘very sincere’, Sir elton, 70, said he was looking forward to meeting him in Moscow to discuss gay rights. But he’d fallen victim to a phone hoax by russian TV presenters posing as Putin and his press secretary. Thinking he was speaking to Putin, Sir elton gushed: ‘It’s a great privilege to be able speak to one of the most influential people in the world. It’s amazing.’ Could Putin now resist a genuine powwow with his top British fan, Sir elton, both pictured?
WHAT new title – if any – can Prince Harry expect on his wedding day? Newly wed Prince Andrew became the Duke of York in 1986, Prince Edward the Earl of Wessex in 1999 and Prince William the Duke of Cambridge in 2011. ‘Word is that Harry will get an earldom rather than a dukedom,’ says my source, adding: ‘First, it would be inappropriate for Harry to be given a title outstripping the Queen’s youngest son, Edward. Secondly, Harry should expect a subsidiary title to his brother. His father will elevate him when they all move up a rank after Charles is king.’
MeANWHILe, Meghan Markle has already won higher status than any other regal bride-to-be. She was listed in the order of service for the Commonwealth Observance event at Westminster Abbey. She walked in procession alongside Harry – a status that should only be hers protocol-wise after they marry. ‘royal handlers are determined to get as much Markle Sparkle as they can,’ speculates my source, adding: ‘Prince Andrew, who strives to improve the status of his daughters, Beatrice and eugenie, is unlikely to be impressed.’ Email: peter.mckay@dailymail.co.uk