‘Naff’ Banks wins no credit for hijacking HM’s birthday

ArrOn Banks, the key ally of nigel Farage who is currently trying to join the Tory Party, has already ruffled feathers by walking out of the parliamentary committee to which he was giving evidence, declaring that he was off to lunch with his right-hand man, andy Wigmore.

But now it emerges that irrepressible insurance tycoon Banks, 52, whose fortune has been estimated at anywhere between £100 million and £250 million, stands accused of an act of lèse-majesté — for having issued his own invitations, right, to the Queen’s 92nd Birthday Party at the royal albert Hall back in april.

‘ Banks, in typically naff style, printed up his own invitations to puff himself up,’ sniffs one such critic. ‘Tacky, to say the least.’

The bespoke invitations, personally signed by Banks, were headed: ‘Special Invitation To Celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday’.

‘Join us in an evening of celebrations,’ continued Banks’s missive, which added with splendid insouciance: ‘In attendance: Her Majesty The Queen, Head of State and The royal Family’.

What it failed to mention was that there would be more than 5,000 others present, each of whom, like Banks, had bought tickets –— limited to four per booking, as the royal albert Hall website pointed out — for prices starting at £22.90.

Those who failed to secure admission for what was billed as ‘a fun and vibrant evening’, with ‘unique collaborations’ involving stars from around Commonwealth — pop’s Sir Tom Jones, Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes among them — had the consolation that the show was broadcast live on BBC One and BBC radio 2, as well as the BBC World Service.

Banks could not be reached for comment about his ‘special invitation’. But no one should underestimate his pulling power: his invitations were special enough to be accepted by one of his american allies, Phil Bryant, Governor of Mississippi, and also by Kim Simplis Barrow, wife of the prime minister of Belize.