Ephraim Hardcastle
DOESN’T former Lib Dem MP Norman Baker’s scurrilous hatchet job book on royal finances contravene his membership of the Privy Council? Appointed as a junior minster in coalition, he knelt before the Queen and swore ‘never to know or understand of any manner of thing to be attempted, done, or spoken against Her Majesty’s person, honour, crown or dignity.’ Isn’t raking up old tales of profligacy grounds for resignation? DAME Sally Davies’s call to ban eating snacks on public transport butters no parsnips with Princess Anne, who yesterday visited the Hotel Chocolat factory in Huntingdon and Ely-based Corkers Crisps. The company made the world’s biggest bag of crisps and put the first crisps in space, assisted by scientists at Cambridge University where Sally ‘Salad’ Davies has just become Master of Trinity College. PRINCE Charles, in next week’s ITV documentary about the Duchy of Cornwall, boasts of planting 20 miles of hedgerows, adding: ‘I spend half my time pruning and taking dead bits off things. It drives me mad half of the time because of the thorns.’ Coming soon: By Royal Appointment Game of Thorns. PROFILED in The New Yorker ahead of a promotional trip to Manhattan for her book Girl, grande dame of literature Edna O’Brien, pictured in her prime, is outed as a Barcelona FC devotee, remarking of one match: ‘ Messi looked like someone who just came out of a badger burrow! And I love Messi.’ GROUCHY Sky News anchor Adam Boulton locks horns with snooty Leftwinger Polly Toynbee over Extinction Rebellion, fuming: ‘I think this is nonsense. I’ve been covering for decades politics and campaigns... the notion these middle-class berks have somehow changed the conversation...’ Polly huffs: ‘Oh, it’s about class, is it?’ Unapologetic Adam adds: ‘I was walking past their tents. I heard one of them say, “Naomi, can I borrow your pillow?” DOWNTON Abbey’s Lord Merton, alias actor Douglas Reith, is inconsolable after dog Amy bolted from his French farmhouse. ‘We’re devastated.’ Send for Carson, I say. ASKED by BBC’s Jim Naughtie if she has been watching The Crown, Princess Margaret’s former lady-in-waiting Anne Glenconner says: ‘Well no. But I’m going to watch the next thing, because I’m in it. I’m really looking forward to being united with Princess Margaret on the television!’ LONDON gangland chronicler Martina Cole launches her thriller No Mercy tonight, hoping everyone behaves themselves. Confides a publishing source: ‘Martina always invites colourful characters. Some years ago, when she launched a blockbuster crime novel, not only were the books stolen but so was the table.’