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Lady Colin Campbell

Lady Colin Campbell doesn’t hold back when it comes to dishing the dirt on the royals

- SARAH MORTON

Having had the pleasure of meeting royal biographer-turned-reality show icon Lady Colin Campbell in the flesh, we can confirm she’s every bit as wonderfull­y eccentric as she appears on screen. Ridiculous­ly posh – a status enhanced by her short-lived marriage to aristocrat Lord Campbell in the 70s – fabulously indiscreet (what she doesn’t know about the royals and their mates isn’t worth knowing) and also incredibly smart, speaking to Lady C, 70, is an education in itself.

So we’re delighted to be catching up with her, over the phone this time, from her home in (actual) Castle Goring, where she’s filling us in on her latest controvers­ial book. Titled Meghan And Harry: The Real Story, it’s a study of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s journey so far, and, considerin­g Lady C is a staunch royalist, it includes some juicy – and not so favourable – revelation­s.

So far, in promoting the book, she’s had a run-in with Phillip Schofield on This Morning (the topic is apparently off limits during our chat, but she just can’t help bringing it up herself), has faced the wrath of Meghan’s people and received rave reviews in the process.

Here, we discuss her views on the royal couple, her love life since appearing on Celebs Go Dating and what she really thinks of Schofe…

Well Lady C, your new book is certainly ruffling feathers!

Indeed, I feel like Meghan’s PR people have been very active in trying to discredit the book. I think some of the things they’ve done have been awful. In my opinion, it’s a balanced account and I give Meghan credit where credit is due. Unlike most people, I make the point that Harry should take some responsibi­lity for what has happened and how it has happened, not just Meghan.

But the bottom line is you’re quite scathing about their decision to leave the royal family…

Well it’s a terribly, terribly sad situation and I think Meghan has discredite­d the royal family when the royal family did not deserve that. In my opinion, Harry is a much less intelligen­t character than she is and I think he’s so desperate to please her and go along with whatever she says, no matter how illconceiv­ed it is. He is that besotted with her.

Do you think he will regret leaving?

I don’t like to speculate on whether or not he’ll regret his decision to leave the royals, but if you look carefully at what he’s said, he’s said he’s made huge sacrifices that have been painful for him, whereas she thinks she’s liberated him. I don’t think he sees it like that – he probably feels he’s made sacrifices. That’s an interestin­g dynamic. Harry seems to be going along with the eradicatio­n of Prince Harry of Wales and the creation of “Megaharry”. I believe that if Harry had married anyone else, he would still be a member of the royal family.

You also explore the parallels between Meghan and Princess Diana, don’t you?

Oh yes. Meghan and Diana have many of the same failings. I have reason to believe Meghan and Harry have a very strong relationsh­ip and they’re far better suited than Charles and Diana, but I believe that Meghan is in control. She wears the trousers and is as dominating, charming and captivatin­g a personalit­y as Diana was in the marriage. I believe Meghan’s ambition was always to outshine Diana. There are many parallels.

Do you think she’ll forge a different type of stardom in LA now?

Oh please, for me Meghan’s ambition has always been to outshine Diana, but I think she’s gravely misread the situation. She thought sheer hype would get her into LA, where she could become the great star she always wanted to be. But I don’t think it will happen for her. I really think she’ll struggle to fulfill her ambition. She and Harry thought they would be this billionair­e power couple, but I think they will struggle to make even £20 million per year! You mark my words, she won’t “take off” in the way she thinks she will.

Can their relationsh­ip with Kate and Wills be repaired?

Once you have a vase that has been shattered, even if it is glued back together, it never holds water the way it used to hold water before. A relationsh­ip once shattered, even if reconciled, is never as strong as it was. I don’t think Archie will have a close relationsh­ip with his cousins.

Surely Harry won’t allow that?

Well, you must remember that Harry can be extremely emotional and somewhat irrational. In my opinion he misinterpr­eted his friends’ and family’s genuine concern for his welfare over the speed of his romance with Meghan. I think it caused great resentment where she was concerned and it has resulted in them isolating themselves from everyone who was close to him. It’s a very, very sad story. But what I show in my book is compassion,

understand­ing and the consequenc­es of what’s happened.

Meanwhile, how have you been coping throughout lockdown?

Oh dear, it’s been fine, but one of my closest friends died of corona. It’s the one person you’d never have expected to die from it, someone with no health issues. She became very sick and was on a ventilator for a month. She was on HRT, which might have made her more prone to a stroke caused by the virus. She was the only one of my friends who exercised daily. We were friends for decades so it’s been terribly sad, but otherwise my life has not been affected by the pandemic on a daily basis. Writing the book has meant I retired from normal life regardless.

What about your love life? Has that taken a back seat?

Of course, I’m far too busy to be bothered with all that. I’m actually in touch with the two men whom I dated on Celebs Go Dating.

I have a relationsh­ip with both of them! But am I proposing to get married? Only if it’s to a 103-year-old man who’s worth at least £200 million, who wishes to make me a rich widow quickly!

What’s your next step?

I will continue my Youtube channel that I started in lockdown, as people seem to be enjoying it.

And I’d like to continue with my entertainm­ent work. I’ve recently had a run-in with a certain person on TV, who has a lot of admirers who think he’s wonderful, whereas I actually think he’s dreadful.

Are you referring to a certain Phillip Schofield?

Oh my dear, he’s dreadful. We had a run-in on his show, so that put me back in the news. But I’m not looking to be popular or liked. While it’s much nicer to be popular than unpopular, I’m not cutting my cloth according to the fashion of the moment. I believe respect and basic values are important and I will continue to stand by that.

Meghan And Harry: The Real Story is out now

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? She says Meghan is much smarter than Harry
She says Meghan is much smarter than Harry
 ??  ?? She’s definitely no fan of Phil
She’s definitely no fan of Phil
 ??  ??
 ??  ?? On I’m A Celeb in 2015
On I’m A Celeb in 2015

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