Ephraim Hardcastle
With the 20th anniversary of diana’s death approaching, it’s still presumed that she knew nothing about current affairs but labour MP Ann clwyd, who met her to talk about landmines in 1997, says in a memoir: ‘i was struck about how well briefed she was. The media portrayed her an airhead but that was a long way from the young woman i met that day. she was remarkably open and frank and interested in the latest speculation about the date of the general election. she said she thought the Prime Minister, John Major, was feeble, and had difficulty making up his mind.’
APROPOS Diana, Mrs Clwyd asked why she didn’t spend more time in Wales, given that she was Princess of Wales. Diana, by then divorced, said: ‘I don’t want to tread on Charles’s toes and make it difficult for my sons.’
LEFTY writer howard Jacobson, 74, promoting his latest novel on newsnight and referring to Brexit, tells slinky presenter emily Maitlis: ‘democracy works best when the people, the demos, are making the right decisions.’ spoken like a true Remainer!
TV presenter Eamonn Holmes and his wife, Ruth Langsford, pictured, interviewing ex-Formula 1 boss Flavio Briatore for a new documentary, cheekily asked to be invited to next month’s Monaco Grand Prix. After Briatore, 67, agreed – saying, ‘I invite you and you see it for nothing’ – a gleeful Holmes reminded him: ‘That’s on tape!’ (ie, recorded). Ruth, 57, added: ‘You can’t go back on that now!’ What a pair!
HIGH-FLYING former Tory staffer Rachel Whetstone, 49, in the news after quitting as an executive of dodgy-sounding taxi firm Uber, was once a pal of samantha cameron, 45. Relations soured in 2004 over Whetstone’s affair with samcam’s stepfather, Tory grandee William Astor, 65. When reminded that it ‘takes two to tango’ – ie, Astor was also to blame – david cameron remarked: ‘Yes, but you can’t sack your stepfather.’ A man of principle!
ROYAL commentator and biographer Ingrid Seward clashes on Sky with opinion-monger Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, who argued that the Queen’s distribution of Maundy money – as a wealthy monarch – was ‘un-Christian’. Ms Seward said: ‘She’s talking the most enormous load of rubbish.’ Ms Alibhai-Brown, 67, responded: ‘I don’t think anyone should call anyone else’s arguments rubbish. I don’t think it’s polite, so I won’t descend to your level.’ Ladies!
Will President Trump organise a decent easter egg roll at the White house on Monday? The popular annual event, which attracted 37,000 participants last year, is said to be in disarray, with thousands of decorated wooden eggs ordered at the last minute and Washington schools in the dark about who is invited. Whatever happens, won’t Trump announce that it was the best one ever?