Ephraim Hardcastle
THE state visit next week by King Felipe VI of Spain has added to Theresa May’s political woes. Originally, he and Queen Letizia were due here in June. But the Prime Minister called the election, forcing a postponement. In a bid to regroup from the current turmoil, she’d hoped to end the parliamentary session next week, forgetting that Felipe was addressing peers and MPs from Westminster’s Royal Gallery. Rather than risk a rift, Parliament will remain in session until the following week, as scheduled. Is there no end to Theresa’s suffering? IF DONALD Trump does decide on a surprise visit next week he will play second fiddle to King Felipe, who will enjoy the full panoply of carriage processions, banquets and two nights B&B in Buckingham Palace’s Belgian Suite. Trump is never happy at playing catch-up and especially won’t want to see Felipe getting the sort of treatment he’d expected. APROPOS Trump: Ironically, Felipe is taking the state visit slot that should have been his. Former Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe let slip in a radio interview in February: ‘I think President Trump is coming around June, that’s the plan.’ SCREEN sexpot Gina Lollobrigida, who celebrated her 90th birthday yesterday, dismisses talk of a longtime rivalry with fellow Italian beauty Sophia Loren, 82. Miss Lollobrigida, pictured in her prime, miaows: ‘I was not looking for any rivalry against anyone. I was the number one. She and her press agents started this “rivalry” with me – and she hasn’t stopped for 50 years. It was really boring for me… we made completely different careers. I wanted to be an artist more than anything else. I wanted a career on a high level.’ But what about 1951 turkey Attention! Bandits! CANADA’S PM, Justin Trudeau, 45, has a hastily arranged audience with the Queen at Holyrood tomorrow en route to the G20 powwow in Germany. A photoop with HMQ was too much to resist for the publicity-conscious Justin. Since becoming prime minister 20 months ago he has been over to meet the Queen and has hosted Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, George and Charlotte – quite an impressive tally. The North American boy wonder seems unperturbed by a new opinion poll showing 61 per cent of Canadians want to abandon royal links when the current reign ends. THIRSTY European Commission boss Jean-Claude Juncker’s irate outburst in Strasbourg yesterday about poor attendance by MEPs at the European Parliament triggered speculation: ‘Was he over refreshed?’ An embarrassing claim that he drank cognac for breakfast prompted Juncker, 62, to protest: ‘As soon as someone breaks the mould they are obviously crazy or an alcoholic.’ Permanently parched former Ukip leader Nigel Farage insists: ‘I’m only a mid-First Division drinker… now Juncker, he’s Premier League.’