Ephraim Hardcastle
AS the Duchess of Sussex makes her first public appearance in over a month at the West End musical Hamilton tonight, her husband’s family have been offering support to help her cope with the embarrassment of her father’s ongoing negative outbursts. Prince Charles has taken her under his wing, hosting her and Harry at the Castle of Mey earlier this month. Just west of John O’Groats, it was too far from Balmoral (190 miles) for Harry and Meghan to have to face the cameras at Crathie Kirk with the Queen. And Prince Philip, who hasn’t spent too much time with Meghan, has taken a shine to her and imparted his wisdom – and support – on at least one occasion by letter.
THE decision to take five-year-old Prince George out on to the Balmoral grouse moors shouldn’t come as a surprise. As the Queen and Prince Philip grow older their circle of shooting folk has diminished. Of the younger royals, only William and Kate take pleasure in shooting things. Meanwhile, Harry seems to have quietly put away his ammo now that Meghan is on the scene. She may have enjoyed a traditional royal Christmas Day at Sandringham but she was whisked away before the Boxing Day shoot.
LBC listeners are not entirely happy that Eddie Mair, 52, described by one as a ‘BBC loony lefty’, has displaced Iain Dale, 56, in the early evening slot. But good news for Nigel Farage, 54, moving forward an hour – starting at 6pm. With more people driving home from work, Farage will now have the highest potential reach of any LBC presenter other than Nick Ferrari. The Remainers (Eddie Mair among them) will hate the fact that Mr Brexit is so popular.
SENDING pulses racing in a skimpy red dress this week to promote her upcoming participation in Strictly Come Dancing, broadcaster Kate Silverton, 48, pictured, awkwardly watched footage of herself while anchoring the BBC News channel yesterday afternoon. ‘Who was that woman in the red dress? I don’t know!’ joked Kate, hastily adding to viewers: ‘Before I blush too much more, I’m going to hand you over to the weather.’
HAPLESS Andrew Marr, 59, had to hastily issue a public statement yesterday about his Sunday show moving to a new 10am slot after he accidentally sent a public tweet to Sky rival Sophy Ridge, 33, reassuring her that it was ‘absolutely not meant to be rolling on to your lawn’. D’oh!
DISCOVERING that Thackeray’s Vanity Fair was first published as a 19-volume monthly serial, Martin Clunes, 56, who plays Sir Pitt Crawley in the ITV series starting this Sunday, tells Woman’s Own: ‘I’ve managed to concentrate all 19 volumes on the bits to do with me. On an iPad you can put the character’s name in and go to every reference and line. When I watch it back, I’ll be shocked there’s anyone else in it.’