Hardcastle
WAS there a new frostiness between the Duchesses of Cornwall and Sussex at Monday’s Westminster Abbey service? Camilla was entitled to feel some grievance towards Meghan, whose unannounced ‘secret’ visit to the National Theatre garnered all the weekend headlines and relegated coverage of Camilla’s much vaunted Women of the World domestic violence campaign. And Meghan rubbed further salt into Cornwall sores. Her ‘surprise’ school visit also demoted Camilla’s moment in the sun. Has her departure for Canada triggered some over-enthusiastic bon-voyage waving from Camilla?
PRINCESS Anne remains unperturbed by condemnation of Save the Children by the Charity Commission over sexual harassment allegations. The patron and former president of the charity has made it clear she is carrying on regardless, listing a meeting with volunteers in Salisbury in her diary for later this month. A former aide says: ‘She would never give up her role, regardless of a dysfunctional management. For her it’s all about literally saving children.’ She remains the only Royal nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize – by President Kaunda of Zambia in 1990 for her work with the charity.
AMID the baffling frenzy of toilet roll hoarding, warbler James Blunt’s wife Sofia, niece of the 9th Duke of Wellington, asks her hubby, both pictured, about the contents of two overflowing shopping bags. ‘These, I discovered, contained 18 tins of tuna,’ she says. ‘He had driven to our local village shop to stockpile, saying “If the world is running out, this stuff will be worth a fortune soon”.’ And nary a mention of the virus!
TORY warhorse Sir Nicholas Soames (retired) rejoices at the commencement of Cheltenham symbolising ‘the oak-like English virtues of steeplechasing at its best’. And quoting late poet Will Ogilvie, Soamesy added: ‘Tis a game beyond gainsaying, made by the Gods for brave men’s playing.’ Someone pour the old boy a foaming stein of Kaliber.
DEPARTED star Max von Sydow, playing Jesus in the 1965 epic The Greatest Story Ever Told, said he was expected to behave like the Saviour ‘day and night’, adding: ‘I couldn’t have my wife visit me openly because Jesus was not married. I couldn’t drink and relax when I was Christ. I couldn’t smoke or drink in public. When I finished I felt as though I’d been let out on parole. A man who has served 18 months isn’t eager to go back to prison.’
MICK Jagger fears his latest film role, playing conniving art dealer Joseph Cassidy in The Burnt Orange Heresy, might be his last, adding: ‘If I don’t get offered another decent role, it might be.’ Two words, Mick: Ned Kelly. Has his film career ever recovered from the 1970 turkey in which Jagger played the Australian outlaw? Email: john.mcentee@dailymail.co.uk