Ephraim Hardcastle
WILL the Queen take a keen interest in the sale of Rembrandt’s Abraham and the Angels this month at Sotheby’s in New York? She might yearn to add it to her favourite painting, The Shipbuilder and his Wife, and other four works by the Dutch master in the Royal Collection. Unfortunately, the RC won’t be bidding. The £22million asking price is way beyond a budget ravaged by Covid and already forecasting a loss of £64million this year. With her 95th birthday looming and a Platinum Jubilee next year, might Chancellor Rishi’s magic money tree be shaken to buy a gift fit for a Queen from a grateful nation?
APROPOS Abraham and the Angels: In the background stands Abraham’s wife Sarah, laughing at the angels’ prophecy that she will become pregnant at the age of 90. It is apparently one of HM’s favourite Old Testament stories from her childhood. Another reason why it is on her wish list?
THE Queen had a private family motivation for opting for the Oxford vaccination. The Duchess of Kent’s mother, Joyce Morgan Brunner, was the daughter of Sir John Brunner. He founded Brunner Mond, which became Imperial Chemical Industries and, now, AstraZeneca. Keep it in the family ma’am!
ROBERT Moore’s bulletins for ITV from inside the US Capitol gains broadcasting plaudits – while viewers wonder where Jon Sopel and the rest of the BBC staffers have got to. In fact, South African-born BBC Washington Correspondent Lebo Diseko, pictured, was trapped inside, reporting as insurrectionists caused chaos for eight hours. She was then evacuated after being locked down in the basement canteen. Doesn’t Lebo deserve a medal for bravery?
JK Rowling’s literary agent Christopher Little, who made more than £50million from Harry Potter, takes to the grave the details of the acrimonious fall-out with the author after selling the seven titles for publication. Rowling, who earned an estimated £800million from Potter, left Little and followed his deputy Neil Blair when he set up his own agency in 2011. Little, who has died aged 79, settled out of court for a vast sum and signed a confidentiality pact.
WE’LL never hear Noel Coward’s verdict on the Judi Dench remake of Blithe Spirit. But we do know he didn’t believe in mediums. Attending a 1960s seance where he was told long-dead actress Gertrude Lawrence was present wearing the white Molyneux gown from his Private Lives, he quipped: ‘Christ! It must be tatty by now.’
JOE Biden’s wife Dr Jill admits hiding under the marital bed and popping out to surprise pyjama-clad Joe when he switches off the lights. Worse: On board the Vice-President’s plane, Air Force Two, she concealed herself in an overhead luggage bin asking aides to declare: ‘Dr Biden’s not here yet’ before springing out and startling him. Hasn’t Joe, 78, got a heart condition?