Ephraim Hardcastle
THE Queen’s indulgence towards Michelle Obama’s daughters Malia and Sasha seems to have yielded an unexpected bonus. Michelle, who delivered a muted goodwill message to the Royal Family in the wake of Meghan Markle’s remarks about racism, was enchanted, on a private visit to Buckingham Palace, when HM arranged for horses to be brought from the Royal Mews and liveried staff to drive her girls around the Palace gardens. Now she tells NBC: ‘This is first and foremost a family. I pray for forgiveness and healing for them so they can use this as a teachable moment for us all.’ Contrast with Hillary Clinton’s shrill anti-royalist Meghan heroineagram. When she and hubby Bill are next in SW1 expect to see a royal wheelbarrow in the Mall.
THE Bishop of Willesden, the Right Reverend Pete Broadbent, who is quitting his post a year early, won’t be waved off by William and Kate. He called them shallow celebrities. And Charles, described as Big Ears, will surely ignore the farewell collection bowl.
CELEBRATING her 33rd birthday yesterday, Carrie Symonds, pictured, faces a clash with the Queen over her campaign to ban the bearskins worn by HM’s Household Division. Carrie and her friend Zac Goldsmith, minister in charge of the wildlife trade, are set on halting the annual import of the 100 Canadian black bear pelts used for the soldiers’ headgear. HM has already let it be known that she’ll no longer be adding any new fur items to her wardrobe, but she insists on her guards wearing their traditional fur headgear. ‘Fur belongs on animals only,’ tweets Carrie from Downing Street while Zac made his views clear at his Lords elevation. He jettisoned the traditional ermine for fake fur.
ANDREW Neil takes Oprah Winfrey to task for failing to determine whether Meghan was telling the truth and instead adopting the cricket adage, ‘There’s a soft ball coming up the legside, just whack it for six.’ He adds: ‘I don’t suppose Meghan or Oprah will understand that analogy.’ What do bears do in the woods Andrew?
US writer Joe Hill was stung when his scripts for the BBC’s Doctor Who were rejected with the statement: ‘We have never let an American write for Doctor Who and if we were going to, we wouldn’t start with you.’ Perhaps if he had revealed his true identity he might have been treated more politely. His real name is Joe King, son of horror writer Stephen King.
FURTHER to Cricket, the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical written for the Queen’s 60th birthday, Prince Edward starred as Wittering, a failed batsman whose final words were: ‘I’m sorry I let you down.’ If it is ever revived shouldn’t Wittering be played by brother Andrew?
JAMES O’Brien, clearing his throat to replace Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain, boasts at least one celebrity endorsement. Dennis the Menace, celebrating his 70th anniversary at The Beano, has given James his approval. Says O’Brien: ‘His mum thinks I’m better looking than Piers.’ The turbo-tongued LBC presenter now awaits the thumbs up from Santa and the Tooth Fairy.