Ephraim Hardcastle
GUARDIAN columnist Owen Jones, 31, flounced out of a Sky News studio, complaining that a discussion about the killings in Orlando, Florida, didn’t focus on them being ‘a homophobic terrorist attack’. Gay activist Jones seemed out of sorts in the Green Room prior to the show, claimed fellow panellist Julia Hartley-Brewer. She described him as seeming ‘tired and emotional’, saying he’d complained of being scratched by his cat. However, anxious to mollify gay viewers, Sky apologised to Jones.
PRINCE Harry apologised profusely to guests at the rain-sodden Patron’s Lunch on Sunday for the lack of umbrellas, banned for ‘security’ reasons. He and other royal males were allowed to carry their personal brollies. Prince Charles’s tailors, Turnbull and Asser, sell an approved one with a chestnut handle for £150.
FOLLOWING his March marriage to leggy Texan firecracker Jerry Hall, 59, media giant Rupert Murdoch, 85, told his Twitter followers: ‘No more tweets for ten days or ever! Feel like the luckiest and happiest man in world.’ He hasn’t tweeted since. The fourth Mrs Murdoch (pictured) must be keeping him busy.
FORMER Labour frontbencher Rachel Reeves, 37, came off second best against Brexit-supporting business leader Lord (Digby) Jones, 60, during an EU debate on BBC2’s Daily Politics. She didn’t take it well, snapping: ‘You’re a typical middleaged bloke who loves interrupting women. You really just don’t know how to conduct yourself.’ Is whingeing Rachel typical of Labour women?
SOME mourners at Carla Lane’s funeral were surprised to see her referred to as the holder of an OBE. In 2002, she returned the 1989 honour to premier Tony Blair as a protest over the CBE awarded to Brian Cass, head of a laboratory using animals for medical research. But she never got round to writing to the palace saying so. Blair said he’d hold onto the bauble in case she changed her mind. So she never stopped being Carla Lane OBE.
ROYAL Ascot’s stewards have an additional task this year: ensuring that no EU referendum logo or insignia (for either side) gets into the Royal Enclosure, possibly on elaborate Ladies’ Day hats tomorrow. Incidentally the Queen has a gold brooch in the shape of the EU stars. She appears never to have worn this gift. Wonder why!?
OSCAR-winning actress Dame Helen Mirren, 70, says in an interview: ‘I’ve turned down projects I should have said “Yes” to; done projects I should have said “No” to; had relationships with people that I shouldn’t have had a relationship with; got drunk at times when I shouldn’t have got drunk – an endless litany of mistakes and missteps.’ Publishers must be salivating at the prospect of Dame Helen’s memoirs. Previously she’s published only a picture book.