Ephraim Hardcastle
PRINCESS Eugenie’s discreet rise in the royal ranks intrigues courtiers. Already consolidating a portfolio of patronages, including the hospital where she had spinal surgery, she was given pride of place at the Queen’s side for the Royal Maundy service. Choosing Eugenie for one of the most important events in HM’s diary was no accident. With seven of the 15 working royals over 70, the Queen was, strategically, bringing younger blood into the official fold until the Cambridge children can attend formal events. EMMA Thompson, stamping a jumbo carbon footprint by flying from LA to the Extinction Rebellion protest, failed to get arrested at the event. She’s also failed to get the attention of Prince Charles, the nation’s chief eco warrior, who has kept her at arm’s length since her indiscreet contributions to a biography in which she mused: ‘There’s a long history of relationships between Princes of Wales and actors. Not just actresses, not just rude relationships as HRH would say. God knows I’ve tried, I’ve tried – he wasn’t having any of it.’ No coincidence that William rather than Charles conferred her Damehood at Buckingham Palace last November. That didn’t stop her trying to get a smooch with scarlet-cheeked Will. UNIVERSITY Challenge presenter Jeremy Paxman confides that he’d like mature students banned from taking part in the cerebral BBC TV quiz, but fears that excluding greybeards would cause a ‘frightful fuss’. All right for OAP Paxo, 68, to continue lobbing baffling scientific questions at the youngsters? TORY toff and devout Catholic Jacob ReesMogg marks Easter in typically holy fashion, tweeting: ‘Christ is risen. He is risen indeed, Alleluia.’ It prompts lefty LBC broadcaster James O’Brien to reply: ‘You ain’t no Christian, bruv.’ Tory veteran Sir Nicholas Soames, who often enjoys criticising Brexiteer Jacob, rightly interjects: ‘Well actually, he very much is.’ NOW dismissing criticism of her scantily-clad poses in the presence of her lookalike son Damian, 17, as ‘ridiculous’, sexpot Elizabeth Hurley, 53, pictured, tells Red magazine: ‘He has a year and a half of school left... then it’s up to him. He’ll be a proper grown-up, but with interfering Mummy in the background.’ Red alert to Damian’s aspiring suitors. Beware of the mum! SUPERANNUATED newscaster Anna Ford, 75, recalls tutoring at the Open University, telling a BBC4 documentary: ‘I remember one year all tutors getting a letter from the vice-chancellor saying you must not sleep with students! I was 25 or 26 and my students were much older – it was unlikely that I was going to seduce them!’ UBIQUITOUS Paul Burrell, currently spouting to passengers on a Pacific cruise about being Princess Diana’s butler, must hope no well-heeled cruiser asks about his management company, Black Dragon. Figures filed at Companies House show a £50,000 deficit. Man the lifeboats!