Why chanteuse Natalie set her heart on shedding pounds

JAZZ singer Natalie Rushdie, daughter-in-law of author Sir Salman, has revealed the dramatic health reason behind her recent weight loss.

The 31-year-old was told to shed the pounds by a doctor who feared she could suffer more health problems. Last year, she was fitted with a monitor after two holes were discovered in her heart. ‘When I spoke to my consultant in January, he said I was overweight,’ she tells me at the Royal Ascot Village Enclosure preview. ‘I need to be eating light and going to the gym. I’ve had a complete lifestyle change.’

Her PR man husband, Zafar Rushdie, has been supportive. ‘He doesn’t like me being on the lash every night.’

A TOUCHING move by the Queen ahead of the luncheon she held this week for members of the Order of Merit. Banker Lord (Jacob) Rothschild, whose wife, Serena, died in January at the age of 83, was allowed to bring his daughter, Hannah, in her place. She joined guests at Windsor Castle including David Hockney and worldwide web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee. A courtier tells me: ‘It was a typically thoughtful gesture by the Queen.’