THEN & NOW
The I’m A Celeb ledge, 64, on his days alongside Princess Diana
BACK THEN, I WAS WEARING… Savile Row suits. Towards the end of her life, Diana said, “If you’re going to stand beside me, I don’t want you in a butler uniform, I want you in a suit.” NOW.. . Hermès ties, because of the Princess. And every time I go into the shop, I smell her favourite perfume, 24 Faubourg.
THE CELEBS I’D HANG OUT WITH WERE… The Princess, William and Harry, and then when I wasn’t with them, my family – my wife and two children, Alex and Nick. My job was pretty all-consuming, but I did get to meet famous people, such as Elton John, George Michael, Tom Hanks, and Oprah Winfrey.
NOW… I spend the most time with my hubby Coop – he’s the centre of my world.
THE BIGGEST HEADLINE ABOUT ME WAS… “Di’s rock arrested”, when I was arrested for supposedly stealing items from the Princess’ estate. As the Queen knew, I was protecting some of her letters and keeping them safe, but I didn’t have a legal right to do that, so that was probably one of the biggest headlines.
NOW, IT WOULD BE… When I married Coop, because I didn’t actually come out until five years ago, and that was to marry him. YOU WOULD HAVE MOST LIKELY
HEARD ME… Giving the Princess advice, such as, “When you go out, hold your head high. Remember who you are – you are the mother of the future King, no one can ever take that away from you.” And telling the boys to, “Keep quiet, because Mummy is trying to have a rest.” They were always noisy, running around the palace and playing war games!
NOW… You’ll hear me urging people to enjoy every single day, because having experienced that tragedy 25 years ago, I realise how precious life is.
THEN, I USED TO THINK… I took everything for granted, really. I was a very lucky man to have lived with the Queen for 11 years, and Diana for ten years. I took it all in my stride, and I should have enjoyed it more.
NOW, I WOULD TELL MY YOUNGER SELF… “Keep a diary and remember all those wonderful things that you did.”