Ephraim Hardcastle
the epiphany ceremony in st George’s Chapel, Windsor, where gold, frankincense and myrrh are offered up on behalf of the Queen, was presided over by richard Chartres, former Bishop of london. By rights it should have been his successor, the rt rev sarah mullally – the first woman to hold this post. But Dame sarah has asked Chartres to stay on as dean temporarily, supposedly to lighten her load. Yet it’s a largely ceremonial post, requiring attendance at just two services a year. What’s going on? ‘the Queen has only ever appointed men to the top jobs in her household and isn’t keen on change,’ opines my source. MPs have returned from Christmas recess to discover that alcoholic drinks will no longer be served in the House of Commons tea room. ‘This is to promote responsible alcohol consumption,’ they are told. Wouldn’t a more effective alcohol-reduction strategy be to end the taxpayersubsidised food and drink, which costs more than £4million a year? DisCussinG her three-year-old daughter edie, actress Keira Knightley, 33, pictured, tells the lady magazine: ‘she said the “f” word twice, but both times, i think, have been in the perfect place, so i haven’t felt i could tell her off about it. the first time was when trump came into power.’ A model parent! RADIO 4’s Matthew Price, 46, talked up as an eventual replacement for Today show star John Humphrys, 75, didn’t advance his prospects much yesterday. While interviewing colleagues – BBC deputy political editor John Pienaar and Europe editor Katya Adler – about Theresa May’s Brexit deal, he talked across both of them. Perhaps he was having an off day. sir Winston Churchill’s granddaughter, the hon Celia sandys, is asked by sir trevor mcDonald why Churchill is still important 54 years after his death. ms sandys, 75, says in icons, screened tonight on BBC 2: ‘Wherever i go, people say, “i wish we had your grandfather again.” i think people are crying out for inspiration.’ We do have Churchill’s grandson, sir nicholas soames mP. he’s making a name for himself on twitter. MOTORING expert Jeremy Clarkson, a model of restraint, says that a ‘vulgarity tax’ would prove a hit with the electorate, explaining: ‘It’s very simple. If you choose to live like [highly-paid Premiership football star] Paul Pogba, turning up at nightclubs in a diamond-encrusted Rolls-Royce, then Tommy Taxman is going to come round with a crowbar. I realise this is bad news for Rolex, Chanel and the people of Cheshire, but it’s good news for the soul of the nation.’ Former newspaper editor rosie Boycott, 67, criticises BBC 1’s Question time, recalling of her own appearances on the show: ‘it’s time to throw out the shouty, C-list celebs and cull the audience of opinionated bigots from either end of the spectrum.’ rosie’s no C-lister herself. she was made a baroness last year.