Ephraim Hardcastle
COULD the Queen’s delight at a restricted Royal Ascot be tempered by the tricky appearance of royal friend Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum? the ruler of Dubai shares HM’s love of racing and is a regular in the Royal Enclosure. the absence of racegoers last year saved royal embarrassment amid accusations in court that the sheikh had abducted his daughters Latifa and Shamsa. As an owner with access to the parade ring and paddock, Ascot wouldn’t want to create a diplomatic frisson by trying to ban him. It’s probable that Ascot Authority officials will be primed to rescue HM and other royals from awkwardness by stepping in to present any winner’s trophies should the sheikh’s Godolphin stable triumph.
MEANWHILE, in a first, discussions are under way to have the Queen arrive at Royal Ascot by car, dispensing with the traditional carriage procession. Such a move would abolish the traditional prerace Windsor Castle lunch jockeying by minor royals for spare carriage seats. And with Royal Enclosure admissions slashed in half from the usual 1,800, is there much public sympathy for the ticketless toffs lobbying for admission?
PRINCE Philip, president of the Naval and Military Club, known as the In and Out, can expect a 100th birthday present of a Victorian decanter, engraved with the images of his racing yacht Bloodhound and a pair of binoculars. Sounds costly but club members have been told: ‘We will be using a very small amount (less than the price of a gin and tonic) of your annual membership subscription to pay for this present.’ No expense spared, Philip!
RECALLING swearing allegiance to the Stars and Stripes when she became a US citizen, London-born Minnie Driver, pictured, says: ‘They literally ask you to forswear the Queen, and I can’t do that – I couldn’t possibly do that. So I crossed my fingers behind my back.’ Which is it, Minnie: Uncle Sam or HM? tORY MP Richard Drax accuses BBC Radio 4’s today programme of creating division and fear and failing in its public duty to report objectively. ‘I am appalled,’ he rages. ‘the problem comes when presenters think they are the news.’ As a former BBC South presenter, couldn’t Richard make the news on today explaining the payment to his Victorian ancestor of £3million compensation in modern money for his 189 slaves?
EX-Python Eric Idle recalls Elvis Presley’s girlfriend Linda Thompson revealing the singer’s obsession with the cult BBC series: ‘I was told Elvis had all the Python series on his plane. He called everyone “Squire” after my nudge-nudge sketch. He made Linda Thompson do Python sketches with him in bed at night.’ Not the Norwegian Blue dead parrot, surely?
EASt END-based artists Gilbert and George rejoice at the imminent reopening of outside dining at their favourite turkish cafe, having survived lockdown on a diet of bread, ham and cheese. Explains Gilbert: ‘We don’t have a kitchen, certainly not. What do you think we are? Middle class or something?’ Puts paid to any Great British Bake Off invite, boys.