Ascot, high-societyballsandmovetoRoyalDeeside

Olga Romanoff first went to Royal Ascot in 1967. This was in the days when the racing festival had a glamour all its own. And, as she recalled, there was a chance to meet the man who recorded “White Christmas” and turned it into the biggest-selling record of all time.

She said: “Bing Crosby was at Ascot that year. During the afternoon, Mother went up to him and said: ‘Oh Mr Crosby, I’m one of your lifelong fans. Please sign my race card for me.’ I was in the background, thinking: ‘For God’s sake, how embarrassing!’

“But he was very charming, I have to say. He didn’t glare or snarl like some of the celebrities do, but was really pleasant.

“My preferred clothes were rather more casual than my Ascot outfit, though. I remember going into Harvey Nichols one day wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. The sales people took absolutely no notice of me whatsoever.

“The next day, I went back in, all dressed up in a mink coat, high heels and make-up. Then I took out my chequebook. When the sales people saw ‘Princess Olga Romanoff’, they were all over me like a rash.

“I said to them: ‘ You couldn’t be bothered to talk to me yesterday, so I don’t wish to talk to you today.’”

Princess Olga’s coming-out ball took place at the Dorchester. As one might expect, it was a grand occasion, with a Regency theme.

The following year, Olga and her parents relocated to Scotland and began the search for a house. The journey took them into the heart of Royal Deeside.

She recalled: “We were staying in the TorNaCoille Hotel in Banchory. Mother wanted to go and look at a little house in the village next to the primary school. She didn’t want to turn up in her Rolls Bentley because she thought this would put the price up, so she borrowed a battered Mini from the hotel’s owner.

“Well, we turned up at the house in the Mini and went round the property. When the owner had finished showing us around, he opened the garage door - and there in the garage was a better and newer Rolls Bentley than Mother’s! So she had to admit that she’d left hers in the car park back at the hotel.

“The house was called Gowanbrae. I think it cost £9,000 and we spent another £3,000 on renovations. It was a Victorian house, built from granite, with two bay windows and three bedrooms.

“It was just stunning, straight out of Harpers or House and Garden and it was photographed everywhere.”

Bing Crosby