EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Queen’s doubts over Charles and Camilla
Petronella Wyatt’s claim that Camilla would have been quite happy not to have married Charles prompts nods of assent from veteran courtiers who remember the late Queen’s stance during the pre-marriage burnishing of Camilla’s image by royal spin doctor Mark Bolland.
‘Marriage wasn’t on the agenda as far as HM was concerned,’ says one. ‘She was having none of it and, conscious that Charles would one day be King and Supreme Governor of the Church of England, wanted him to finish with her.’
However, she relented when the campaign to make her acceptable as his wife succeeded. And so the woman who never wanted to be queen will be anointed and crowned in May. Isn’t life grand?
Petronella Wyatt’s claim that Camilla would have been quite happy not to have married Charles prompts nods of assent from veteran courtiers who remember the late Queen’s stance during the pre-marriage burnishing of Camilla’s image by royal spin doctor Mark Bolland
Harry’s barb-packed memoir claims he complained to the late Queen about Charles not seeing him to discuss his problems. The monarch replied: ‘I have only one thing to say about that… your father always does what he wants to do.’ Might the allegation that his mother thought him selfish prompt Charles to wonder: ‘Do recollections vary?’
Collecting his Golden Globe for The Banshees Of Inisherin, Colin Farrell, pictured, gave a shout-out to his co-star Jenny the Donkey.
But no mention of Jenny’s double Nosey Rosey.
‘She was a beautiful creature,’ says donkey handler Rita Moloney.
‘She was well-socialised, loved people, loved being involved.’
A word in your shell like Colin – if you get the Oscar give Nosey Rosey a thank you hee-haw.
Broadcaster Ed Stourton, brutally sacked from BBC Radio 4’s Today, says he thinks he could often do better than current presenters Nick Robinson, Justin Webb or Martha Kearney. ‘I know – not just think, but know – that I would have done better,’ he tells Radio Times. Does his sacking still rankle? ‘Well, as St Augustine says, “Feeling resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” But I don’t mind admitting that I still miss it.’ Get over it, Ed!
apropos Ed, while writing his memoir Confession, the staunch Roman Catholic – who was taught by the Benedictine monks at Ampleforth – was contacted by the school and asked to desist from mentioning some of his teachers were child sex abusers. He refused. ‘I told them it’s clear I’m writing about abuse at the time and not anything today. I think it would be dishonest to write about a school that had a very big impact on you and not discuss it.’
Two years after his death from Covid, showman Gerry Cottle had a circus send- off at his beloved Wookey Hole at the weekend. His publicist Mark Borkowski recalled their promotional stunt for a Wembley season when Gerry claimed British clowns were no longer funny. He imported an American clown Denise Payne. When she arrived at Heathrow, she was met by a hotchpotch of British clowns brandishing ‘Keep British circus British’ placards. ‘Madonna was on the same flight,’ recalled Borkowski. ‘But there was more press to meet Denise.’
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