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Blessed with poise and presence, she won praise and adoration for her portrayal of Samantha ‘Sam’ Stewart in Foyle’s War, appearing in every episode of Anthony Horowitz’s award-winning ITV series, only for her stellar career to falter when her turbulent marriage fell apart. .
But after divorcing her husband, the rakish Lorne Stormonth Darling, and working for 18 months as a laundress – in her words, “a lesson in humility” – Honeysuckle Weeks triumphantly re-emerged last year, shedding inhibitions and clothes, on stage in a musical version of Calendar Girls.
Suitably refreshed, the effervescent 45-year-old actress is evidently once again ready for battle… a very personal battle, it seems. She has taken to social media to name the woman she claims was her husband’s mistress.
This is made even more surprising by what follows, because the woman in question – Weeks claims – is none other than Daphne Hall, niece of legendary Texas model Jerry Hall and daughter of Jerry’s late and equally glamorous sister, Rosy Hall, who, As a 19-year-old, she was one of the original Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders.
After divorcing her husband, Lorne Stormonth Darling, and working for 18 months as a laundress, Honeysuckle Weeks triumphantly re-emerged last year.
Weeks claims that Daphne Hall (pictured), niece of legendary Texas model Jerry Hall, was her husband’s mistress.
Weeks, who married Stormonth Darling in 2007, recalls how Jerry once invited her to a barbecue, but the invitation was rescinded. “His niece Daphne forbade me to go,” she claims, adding bluntly: “Daphne was my husband’s mistress.”
It’s easy to see why Daphne could turn a man’s head. She has the same long-limbed beauty as her mother and aunt, and she doesn’t let herself be carried away by convention. The father of her children, from whom she is now separated, is Roc Sandford, who divides his time between London and his own private island in the Hebrides, Gometra.
The son of Old Etonian filmmaker Jeremy Sandford, whose final estate was a Jacobean font in Herefordshire where naked meditation and dervish dancing were encouraged, Roc is an ardent eco-warrior.
So are two of his children with Daphne: his son Lachlan Blaze, known as ‘Lazer’, and his daughter Isla Bluebell, known as ‘Blue’, although sometimes described as the British Greta Thunberg.
Their campaigns have included an attempt in 2021 to thwart the construction of the HS2 high-speed train, living 15 feet underground in a tunnel they had dug near London’s Euston station, where for weeks they resisted eviction by the contractors’ bailiffs.
By then, although they could not have known it, her mother’s alleged lover, Stormonth-Darling, had only two years to live.
Pictured: Cindy Hall, Jerry Hall and Rosie Hall.
Honeysuckle marked her divorce from Lorne in 2019 by posting a striking image on social media: a sign with the initials L&H, next to pink hearts burning in a bonfire, with the caption: “Goodbye marriage.”
Stormonth Darling died last year, aged 60. Their father, Robin, had been the eminent president of the city’s stockbroking firm and lived at the other end of the spectrum of life in Gometra, where Daphne and Roc had raised Lazer and Blue without cars or electricity. or hot water.
On the other hand, the Stormonth Darlings own Balvarran, a 2,500-acre estate in Perthshire. Perhaps Daphne and her children hoped it would become a New Age haven like the one Blue and Lazer’s grandfather established in Herefordshire, with some tactical training for eco-warriors thrown in for good measure.
Daphne could not be reached for comment. But he is certainly on the move: his house in north-west London, bought for £715,000 in 2010 by what appears to be a family trust, whose members include his aunt Jerry, is for sale.
Neighbors say it has been empty for weeks. Another property on the same street is on the market for £1.7 million, enough to pay for some new tunneling equipment, in case Honeysuckle lets something fly stronger than an online post…
The Prince’s gift to the jet set island
Prince William is clearly determined to maintain royal links with Mustique, the playground of the West Indies’ rich and famous.
I hear that the heir to the throne has donated £10,000 to charity on the small private island that has been loved by the jet-set since Lord Glenconner bought it in the 1960s and gave Princess Margaret a ten-acre plot of land. acres as a wedding gift. .
Newly released records show William made the generous donation through his Broad Cairn Foundation, through The UK Friends of Mustique Charitable Trust, which is based in Tetbury, near King Charles’ Gloucestershire home, Highgrove.
The Princes of Wales have enjoyed several holidays in Mustique
The Prince and Princess of Wales have enjoyed several holidays in Mustique, home of rock stars Sir Mick Jagger and Bryan Adams, as well as American fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger.
William and Catherine have been staying at the Hibiscus Villa, owned by the princess’s family friends, now separated John and Belle Robinson, owners of the Jigsaw fashion chain. They have also stayed at the Villa Aurora, owned by Mark Cecil, a hedge fund millionaire, who is a friend of Catherine’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton.
In 2015, Catherine and William stayed at Villa Rocina, owned by Venezuelan millionaire Violera Álvarez, who attended their wedding and is a close friend of the Middletons.
Princess Margaret owned Les Jolies Eaux, a villa in Mustique, for many years before giving it to her only son, David, the 2nd Earl of Snowdon, who then sold it.
Don’t stop me now… Queen Star’s jig with her daughters
Was this an audition, a rehearsal or a performance?
Whatever it was, Queen legend Roger Taylor, 75, did his best to keep up with his daughters, Tigerlily, Lola and Rory.
“Last night we toured Soho with these monsters,” 30-year-old model Tigerlily wrote alongside a video she shared online.
The comment was received with good cheer by his sister Lola, 24, an actress, and his half-sister Rory, 38, a GP, one of the two children the drummer had with his first wife, Dominique.
All in all now…’You’ve got mud on your face/You’re a big disgrace/Kicking your can all over the place/Singing/We’ll make you rock/We’ll make you rock..
“Last night we toured Soho with these monsters,” 30-year-old model Tigerlily wrote alongside a video she shared online.
The closure of Princess Diana’s beloved restaurant
Here’s some news that would have saddened Princess Diana and left my esteemed predecessor Nigel Dempster without a place to have lunch: Launceston Place is about to close.
Diana was a regular customer at the discreet Kensington restaurant where the 1st Earl of Snowdon, who lived nearby, entertained his friends.
“After deep deliberation, and following the departure of chef patron Ben Murphy, D&D London has made the decision to close Launceston Place in Kensington at the end of this month,” confirms a spokesperson for its owners. “We will review our options to move the business forward.”
Murphy, who was 2022 National Chef of the Year, says it is “time for a new chapter” after seven years at the restaurant near Kensington Palace.
Launceston Place, known for its classic British cuisine, named a dish after its most famous patron, the Diana Souffle. When Elizabeth Debicki played Diana in the Netflix hit The Crown, she filmed scenes outside the restaurant.
Coo dares wins… it’s Grandma Anth!
television adventurer Ant Middleton was criticized as sexist and ageist for calling Anthea Turner “grandma” when she was on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
I can now reveal that Anthea, 64, is set to become a grandmother, as her stepdaughter is expecting a baby in February.
“Claudia is going to have a boy and I couldn’t be prouder,” confirms the former Blue Peter presenter.
‘We are all very excited. I don’t know what they will call me. ‘Granny Anth’ maybe…’
Claudia is the stepdaughter of Anthea and her ex-husband, Grant Bovey. However, she has remained close to Claudia and her two sisters.
Alarm in the Cotswolds this week after a chimney caught fire at The Bell in Charlbury, owned by Daylesford Organic founder Carole Bamford.
Firefighters removed a fan that was inside the chimney.
Lady Bamford is married to billionaire JCB owner Lord Bamford.
Rival pub The Bull, frequented by the ‘Chipping Norton set’, also suffered a chimney fire last week.
It’s time to make a lady out of Petula, says her friend Bourne
As she prepares to celebrate her 92nd birthday, Petula Clark should also be looking forward to becoming a dame, says celebrated choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne.
The singer and actress’ notable career began entertaining troops as a child during World War II and saw her sell more than 68 million records, including her classic, Downtown.
“I worked with her when she was 91 on Mary Poppins and she did eight shows a week and she’s been performing for over 80 years,” Bourne says.
‘Why she is not a lady, I do not know. She’s brilliant.’
Petula Clark’s notable career began entertaining troops as a child during World War II and saw her sell more than 68 million records.
Bad news for Lord Alli, the Labor Party’s sugar daddy, and his friend Baroness (Valerie) Amos. She was being promoted as a possible British ambassador to Washington.
However, I have heard that the bitter dispute over Labor aides who campaigned in the US presidential election has complicated the appointment of a new ambassador.
“The sudden political row over Anglo-American relations could make a party appointment impossible,” a Whitehall source tells me. “In that case, the position could go, as is customary, to a professional diplomat.”
Sir Humphrey may be about to win again.