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Prince William revealed his future plans for his role in the monarchy last week, saying he would carry out his duties with “a smaller ‘r’ in royalty.”
But his comments, to journalists who accompanied him on his trip to South Africa, have not deeply impressed royal biographer Tina Brown.
The former Vanity Fair editor, who had lunch with Princess Diana just weeks before her death, accused the Prince of Wales of not showing King Charles enough respect. And he claims that William surrounds himself with sycophants.
Prince Harry, to whom he no longer speaks, was good at keeping his brother’s feet on the ground, Brown maintains.
“William didn’t help the mood by giving a cavalier interview at the end of his trip to South Africa to win the Earthshot Prize,” Brown, 70, writes on his Substack blog, called Fresh Hell.
Prince William revealed his future plans for his role in the monarchy last week.
His comments, to journalists who accompanied him on his trip to South Africa, have not deeply impressed royal biographer Tina Brown.
The former Vanity Fair editor accused the Prince of Wales of not showing enough respect to King Charles.
‘He told reporters about his plans to ‘do things differently’ and then listed ‘impact philanthropy, collaboration, convening and helping people.’ In short, everything your father has been doing for the last 50 years…’
Offensively, he adds: “William’s comment that his plans for a caring, sharing monarchy also include ‘adding a bit of empathy’ made him sound like a performative idiot. In happier years, he was the irreverent Harry (or Harold, as William used to call him gloomily) who could make fun of the Prince of Wales and bring him down.
Brown, widow of legendary newspaper editor Sir Harold Evans, is known for her controversial comments.
Last month, he called the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to step back from royal duties in 2020 “a disaster.”
Brown added: “The problem with Meghan is that she has the worst judgment of anyone in the world.” She is perfect at doing everything wrong.
Prince Harry Book Sale
The Duke of Sussex’s publisher, Penguin Random House, has reason to regret its decision, which I revealed in August, not to give any interviews to publicize the paperback edition of his vulgar memoir, Spare.
Because the cheapest edition of Harry’s book languishes at number 73 in the official UK Top 50.
The autobiography sold just 3,000 copies in its second week of publication.
That compares to the 12,000 copies sold of Richard Osman’s latest novel or the almost 10,000 sold of Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat: Home To Roost.
The hardback edition of Spare broke bookstore records and was the best-selling book in Britain last year, with more than 700,000 copies sold.
Bridgerton star’s spicy Pirelli shot
Simone Ashley plays Kate, the demure wife of Viscount Bridgerton in the hit Netflix period drama.
The black and white photograph leaves little to the imagination, with only a small piece of cloth wrapped around the 29-year-old’s lower body.
This would certainly get Lady Whistledown’s pen flowing!
Simone Ashley, who plays Viscount Bridgerton’s demure wife Kate in the hit Netflix period drama, stripped off for her daring new role as a 2025 Pirelli calendar girl.
The black and white snap leaves little to the imagination, with just a small piece of cloth wrapped around the 29-year-old’s lower body.
Simone, from Surrey, says she found it a “challenge” to incorporate tire maker Pirelli’s theme of “renewal and revelation” into the image, which was taken by American photographer Ethan James Green.
“I love that Ethan has this mantra that less is more and that there is beauty in subtle movements,” she reflects.
Elton John’s extravagant gesture
It was a typically extravagant gesture for Elton John to woo her future husband, David Furnish.
The filmmaker has revealed that when Sir Elton invited him to dinner, he ordered the full menu at an expensive Chinese restaurant, as he didn’t know what Furnish liked.
“I get home and there are four giant cardboard boxes on the kitchen counter and the table set for two, and I said, ‘Who else is coming? What’s all this food for?’
Furnish tells the Ruthie’s Table 4 podcast: “It was from Mr Chow’s (in Knightsbridge), and Elton didn’t know what I liked, so he ordered the whole menu.” I had never been to Mr. Chow’s house. I have never had high quality Chinese food before. But it was a really delicious meal.”
Norway’s royal couple wins guru award in Los Angeles
Prince Harry and Meghan, who have received a series of dubious awards since moving to California, are not the only royals receiving awards.
Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her husband, Durek Verrett, received the Global Inclusivity Award from Gurus magazine in Los Angeles.
‘Being recognized for our dedication to our community of loving souls is a profound honor. “I am deeply grateful for this prestigious recognition,” says Durek, 49, a bisexual shaman known as Hollywood’s most popular guru.
Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her husband, Durek Verrett, received the Global Inclusivity Award from Gurus magazine in Los Angeles.
The nightmare of the Bishop of Hereford in New Zealand
Nightmare for the Bishop of Hereford, Richard Jackson, who is Queen Camilla’s favorite clergyman and must be a possible successor to the Archbishop of Canterbury.
As noted here recently, Jackson will be taking a three-month sabbatical in New Zealand in January and therefore may be out of the country when a new archbishop is elected. Have you already bought your plane tickets?
If so, can they be canceled without it seeming too obvious? Let’s pray for the poor guy.
The liquidated firm of Paul O’Grady
Paul O’Grady’s private company, Buster Productions, which he used to channel his profits, has been placed into liquidation, with the presenter’s estate receiving £8.5 million for its closure.
O’Grady, who died last year aged 67, left £15.5m in his will. The pot is expected to be split between her widower Andre Portasio, her daughter Sharon and her sister Sheila.
