His grandfather, Sir Winston Churchill, helped shape the nation’s destiny like few others have done, while Sir Nicholas (now Lord) Soames served as Minister of State for the Armed Forces.
But it seems unlikely that the Conservative peer will be able to enjoy the latest chapter in the history of the Ogilby Trust, a military charity of which he is the most eminent figure.
Six months after I revealed that the Trust was reeling from missing funds totaling hundreds of thousands of pounds, I can reveal that it is now the subject of a police investigation.
Soames, as vice-chairman, is the leading figure in the Ogilby Trust. He was appointed in difficult circumstances, following the departure of Prince Andrew, the Trust’s former patron, who resigned from his position (along with similar roles he held at many other charities) following his “car accident” interview with Emily. Maitlis.
Lord Nicholas Soames (pictured) at the launch party for The Chief book about the story of Daily Mail founder Lord Northcliffe.
Soames, 76, who was granted a peerage when he retired as an MP in 2019, does not answer my phone call, while Wiltshire Police, who have been entrusted with the investigation into the missing funds, He says he cannot comment and explains his investigation is “ongoing.”
The Trust’s new head of governance and communications, Rosie Harvey, appointed in December, echoes that sentiment and says the Trust cannot issue a statement until the investigation has concluded.
However, I understand that a member of staff has been interviewed “under caution” by officers who have unraveled apparent discrepancies suggesting that up to £400,000 of the charity’s money has been lost.
Prince Andrew (pictured) was a long-standing patron of the Army Museums Ogilby Trust.
The Army Museums Ogilby Trust logo, which is now the subject of a police investigation
The Charity Commission has been alerted to the developing crisis. “In accordance with our guidelines, the trustees of Army Museums Ogilby Trust reported to the Commission a serious incident relating to concerns about the charity’s financial management and possible misappropriation of funds,” says the Commission’s Polly Kettenacker.
The Trust has also updated its website, which, as I noted above, used to list Lord Richards, former Chief of the Defense Staff, as one of its vice-sponsors (a statement now deleted).
Lord Soames will surely hope that the Trust, founded by Colonel Robert Ogilby, awarded the DSO for his “bravery”, will soon be able to focus once again on its aims of “educating the public” and “inspiring members of the military”.
Now Nell promises a revealing memoir
Rebel Wilson’s recent revelation in her memoir that she was allegedly disrespected by Sacha Baron Cohen on the set of her 2016 film Grimsby appears to have inspired others to share their claims of mistreatment in the film industry.
Victoria star Nell Hudson is writing Character and says the book will focus on “the good and the bad of acting”. She told me at a book launch in London: ‘I’ve worked with a couple of actors who I won’t name, but who were difficult to work with.
Victoria star Nell Hudson is writing Character and says the book will focus on “the good and the bad of acting”.
And it took me a long time to say anything. Hudson, 33, whose novelist mother Cressida Connolly was the first wife of the late writer AA Gill, played the Queen’s close friend Nancy Skerrett in ITV’s Victoria.
Miss Moneypenny apologizes to Tracy-Ann for post about Israel
Like Miss Moneypenny in the 007 films, Samantha Bond was included in covert discussions, however in real life she has been less discreet.
I hear that Bond, 62, has been accused of anti-Semitism after challenging Jewish actress Tracy-Ann Oberman over Israel’s murder of seven aid workers.
In a now-deleted response to Oberman’s promotional tweet on X for his new West End show – Merchant Of Venice 1936 – Bond wrote: ‘What is your response to Israel’s actions? A mistake? Seven people dead! Trying to feed the hungry?
Samantha Bond (pictured), who played Miss Moneypenny in the 007 films, has apologized to Tracy-Ann Oberman for a post about Israel’s killing of seven aid workers.
Oberman, whose production at London’s Criterion Theater has tightened security amid death threats against him, replied: “I’m not a spokesperson for the Israeli government. Why on earth would you send me this tweet?” As a Jew, does he hold me and my “kind” collectively responsible?
The EastEnders star, 57, reported Bond’s tweet to the Campaign Against Antisemitism, who told me: “It was a good first step to see Samantha Bond remove her X post demanding that a British Jewish actress, advertising her role as Shylock in The Merchant Of Venice, no less: explain Israel’s actions.
Tracy-Ann Oberman, whose production at London’s Criterion Theater has tightened security amid death threats against her, replied: “I am not a spokesperson for the Israeli government.”
“Is Ms. Bond aware that, according to the International Definition of Antisemitism, holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the State of Israel is a manifestation of antisemitism?”
Last night, Bond apologized to Oberman for his previous message, saying: “My sincere apologies for any offense last night’s tweet caused.”
Prince lived ‘in a bubble’, says Newsnight’s Sam
Newsnight producer Sam McAlister, who orchestrated the famous interview between Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew at Buckingham Palace, has been recalling the immediate aftermath.
“A squire offered me a martini,” says McAlister, whose account of the adventure has inspired the new Netflix drama, Scoop. “I declined,” he adds. McAlister asked the squire how he felt he had fared. ‘Marvelous. Wasn’t it wonderful? came the answer.
Andrew obviously agreed. He seemed “delighted, pleased as punch,” says McAlister, who concluded that he was living “in a bubble (without) understanding what an absolute car accident that interview had been.”
Will Sam Taylor-Johnson’s long-awaited biopic Back To Black, based on tragic singer Amy Winehouse, leave audiences emotional?
Sam Taylor-Johnson (pictured) on The Jonathan Ross Show on March 27, 2024
Marisa Abela as Amy Winehouse in the new movie: Back to Black (2024)
In fact, she thinks so when she tells me at the Corinthia Hotel in London: “I recently saw it at a cast and crew screening and it moved me to tears.” She adds: “Amy was not just a British icon, but also an icon for women.”
Let’s see what the critics have to say.
Revealed: Billy Piper’s 25-year musical debt
Billie Piper found stardom when she released her debut single Because We Want To at the tender age of 15, but more than 25 years later she’s still paying the price for musical fame.
Billie Piper (pictured) found stardom when she released her debut single Because We Want To at the tender age of 15.
“I’m still in debt to Virgin,” reveals the Diary Of A Call Girl star, who signed to Innocent Records, a subsidiary of Virgin Records, in 1998. While Billie, 41, has not revealed the amount she owes and is estimated to be worth £9 million, remains reluctant to return to making music. ‘If I ever release an album, which I won’t, I’d probably have to pay off that debt. It’s like college debt,” she says.
The mother-of-two, pictured this week in New York in a black tuxedo, quit music in 2003, saying: “You do all those big promotional tours which I absolutely hated.” She hated to leave.