3 days ago
EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: What made Jane Seymour perfect for her ‘virginal' James Bond role? And what did King Charles ask royal finance chief to investigate about Andrew?
Keeper of the Privy Purse Sir Michael Stevens has handed over the royal abacus after seven years and one final task requested by the King: delving into the murky world of Prince Andrew's finances. He had offered his resignation after the death of the Queen but Charles asked him to investigate reports that his brother had looming financial difficulties and might do something unwise to make ends meet. It was a bruising encounter. Royals, especially Andrew, don't take kindly to flunkeys rooting about in their private affairs. Sir Michael's last task was to assure the King that Andrew was in surprisingly rude financial health. A grateful Charles this week presented Sir Michael with a silver-gilt-framed signed photograph, cufflinks and the GCVO in thanks for services rendered.
Is the protracted delay in William and Kate issuing their own royal warrants the result of a long-standing disagreement between King and heir? Charles maintains the time-honoured system of allowing businesses who supply anything from horse bedding to fine jewellery to put the royal arms on their products. But William has been agitating for reform. Apparently, he would prefer to encourage new businesses and initiatives with royal patronage, helping them to grow, rather than issue warrants to established firms. Finding a compromise has evidently been tricky.
Reflecting on landing her breakthrough role over 50 years ago as Bond girl Solitaire in Live and Let Die, Jane Seymour cheekily points out: 'They were looking for someone to play a virginal high priestess... there weren't very many virgins left in London in the 1970s. I was so well brought up, I almost counted!'
Promoting memoir What Do Boys Want?, Margaret Thatcher devotee Sir John Redwood is haunted by ongoing conflicts with mother Amy over his teddy bear. 'This mother wanted to dress this little bear up as a doll,' 'Vulcan' John complains on GB News. 'I had a natural aversion to dolls... I just didn't want to play with a doll.' Perhaps if mater Amy had called the teddy The Iron Lady, little Johnny and the doll would have been friends for life.
About to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Live Aid, Rick 'Status Quo' Parfitt's ex-wife Patty recalls flying from Wembley when she heard the unmistakable noise of lovemaking from the rear seats of the helicopter. 'We pulled the curtain back and there was David Bowie with a mystery girl. I remember he gave us this look and we quickly closed the curtain.' Space Oddity anyone?
Recalling his 2017 encounter with Donald Trump, Michael Gove tells Tatler that he was fascinated by his curious colour. 'His skin is an orange that's not like fake tan. It's as though there is a chemical compound unique to him that's been applied to his skin. He has an ability to endure, to never die.' Maybe the magic formula is formaldehyde, Mikey.
