Eschewing the life of carefree relaxation which was hers for the asking, she’s demonstrated that she’s a businesswoman with a gimlet eye for detail – hence her insistence that her cheddars are wrapped in organic muslin and her fruit and vegetables should be ‘not so much displayed as curated’.

And now Carole Bamford, founder of Daylesford Organic and wife of JCB diggers billionaire Lord Bamford, has demonstrated that she doesn’t mince her words either – as was evident when the Duchess of Sussex launched her brand As Ever yesterday.

‘I think she’s crazy,’ says Carole, a friend of King Charles, with a devastating ‘off-with-her-head’ bluntness. ‘Why? Because she hasn’t got any history. Or authenticity.’

Lest anyone conclude her assessment is just sour grapes from an older, if still glamorous woman, Cotswolds ‘queen’ Carole, who turns 79 this month, explains: ‘Before you launch anything, you have to do the hard work and get everything in place.’

Her sentiment underscores claims by Netflix staff who helped Meghan with As Ever’s debut, one of whom alleged there had been ‘so much drama’ that ‘the team [were] over it before it even launched’. Detailing what exactly she means by hard work, Carole, pictured, who dislikes being known as Lady Bamford, recalls that Daylesford Organic emerged very, very gradually, and only after creating conditions in which organic food could be either harvested or reared on the family’s 1,700-acre Gloucestershire estate.

‘It was the farm animals and soil. For the first 20 years, we didn’t make or sell any of our own products,’ explains Carole, in an interview with an Australian publication.

Daylesford Organic isn’t noted for modest prices, but its raspberry jam – one of its 36 organic jams and honeys, ‘made in small batches using traditional methods’ – is £5.25 for an 8oz jar. Meanwhile, As Ever’s factory-made ‘raspberry spread’ is $9 or £6.94 for a 7.6oz jar.

Perhaps Meghan, who has nine products in her entire ‘collection’, should invest in some B Silent Night-Time Pillow Mist – a blend of ‘spiritual frankincense with calming lavender and marjoram’ which prepares ‘the body and mind for a deep peaceful sleep’, £24 for 50ml. From Bamford.com, Carole’s wellness and lifestyle brand…

¿I think she¿s crazy,¿ says Carole Bamford, a friend of King Charles, with a devastating ¿off-with-her-head¿ bluntness. ¿Why? Because she hasn¿t got any history. Or authenticity¿

‘I think she’s crazy,’ says Carole Bamford, a friend of King Charles, with a devastating ‘off-with-her-head’ bluntness. ‘Why? Because she hasn’t got any history. Or authenticity’

Blink and you’ll miss Matt Lucas

Matt Lucas is proud of his role as the Colosseum’s ‘master of ceremonies’ in Sir Ridley Scott’s Gladiator sequel. But his Little Britain co-star David Walliams claims he was offered it first.

‘[You were] in a very minor role that I actually turned down,’ Walliams jeers on their new podcast, Making A Scene.

The children’s author returned to the subject at a joint appearance in London this week. ‘I loved you in Gladiator II – I watched it twice,’ he told Lucas at Advertising Week Europe. ‘Because the first time I blinked and missed you.’

It’s sun, sand and snoozing for Lila

Kate Moss’s daughter Lila has not spoken publicly about her relationship with boyfriend Yoni Helbitz.

But it seems the model isn’t shy of putting on a public display of affection for the fashion marketer. Lila, 22, whose father is magazine editor Jefferson Hack, was photographed relaxing on a beach in Brazil in a bikini and shorts while snoozing on top of Helbitz, 24.

The sweet holiday snap was shared online by Lila’s close childhood friend and fellow mannequin Stella Jones, who is also signed to the her mother’s company, the Kate Moss Agency.

Stella is the daughter of Mick Jones, co-founder and guitarist of The Clash, and film producer Miranda Davis.

Lila, 22, was photographed relaxing on a beach in Brazil in a bikini and shorts while snoozing on top of Helbitz, 24

Lila, 22, was photographed relaxing on a beach in Brazil in a bikini and shorts while snoozing on top of Helbitz, 24

‘Voldemort’ gets Viola role-ready

Oscar winner Viola Davis may regret accepting a part in Prime Video’s new thriller G20.

The actress, 59, pictured in front of a G20 helicopter in Trafalgar Square before the London premiere, had to undergo a gruelling training regime for the all-action role.

She tells me of personal trainer Gabriela Mclain: ‘I call her the Lord Voldemort of training – the one who should not be named. [She’s] the brutaliser.’

Davis says her self-belief helped in the combat sequences: ‘You tune out what the world tells you about yourself and you need to just go for it.’

Davis says her self-belief helped in the combat sequences: ¿You tune out what the world tells you about yourself and you need to just go for it'

Davis says her self-belief helped in the combat sequences: ‘You tune out what the world tells you about yourself and you need to just go for it

While her romance with Earl Spencer continues to make headlines, Professor Cat Jarman reveals their history podcast with pal Richard Coles has come to an end. She announces: ‘I have news that comes a little out of the blue: this has been our final episode of The Rabbit Hole Detectives.’ It comes as Princess Diana’s brother, is embroiled in divorce proceedings with third wife Karen. Cat is also suing her for allegedly revealing her secret multiple sclerosis diagnosis. 

Sir Elton John’s 14-year-old son Zachary is studying at one of the top public schools in England, but sending him away last year broke the pop star’s heart.

‘Our eldest son went to boarding school,’ says Sir Elton, who also has another son, Elijah, 12, with his husband David Furnish, 62.

‘We had lunch and I came home and burst into tears,’ the singer, 78, recalls. 

‘I said to David, “I’ve lost my boy. I’ve got a little man now”.’

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