When Charlie Gilmour, the adopted son of legendary Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, was jailed for his role in the student riots of 2010, he blamed it on his rejection by his natural father.
In a tragic postscript to the story, I can reveal that his biological father, Heathcote Williams, has, in a final act of paternal repudiation, omitted all mention of Charlie from his will.
Drafted on April 27, 2016, and revoking all earlier wills, the Old Etonian poet and enthusiastic environmentalist, who died last summer aged 75, left his entire estate of £239,547 to his daughters China and Lily Williams.
Gilmour shocked the nation when he was photographed swinging from the Cenotaph by a Union Flag in 2010.
The Cambridge University student also leapt onto the bonnet of a Jaguar in a convoy taking the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to the theatre, and was one of a mob that smashed the windows of a Topshop store.
When Charlie Gilmour (pictured centre with parents David and Polly), the adopted son of legendary Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, was jailed for his role in the student riots of 2010, he blamed it on his rejection by his natural father
Pleading guilty to violent disorder, the then 21-year-old explained his mind had been scrambled by bingeing on drink and drugs after being spurned by his father, who played almost no part in his life.
In 2010, Charlie, hearing that Williams was apparently seriously ill, tracked him down to a house in Oxford where they enjoyed what he believed was a happy reunion.
But, months later, Williams told him he was cutting him out of his life.
The judge was unmoved, sending Gilmour to jail. He served four months of a 16-month sentence.
The maverick Williams had a relationship with Sixties model Jean Shrimpton, accidentally setting himself on fire when demonstrating fire-eating at her front door.
Later, he moved in with Diana Senior, an Oxford historian, by whom he had China and Lily, before becoming enamoured of novelist Polly Samson, by whom he fathered Charlie.
In a tragic postscript to the story, I can reveal that his biological father, Heathcote Williams (pictured), has, in a final act of paternal repudiation, omitted all mention of Charlie from his will, writes Sebastian Shakespeare
While with Polly, Williams arrived for a weekend at Port Eliot, the Cornwall estate owned by Peregrine Eliot, 10th Earl of St Germans, only to stay for eight years.
Polly returned to London long beforehand, explaining to Eliot that Williams had had a breakdown. Not long afterwards, she met David Gilmour, who married her and adopted Charlie as a child.
In an interview 18 months ago, Charlie, 28, recalled his ambivalent feelings about his father.
‘The one thing that I did feel very strongly was the hypocrisy of someone wanting to save the otters but not really being able to care for his own child.
Hotelier’s son proves fancy dress is his forte
Sober-suited Sir Rocco Forte runs a £340 million hotel chain, but his man-about-town son, Charles, prefers to dress with a little more frivolity.
The 26-year-old, who works in development at dad’s company, attended a drag party on Valentine’s Day at Mayfair private members club, LouLou’s.
His pink lips and matching eye make-up — mimicking the shape of a butterfly — might look out of place in the boardroom.
Model Idina Moncreiffe, 26, who posted this photo online, sported a black curly wig and moustache, while Charles was also joined by his girlfriend, Italian shoe designer Viola Arrivabene, who wore a bubblegum pink wig and sparkly dress.
She is the daughter of Countess Bianca, deputy chairman for Christie’s in Italy.
Sober-suited Sir Rocco Forte runs a £340 million hotel chain, but his man-about-town son, Charles, prefers to dress with a little more frivolity, writes Sebastian Shakespeare
The 12th Duke of Beaufort, also known as Harry ‘Bunter’ Worcester and self-styled ‘rock god’, announced in December he was to wed his long-term mistress Georgia Powell after his divorce from his pig welfare campaigning wife of 30 years, Tracy Worcester.
Now I can disclose that the couple will marry on June 2 this year with the nuptials taking place at Bunter’s sprawling 52,000-acre family estate, Badminton.
‘It’s only a small family affair with 30 people,’ the Duke, 65, tells me, though he hasn’t got round to choosing a best man. ‘I haven’t thought about it yet,’ he admits.
Georgia, 48, will become Duchess of Beaufort and chatelaine of the estate. Tracy will still be able to use the title Duchess of Beaufort.
The 12th Duke of Beaufort, also known as Harry ‘Bunter’ Worcester (pictured left on his last wedding day) and self-styled ‘rock god’, announced in December he was to wed his long-term mistress Georgia Powell after his divorce from his pig welfare campaigning wife of 30 years, Tracy Worcester (right)
Marco’s secret vegan past
He Is the original bad-boy chef who once made Gordon Ramsay cry.
Now Marco Pierre White, who launched a range of eponymous steak houses, confesses he used to be a vegan.
Marco, having amassed three coveted Michelin stars by the age of 33, says: ‘I was a vegan for nine months. I lost five stone in weight.
‘I was just curious to see what it was like. If I was a vegan now, I’d go and live in Sri Lanka or India. Delicious food there.’
These days Marco, 56, also turns in early. ‘I couldn’t imagine anything worse than holding a dinner party. I just want to go to bed.
‘I get up really early — I’m often up by 4am. When I used to cook, I’d work late but now I’m sometimes in bed by 9pm. It’s nice. It’s very solitary. I stay at home and never leave.’
Marco Pierre White (pictured on Good Morning Britain), who launched a range of eponymous steak houses, has confessed he used to be a vegan