At last, some sporting joy for the Queen, who’s been self-isolating at Windsor Castle with Prince Philip since the beginning of lockdown.
The Cartier Queen’s Cup — the Champions League of the polo world — appeared to have fallen victim to the virus.
But I can disclose that the organisers’ determination to save the tournament, which is played at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park, has paid off.
The Cartier Queen’s Cup — the Champions League of the polo world — appeared to have fallen victim to the virus, but has now been rescheduled for the end of July. Pictured: Her Majesty with Laurent Feniou at the 2019 competition
Traditionally held in June, the first chukka has now been rescheduled for the end of July. ‘We’re all determined to go ahead,’ says my man with the polo stick.
It’s a delightful prospect for the Queen, who by then would normally have long since decamped to Balmoral.
She presented the Queen’s Cup — as it then was — in its inaugural year, 1960. Prince Philip twice reached subsequent finals, while Prince Charles went one better, winning the cup in 1986.
What odds on there being a regal — if socially distanced — spectator at its 60th anniversary?
Cate Blanchett’s terrible hair day in Streetcar…
Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett suffers for her art.
The 51-year-old, who is in lockdown at her mansion in East Sussex, reveals she suffered from sudden hair loss while playing tragic Blanche DuBois on stage in A Streetcar Named Desire.
‘My hair fell out,’ she says. ‘We were meant to go to Broadway with it [but] I just had to go home. I think it was the stress.’
Despite her success, the actress lacks confidence.
‘When someone tells me: “I’ve seen you in such and such,” the first thing that comes out of my mouth is: “I’m so sorry.”’
Bang goes his chance of a knighthood! Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe mocks the Royal Family in a forthcoming television comedy in which he plays the fictional ‘Prince Frederick Windsor’.
Produced by subscription giant Netflix, the show, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, features Radcliffe as ‘an emotionally stunted royal who is 12th in line to the throne’.
He says: ‘I don’t dislike any of the royals. I don’t have any antipathy towards them or feel strongly personally about any of them.’ Let’s hope that’s the same for the Windsors.
Sean Penn’s girlfriend is a dab hand with reptiles
So this is how she’s managed to tame former Hollywood hellraiser Sean Penn!
Leila George, the actress daughter of film star Greta Scacchi, has shared this photograph (right) of her looking remarkably comfortable while holding a snake.
Leila, 28, has been courting Penn, 59, since 2016, following his split from actress Charlize Theron. He has a 29-year-old daughter and a 26-year-old son with his ex-wife, House Of Cards star Robin Wright.
Leila gushes: ‘I think animals are way cooler than humans.’
Guinness is good for you, particularly during lockdown. Well, that’s the view of private equity whizz Camilla Warner, who’s accepted a proposal from brewing heir Matthew Guinness.
‘Milla is extremely nice and we are all very pleased,’ says Matthew’s father, Erskine. He continues: ‘The wedding will be in Gloucestershire, but no date has been fixed.’
It’s good to report some happy news about the family, who have suffered from the so-called ‘Curse of the Guinnesses’. At the 18th birthday party for Matthew’s brother Hector, the husband of Catherine Guinness — Robert Hesketh — was found dead of a drug overdose. And Catherine’s half-sister, Olivia Channon, died from a drug overdose in 1986.