The imminent birth of the Duchess of Sussex’s first baby seems to have made her sister-in-law broody. I hear the Duchess of Cambridge is keen to have a fourth child.
‘Catherine would like another baby,’ a friend tells me. ‘She loves children and is prepared to put herself through another pregnancy even though they have been complicated by severe morning sickness in the past.’
It had been widely thought that she wanted to have three children, the same as her mother, Carole Middleton, so a fourth birth would surprise some royal watchers.
‘Catherine would like another baby,’ a friend tells me. ‘She loves children and is prepared to put herself through another pregnancy even though they have been complicated by severe morning sickness in the past’
But Kate, 37, is five months younger than Meghan and there is plenty of time to add another sibling.
The Duchess would, of course, be following the example of the Queen, who gave birth to her fourth child, Prince Edward, when she was 37.
Kate gave a hint of possible intentions when with Prince William in Northern Ireland in February. As she met an adorable five-month-old baby, James Barr, she told his father, Alan: ‘He’s gorgeous. It makes me feel broody.’
The birth of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s first baby appears to be imminent, with some royal fans having already taken to the streets of Windsor where it is believed Meghan will remain to have the baby
It’s not clear if William shares his wife’s desire for another baby but friends say he is just as keen on children as Kate. She has been concentrating much effort in her official duties on causes to help support children in their earliest years of life.
Last month, the family celebrated the first birthday of Prince Louis with an official photograph taken by Kate of her son playing in the garden of their Norfolk retreat, Anmer Hall.
Louis was wearing a cosy red jumper handed down by five-year-old Prince George. How long before Louis hands it down again?
A big hand for Anthony Quinn’s sculptor son…
Anthony Quinn’s dance in Zorba the Greek is still copied today, but the late Hollywood’s star’s artist son Lorenzo concentrates on hands not feet.
For next week’s Venice Biennale, he has designed a spectacular sculpture, Building Bridges, composed of six pairs of arms, 50ft high and 66ft wide, clasping hands over the Arsenale canal basin.
Lorenzo (pictured with his father) says he wants to ‘spread a message of world unity and peace so that more of us build bridges rather than walls and barriers.’ Are you listening, Mr Trump?
Actor Anthony Quinn, who is famed for his dance in Zorba the Greek, with his son Lorenzo Quinn, who is a sculptor
Sculpture Building Bridges is composed of six pairs of arms, 50ft high and 66ft wide, clasping hands over the Arsenale canal basin
The smart set’s talking about… Marquess of Granby’s model girlfriend Ella
With their naked selfies, on-screen rows and tangled love lives, U.S. reality TV stars the Kardashians might seem to have little in common with the aristocratic Manners family who live at magnificent Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire.
I hear there is, however, an intriguing connection to the Duke of Rutland’s clan.
The Duke’s amiable son and heir Charles, the Marquess of Granby, 19, is enjoying a passionate romance with Ella Ross, 23, (left) a model who used to go out with Scott Disick, a regular on Keeping Up With The Kardashians.
Duke of Rutland heir Charles, the Marquess of Granby, 19, is enjoying a passionate romance with model Ella Ross, 23
‘Charles is serious about the relationship,’ one of his friends tells me. ‘Ella’s a lovely girl, but I’m not sure he’s ready to make her the Marchioness just yet.’
Ambitious Ella, 23, is the daughter of Shelley Ross, a former lapdancer. She wants to parade on the catwalk for Victoria’s Secret lingerie, explaining: ‘That’s every model’s dream, isn’t it?’
Ella might have stepped out with a Kardashians’ star, but can she keep up with her boyfriend’s high-spirited sisters, Lady Violet, Lady Alice and Lady Eliza Manners?
Toff secret! I’m A Celeb star’s new TV shows with Stanley
Stanley Johnson is taking his relationship with fellow I’m A Celebrity contestant Georgia Toffolo to the next level.
Former Made In Chelsea star ‘Toff’ reveals she’s teaming up with Boris Johnson’s 78-year-old father to present two new television shows.
‘I love working with Stanley because it’s a real friendship, and the best television is made when it’s real,’ she tells me at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House 90th anniversary party. ‘We love each other.’
Stanley Johnson, father of Boris Johnson, and Georgia Toffolo, reality TV star, arrive for a Conservative party Black and White Ball at Natural History Museum
The 2017 I’m A Celeb winner is going out with Nigel Farage’s former aide George Cottrell, while Stanley is married to his second wife, Jennifer Kidd.
Georgia, 24, refuses to give details about the new programmes, which will be announced later this month.
‘I’m bursting to tell everyone, but I can’t yet because I’ll get into trouble. They’re not political, but they will be really fun.’
Why McEvoy loves being a Viking toyboy
Perfumier Azzi Glasser is now going out with Vikings star Jack McEvoy, 25 years her junior
Perfumier Azzi Glasser has the smell of success, with clients for her personalised scents including Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.
Now, the fragrant 49-year-old is enjoying a romance with a toyboy young enough to be her son.
Azzi — who is separated from her husband, the photographer Dan Glasser — is going out with Vikings star Jack McEvoy, 25 years her junior.
‘We’ve been dating for two months,’ the Irish actor tells me at Jo Wood’s Alien Nation podcast launch at The Groucho Club.
‘She’s a very positive influence. Age has never been a thing for me — it’s just about attitude. She’s also more mature than younger women — it’s all about life experience.’
Royals were once immortalised in oils. Nowadays, they take a less formal approach.
Yesterday, Princess Eugenie shared a smiling selfie online with her husband, Jack Brooksbank, to mark his 33rd.
‘Happy Birthday to you, my one and only Jack,’ the Queen’s 29-year-old granddaughter gushed. ‘You are one of a kind and totally extraordinary.’
Eugenie married tequila salesman Jack at St George’s Chapel Windsor, last October.
Later this month, the Queen will return to the chapel for the wedding of Prince Michael of Kent’s daughter, Lady Gabriella Windsor.
Granddaughter of the Queen Princess Eugenie shared a smiling selfie online with her husband, Jack Brooksbank, to mark his 33rd birthday
Outspoken Italian firecracker Nancy Dell’Olio
Outspoken Italian firecracker Nancy Dell’Olio, former inamorata of ex-England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and theatre director Sir Trevor Nunn, is to undergo an unlikely transformation — and become a diplomat.
I hear that she is to be the ‘global face’ for Italy’s Puglia region in the south of the country.
‘Nancy loves Puglia and, indeed, has just spent two months there after the death of her father, who lived in the area,’ one of her friends tells me.
‘The regional government wants to take advantage of Nancy’s skills and use her as an ambassador.’ Mamma mia!
Courtiers were surprised when the Duchess of Sussex’s right-hand woman, Amy Pickerill, became the latest member of her staff to quit earlier this year.
So they were pleased that Prince Harry pitched up for Amy’s leaving bash. Sadly, Meghan did not make the do, held at Kensington Palace two weeks ago.
‘It’s a shame she wasn’t there,’ a royal source says.
‘But Amy understood it was difficult with the Duchess being in the final stages of her pregnancy.’
It’s Strictly stressful in Claudia Winkleman’s household.
‘My son is doing his GCSEs and I can barely breathe,’ the presenter tells me at a party at The Beaumont hotel Mayfair to celebrate 20 years of Dylan Jones at the helm of GQ Magazine.
‘I’m completely obsessed with his exams. I’ve laminated the timetable with my own machine. It’s all I can think about.’
Tycoon rides to the rescue of Princess Anne’s horse trials
It would be understandable if Princess Anne and her daughter Zara Tindall — both equestrian Olympians — feel more than a little heartbreak when the final Gatcombe Horse Trials concludes at Anne’s 700-acre Gloucestershire estate this September.
But I can disclose the event has been rescued by insurance tycoon David Howden, 55, head of the Hyperion group.
He recently took a ten-year lease on Cornbury Park, Lord Rotherwick’s Oxfordshire family seat which is already home to the Wilderness Festival, known as ‘Poshstock’ — a favourite of David Cameron for chillaxing.
‘Next year the trials will be held at Cornbury,’ I’m told.
‘One of David Howden’s companies will be helping sponsor it.’
Dame Tessa’s husband sells family home
As the first anniversary of Dame Tessa Jowell’s death approaches next weekend, the much-missed politician’s husband, David Mills, is selling their beloved Cotswolds retreat.
He is due to exchange contracts on the sale of the five-bedroom farmhouse near Shipston-On-Stour, Warwickshire, where she died aged 70 after being diagnosed with brain cancer.
The couple’s two children are said to have found the house too painful to visit.
Lawyer Mills, 74, who put the house on the market for £895,000 in February, declines to discuss the sale.
Dame Tessa played a major role in securing the 2012 Olympics for London when she served as Culture Secretary.
The former Labour minister separated from Mills in 2006 after 27 years of marriage, but the pair reunited six years later.
Their financier son Matthew is married to food writer ‘Deliciously Ella’, who’s expecting their first child in August.
(Very) modern manners
When is it socially acceptable to plead poverty? The Tory leadership contender Dominic Raab has publicly complained that he’s ‘feeling the pinch’, even though he’s paid £79,468 per year — plus very generous expenses.
The Esher and Walton MP, who lives in Surrey with his wife and two children, wails to his local newspaper: ‘This is a lovely area in which to bring up a family … but it can be an expensive place to settle and, like everyone, I feel the pinch these days.’
Raab resigned as Brexit Secretary last year, losing his £33,630 extra pay.
But if the karate black belt does manage to fight his way into 10 Downing Street, he can look forward to a £70,000 pay rise.