Free-spirited members of London society are in mourning for the man who knew, and kept, their most intimate secrets, and safeguarded their health — Dr Tony Greenburgh.
His impish charm and uninhibited approach to medicine endeared him to half the aristocracy.
‘Tony had gone out to Thailand, where he’d had a fall, breaking his hip or pelvis,’ a chum tells me, explaining that, as a doctor, Greenburgh ‘slightly bent the rules — for his patients’ benefit’.
His patients were desperate to help. Indeed, one of them, Prince Ernst of Hanover, flew to Thailand. ‘Tony had heart problems during the operation to fix the break. His nephew managed to get him back to London in an air ambulance. He went to the Chelsea and Westminster [hospital] and was doing quite well, then took a turn for the worse.’
It was there that Greenburgh died, aged 91, prompting an outpouring of heartfelt messages from the likes of the Duke of Marlborough, Countess Lloyd-George of Dwyfor and baronet’s daughter Vicki Hodge. ‘Part of all our lives, dearest Doc. You will be so missed,’ says Hodge, who had a fling with Prince Andrew and a relationship with John Bindon, the gangster photographed sitting next to Princess Margaret wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words ‘Enjoy Cocaine’.
Dr Tony Greenburgh: His impish charm and uninhibited approach to medicine endeared him to half the aristocracy
All adored Greenburgh. ‘An extraordinary man; what a doctor,’ reflects one chum, who acknowledges that other medics were ‘outraged’ by Greenburgh’s zest for recreational pleasures.
‘He drank like a fish,’ recalls the pal, adding that Greenburgh, a lifelong bachelor, was also an ardent admirer of the female form. After bidding the doctor and a new companion goodnight, the friend rang the next morning to inquire how things had progressed. ‘He said: ‘Not bad — but she’s left her false teeth behind…’ ‘
Here’s a royal job description that does not make for light reading. The Royal Collection Trust, which is in charge of more than 220,000 books and millions of documents, is seeking a ‘senior conservator’, based at Windsor Castle. The ad for the up-to-£37,000-a-year role notes: ‘The collections offer a unique working environment.’ And Harry’s memoir is not among them…
Keyboardist Roy Young turned down the chance to join The Beatles in the early 1960s. Did he have any regrets? Mott The Hoople singer Ian Hunter, who played with Young at Hamburg’s famous Star-Club, recalls: ‘Brian Epstein rang Roy and said, ‘We’ve talked, and we would like you in the band.’ Roy turned it down because he had a Cadillac (a gift from club owner Horst Fascher).
‘I asked him later, ‘How does that feel?’ He said, ‘You know, I get up every morning, I go in the bathroom, I bang my head against the mirror once and everything is cool’.’
The Beatles later asked Young to play keyboards with Paul McCartney on Got To Get You Into My Life. That time, Young didn’t need asking twice.
Stylish: Cara Delevingne is seen at the film set of the American Horror Story
Friends: Delevingne and Emma Roberts are seen on the streets of New York
She’s one of the most familiar faces in society circles, but Cara Delevingne is almost unrecognisable on the set of television series American Horror Story.
The model and actress, 30, is pictured wearing a black outfit, as well as a dark wig and red, high-heeled boots which helped her tower over co-star Emma Roberts, 32 (above).
The 12th series of the popular horror drama, which was co-created by Gwyneth Paltrow’s husband, Brad Falchuk, will be screened on Disney+. Cara’s godmother, Dame Joan Collins, previously appeared in the show as two characters.
Cara, the daughter of property developer Charles Delevingne, once said her hugely successful modelling career made it difficult to act as she was always ‘trying to look hot’.
While some members of the Royal Family are preparing their outfits for King Charles’s Coronation, Lady Marina Windsor has been enjoying wearing Nigerian attire.
The Duke of Kent’s granddaughter, 30 (centre), donned a head wrap, called a gele, with a lilac, laced dress for a friend’s wedding in the West African country. She was joined by her fellow British bridesmaids, Marina Cochrane and Rose Crosthwaite, who work in the art world.
Lady Marina has been on the Buckingham Palace balcony at previous royal occasions but won’t be there for the Coronation because she’s not a working member of ‘The Firm’.
Wedding: The Duke of Kent’s granddaughter, 30 (centre), was joined by her fellow British bridesmaids, Marina Cochrane and Rose Crosthwaite
Kirsty Gallacher managed to complete the London Marathon even though she suffered a painful injury to her foot, the television presenter’s friend, Natalie Pinkham, has revealed. ‘She’ll tell me off for telling you, but she ran the last seven miles with a broken toe,’ says Sky Sports star Pinkham, 45. Kirsty, 47, clarifies: ‘Eight miles.’
Jamie Oliver has revealed that illegal drugs are top of the menu for workers at fine-dining restaurants.
‘Very male-driven kitchens, and I’m not saying this for any effect, are quite aggressive and often flooded with drugs,’ the TV star says. ‘It’s quite scary. I knew these kitchens and I have worked in them in London and abroad.’
Speaking on Ruthie’s Table 4 podcast, the Naked Chef adds that parity between the sexes is key to a happy kitchen. ‘The lovely 50/50 balance [of men and women] is the Holy Grail, but if you skew one way or the other you can get issues. If it’s 100 per cent men, all hell breaks loose.’
Lady Antonia Fraser wanted to hurl a missile at Isabelle Huppert when she saw the French actress’s portrayal of Mary Queen of Scots on stage.
The historian, who wrote a biography of Mary, explains: ‘Her English governor wrote several letters referring to her Scottish accent and that’s incontrovertible evidence.
‘I get very cross when anyone plays her with a sweet little French accent. I had to be restrained from picking up my shoe and throwing it at her.’
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