Family and friends mourned the “cruel” loss of billionaire philanthropist Hans Rausing's second wife, Julia, at a “very moving” memorial service at St James's in Piccadilly.
Art expert Julia died in April at the age of 63 after a long battle with cancer. The first wife of Tetra Pak heir Hans, Eva, died of drug abuse in 2012.
“Life is very cruel,” Julia's friend Daphne Guinness tells me. “In Hans she found a loving and kind husband, in a triumphant and romantic marriage.”
Mourners also included the Queen's first husband, Andrew Parker Bowle, and Trinny Woodall.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were represented by Catherine's former private secretary, Rebecca Priestley.
Daphne Guinness imagined herself attending a service for her friend Julia Rausing. “Life is very cruel,” she said
Other mourners for billionaire philanthropist Hans Rausing included the Queen's first husband, Andrew Parker Bowles
TV star Trinny Woodall attending a service at St James's in Piccadilly
The king gives a home to a loyal servant who was the “voice” of the Queen Mother
As soon as Prince Charles ascended the throne, Queen Elizabeth's personal assistant Angela Kelly, who had been promised a forever home, left her gracious cottage at Windsor Home Park.
Mrs Kelly, who was nicknamed “AK-47” because of her temperament, moved to a house 260 miles away in the Peak District that the king had bought for her. Now I hear that the King and Queen Camilla have found a home in Windsor for one of their favorite servants, Leslie Chappell.
“Leslie found grace and favor at home in Windsor,” one of his friends tells me. “It's a very generous gesture.”
Chappell worked as the Queen Mother's Page and is said to have helped Charles maintain a close relationship with his grandmother by acting as her “voice” when she was too weak to talk on the phone. He tells her what Charles says and she whispers her answers for Chappell to pass on.
After the Queen Mother's death, Chappell became Head of House at Clarence House, the London residence of Charles and Camilla.
The King and Queen Camilla found a home in Windsor for one of their favorite servants, Leslie Chappell (right)
Charles' million-pound Warhol is not sold at auction
Don't tell King Charles, but his Andy Warhol portrait didn't sell when it went under the hammer on Thursday.
The screen-printed work is estimated to have cost at least £1 million. At the same auction at the Phillips auction house. A portrait of Princess Diana by a pop artist has sold for £1.3 million.
Earlier this year, another of Warhol's Dianas sold for more than £2 million. The photos were based on the couple's engagement photo taken by Lord Snowdon.
Warhol's work was created on the occasion of their wedding in 1982. A spokesman for Phillips told me: “The portrait of Charles attracted great interest upon sale and was quickly sold to a private buyer.” They do not want to disclose the sale price.
Andy Warhol's portrait of King Charles failed to sell at auction on Thursday
Monika supports Sheryl's ex
Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole married Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini after a whirlwind courtship lasting just three months, only to split 18 months later.
Now I hear that a French businessman known as “JB” has fallen in love with an employee of one of his companies. JB (43) introduced Monika Abrasheva (24) as his “girlfriend” at the Frieze party in London's Mayfair this week. The Bulgarian is a project manager at Eleven Eleven, JB's energy supplement startup.
She certainly gave him strength.
Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, 43, ex-husband of Sheryl Cole with Monika Abrasheva – a 24-year-old employee of one of his companies
Ellie's old flame reaches its peak
When Ellie Goulding's four-year marriage to Eton-educated art dealer Caspar Jopling fell apart, the 37-year-old pop singer found solace in the arms of her Costa Rican surfing instructor.
Meanwhile, her estranged husband is pursuing extreme fitness challenges. The nephew of gallery owner Jay Jopling shared a photo of him taking part in the Ironman challenge in Barcelona.
Triathlon involves swimming 3.9 km, cycling 180 km and running a marathon. “Nine hours have passed since my finishing time – 11 hours and 20 minutes,” he says of the photo, calling himself “unfortunately ill-prepared.” The former Team GB rower (32) adds: “But who doesn't like to push their limits sometimes.
“First Ironman, last Ironman (probably).”
Ellie Goulding with her ex-husband, Eton graduate Caspar Jopling
Jopling is now into extreme fitness challenges. He was seen competing in the Ironman competition in Barcelona
Pool news that will catch Harry and Meghan's eye
They live comfortably in Montecito, California, in their £19.5 million mansion with a wine cellar, cinema, gym, spa, swimming pool, tennis court, wood-burning stove, barbecue and 13 (and a half) bathrooms.
But here's the news that might convince Prince Harry and Meghan to spend the weekend on this side of the pond – at Soho Farmhouse, the Oxfordshire holiday resort where they stayed twice in the heady days of 2017 and where Meghan hosted her hen party the following year .
He is applying for permission to install a “small pool” for “small children and people under 16 years of age” after sensing that his mature clients seeking relief from the stress of big cities don't necessarily want to be bombarded with water or heard hysterical screaming. they try to relax by the pool.
The proposed tiny swimming pool is an “obvious solution to the conflict”, Farmhouse says in its application to the local authority. It's the perfect place to park Archie and Lilibet when Megs and Harry drop by.
(Very) modern manners
In his disastrous Newsnight interview, Prince Andrew denied that he first met Virginia Roberts at his favorite London nightclub, Tramp, claiming that on the day she claimed they met, he was at the Pizza Express restaurant in Woking .
Now a revamped private members' club at St James's has found a solution to avoid any possible confusion over who enters. He installed a biometric facial recognition scanner.
The members face the camera and a green tick appears on the attached screen, opening the Tramp's front door. No sweat!
A cartoon of Prince Andrew at his favorite London nightclub, Tramp
Beatles Bank
The Beatles still earn more than most bands today.
Apple Corps group accounts show the £4.7m earnings of Sir Paul McCartney, 82, and Sir Ringo Starr, 84, and the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison.
The remuneration included £500,000 in dividends and £4.2 million for “promotional services and image rights”.
The company's turnover to January was a staggering £28.7m, resulting in a pre-tax profit of £6.6m.
The Beatles still earn more than most bands today. From left to right: Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon
Spiritual song by Meghan's guru
Everything is gone. Pete Tong for Meghan's spiritual “guru” Deepak Chopra, as the DJ revealed to me that they are planning a music project.
Pete, whose wife is Ayurvedic practitioner Carolina Tong, tells me: “We met Deepak a year ago and he wants to do a music collaboration, which I've talked to him about and we'll start working on it soon. '
Speaking at the Jugad restaurant in Camden, north London, the DJ adds: “It will be about how sound heals and the power of sound.”
