Amid ongoing public debate surrounding Earl Spencer’s recent biography of Princess Diana, several figures close to the royal family have voiced strong opinions in support of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Television presenter Kirstie Allsopp, a lifelong friend of Camilla and godmother to her brother Henry, criticized Charles Spencer’s attacks on the King, calling them hypocritical. Allsopp, daughter of the late Baron Hindlip who was also acquainted with Diana, pointed to Spencer’s personal history, including three divorces, while suggesting that the Earl’s prominence is largely tied to his former sister’s fame and fortune.
In other royal news, King Charles is seeking to continue a family tradition with his grandson Prince George, who recently began attending Eton College near Windsor Castle. The King intends to revive the practice of hosting afternoon tea for his eldest grandson at Windsor, a gesture reminiscent of those the late Queen Elizabeth II used to extend to Prince William during his own Eton years.
Turning to cultural commentary, actress Dame Helen Mirren has expressed renewed enthusiasm for artificial intelligence, describing it as “amazing” and “incredible,” a marked shift from her well-publicised protest at the 2024 American Cinematheque Awards when she rejected an AI-generated speech to draw attention to its growing influence in the entertainment industry.
Broadcaster Gyles Brandreth has announced that he has ended his vegetarian diet, explaining that he now eats fish and meat. Brandreth described the change as an effort to avoid seeming negative toward others, despite previous reports of his lingering fondness for bacon and Spam.
Meanwhile, actress Dame Joan Collins, who spent the summer at her home in St Tropez, voiced frustration with modern air travel. She recounted a recent experience where an airport employee’s brusque instructions to remove accessories and outerwear left her feeling disrespected.
On a more positive note, Jane Seymour, best known for her role as a Bond girl and recently engaged to American musician John Zambetti, shared that she has become a creative muse for Zambetti. She revealed that the artist has released four albums inspired by their relationship, highlighting the close artistic collaboration between them.
Finally, Nigella Lawson, who will soon appear as a new judge on the Great British Bake Off, admitted that her enthusiasm for tasting entries is difficult to contain. Despite advice from fellow judge Paul Hollywood to take smaller bites, Lawson insists on taking larger mouthfuls to fully appreciate the flavours.