Mail Online

Ephraim Hardcastle

Email: john.mcentee@dailymail.co.uk

NEW Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf’s elevation might leave King Charles unamused. The SNP is in coalition with the Scottish Greens, who oppose the monarchy. Co-leader Patrick Harvie called it ‘outdated’. He also refused to attend the proclamation of Charles as King in Edinburgh. Nicola Sturgeon kept the monarchy off the table when agreeing her deal with the Greens but Humza may be prepared to offer the King’s head in order to turbo-charge the alliance. He has floated the idea of holding a referendum on the monarchy’s future in an independent Scotland, but for now he’s keeping the peace… and says he will attend the Coronation.

PRINCESS Anne’s husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will be hoping that his brother-in-law Charles will use the opportunity of his Coronation to promote him. To mark his 65th birthday in 2020, the late Queen was expected to elevate him to full Admiral at the same time as Andrew received the honour for his 60th birthday. But when Andrew’s promotion was halted following his disgrace from sexual abuse allegations, HM, not wanting to rub salt into her son’s wounds, postponed Tim’s advancement. The King is expected to make amends.

PHOEBE WallerBridge, in conversation with author Elizabeth Day at the Southbank Centre, declined to answer questions, snapping: ‘I know what you are trying to do here. It is an aggressive question: “What makes you happy?” That should be, like, a private thing.’ An exasperated Day then appealed to the audience – to the avail of the concluding Q&A – to ask Phoebe, pictured, to answer some questions. ‘I won’t really [answer] though,’ she barked, ‘so don’t bother.’ And the subject of the evening? Day’s new book: Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict.

LIVING artworks Gilbert and George were once sounded out by the Crown Office for a knighthood. ‘I tried to explain that we are two people but one artist and that we have always created our art together,’ George says. ‘But the woman was obviously very irritated by that so she said, “Oh, well I will put you down as not interested then” and she slammed down the phone.’ At least Ant and Dec have OBEs.

ANTHONY Horowitz has vowed to never write a political thriller despite his son Cass working in Downing Street as Rishi Sunak’s director of communications. Admitting that Cass, creator of the Dishy Rishi brand, does not trust his dad with inside information, he tells Radio Times: ‘He knows I tend to blab or tweet, so he doesn’t share state secrets.’

HISTORIAN Patrick French, who has died aged 56, once rang the Earl of Sutherland in the middle of the night asking in a broad Glaswegian accent if he thought that the Strathnaver pie of West Sutherland was inferior to the mass-produced Fray Bentos product. His grace’s reply is unrecorded.

COMMENT

en-gb

2023-03-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-03-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://mailonline.pressreader.com/article/281848647857178

dmg media (UK)