AMANDA PLATELL: Kate taught Meghan the meaning of class this Christmas

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and that has never been truer than in the case of the Christmas cards sent by the Duchess of Sussex and the Princess of Wales.

Meghan and Harry’s official card from their company Archewell is a vanity representation of no fewer than six images.

Not only of her and the hapless Harry, with arms outstretched to their two children, but also of Meghan ‘doing a Diana’ as she cuddles a child with long pigtails, with only the Duchess’s blissful face shining through.

Another is of her and Harry from their universally derided, four-day ‘royal tour’ of Colombia, and then one from their quasi-royal trip to Nigeria.

On top of that is a photo of Harry holding the hand of a hospital bedridden woman, again with echoes of Diana.

What a contrast to the only image the Princess of Wales released for the Wales map, a snapshot from the moving video she shot with her family in Norfolk earlier this year when she revealed she had completed her chemotherapy and was “doing well.” went’. It’s about Kate and William and the children in their ‘safe place’, their getaway home in Norfolk.

Kate’s head is resting against Charlotte’s, her arm is stretched around George and her hand is tenderly on husband William’s knee as he cuddles little Louis. It’s a heartbreaking family scene that we can all relate to.

In many ways it shows the difference between the two sides of the family. As Harry and Meghan’s popularity in the US plummets – and Kate’s soars, even being nominated for Time Magazine’s Person of the Year – everything they do begins to take on an air of desperation and constraint.

In that one simple photo of our future queen surrounded by her young family, Kate taught Meghan an essential lesson: how to be stylish at Christmas.

Surprising news that Peter Mandelson will be the British Ambassador to the United States as I can honestly say he is the most odious and duplicitous person I have ever met in politics. And in 40 years I have met many snakes.

Ange’s soap opera

Ahead of her biopic Callas, in which she plays the tortured opera singer Maria Callas, Angelina Jolie says she has channeled her own loneliness and suffering: “When I cry there, that is my pain, that is my sadness.”

Ange fails to add something else she has in common with Callas: a penchant for affairs with other women’s husbands.

Poor Jennifer Aniston never stood a chance after coming out to Brad.

Perhaps emboldened after allegedly convincing Andy no-mates not to crash the King’s Christmas party because he would be as welcome as a can of Novichok, Fergie reveals the late queen was like a mother to her.

“I called her Mom and I could call her at any time of the day or night, she would take my call.” That’s as ridiculous as it is unprovable, since the Queen is no longer around to suggest that memories may vary.

Westminster Wars

Five months later, Keir Starmer is rated as the worst Prime Minister in modern history. His only consolation is that Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s popularity is also declining, with just 13 percent of voters thinking she looks like a prime minister in waiting. I’m surprised her approval rating is even that high.

First he targets pensioners with the winter fuel cut, which affects twice as many women as men, and then he breaks his promise to the Waspi women. Starmer will be the most misogynistic and ageist Prime Minister ever.

With the economy flattening, inflation rising, unemployment rising and illegal boat crossings increasing, the Bank of England is declaring the Labor budget to be to blame. But let’s not forget the useful idiots who voted for them.

After driving at 100mph in a 50mph zone while high on nitrous oxide and crashing his BMW 3 Series into a tree, killing his three friends, 19-year-old Thomas Johnson sentenced to nine years and four months.

After this terrible tragedy we have to wonder why a 19 year old boy from Essex, known as a ‘cocky teenager’, was allowed to drive such a powerful £40,000 car in the first place?

Friendly festivities

My Christmas will be a subdued affair this year. After declining several invitations, I spend it with my best friend Andrew.

The exercise consists of a church service, drinks, an M&S turkey dinner for two and then the director’s cut of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy – with a shot of vodka as we reminisce about those who are now gone, including our parents. Then on to It’s A Wonderful Life, to remind ourselves that that is indeed the case.

However you spend it, I wish you comfort and joy. And a happier New Year.

Not very helpful, Keely

What a night for our Olympian Keely Hodgkinson as she was crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

And what an outfit! Backless, almost frontless – and with two long lace sleeves that reach from her neckline to her fingertips like long gloves.

Quite distracting. Because no matter how fantastic Keely looked, all I could worry about was how our heroine would be able to go to the bathroom or wash her hands.

After paying £5,300 for a breast job, tummy tuck, bum lift and liposuction in Istanbul, mother-of-five Jade Tyler, 31, complains that British doctors were reluctant to treat her after the operation went wrong. But why should NHS Cash continue to treat a woman with such vanity and stupidity?

A study shows that socks are among the most unwanted gifts. I don’t agree with that. I still cherish a pair of extra-thick, extra-long men’s merino wool socks that my then-fiancé gave me decades ago.

As horrible as Gisele Pelicot’s rapes were, I’m uncomfortable with the narrative that emerges that every man is capable of being a monster. That’s simply not true, and it would be a travesty if Gisele’s heroism revived the 1970s radical feminist mantra that “all men are rapists and that’s all they are.”

Good news for Jamie Oliver that his business is now thriving, following the collapse of his Italian restaurants in 2019 with debts of £83 million. Jamie and his wife Jools paid themselves almost £7 million in dividends this year. Which leaves a bad taste in the mouth for one creditor, still owed £50,000.

How low Huw goes

Pedophile Jac Davies, 25, who shared graphic child abuse images with Huw Edwards, has been spared jail after his lawyer argued that as Edwards was not sent to prison, his client should not be sent to prison either.

What a terrible denouement for the former face of the BBC to be cited in court as legal precedent for convicted pedophiles to remain free.

Much of Jennifer Lopez’s Glee is criticizing her new film Unstoppable, which is universally panned and took just £3,112 in its opening weekend. But why is J-Lo getting all the flak when then-husband Ben Affleck co-produced this dud and declared, ‘Jennifer is spectacular.’?

Macca is still a real cracker

Rave reviews for Paul McCartney’s live tour, despite being 82.

While the Rolling Stones and the Who continue to tour as bands, Paul goes it solo, releasing 35 classics with a little help from his friend Ringo on this week’s performance.

After the success of this tour, I have the feeling that Paul still has many tough evenings in him.