EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Downton star hits out at Prince William for trophy hunting claims

Downton star Peter Egan has criticized Prince William for claiming that trophy hunting of animals could be justified in certain circumstances.

The prince said in 2016 that commercial hunting could have a positive impact on efforts to save endangered species.

However, Egan told me at the Ban Trophy Hunting campaign reception at the Houses of Parliament: ‘Prince William said, ‘I wouldn’t do that,’ so why do you think it’s okay for other people to do that? You should only advocate for things that you are willing to do yourself.

End of an era as ‘Rent-a-Kents’ go out of business

His poise and bearing are truly royal, as is the beard that makes him look remarkably like his grandfather, George V.

But there has never been anything majestic about Prince Michael of Kent’s need to pay his own way.

So King Charles will be heartened by the latest development in Prince Michael’s business affairs. I can reveal that he and his wife, the statuesque Marie-Christine, formally known as Princess Michael (pictured), are closing their business, Cantium Services.

It comes less than a year after Prince Michael, 80, who speaks fluent Russian, told undercover reporters posing as gold investors that he could be hired to make “confidential” statements to the Vladimir Putin regime. , for £10,000 per day.

“I have never had a close connection to gold before and the idea makes me very happy,” he added. Prince Michael was less than happy when it became apparent that he had been recorded by Channel 4’s Dispatches program and by a Sunday newspaper.

King Charles will be heartened by the latest development in Prince Michael’s business affairs. I can reveal that he and his wife, the statuesque Marie-Christine, formally known as Princess Michael (right), are closing their business, Cantium Services.

His spokesman later issued a statement, explaining that Prince Michael had “no special relationship” with Putin, having last met him in 2003 and “had no contact with him or his office since then.”

Today, the Prince’s spokesman declines to comment on the request at Companies House to ‘cancel’ Cantium. But it would seem to mark the end of an era for the ‘Rent-a-Kents’, as the couple were cruelly known.

The company (Prince Michael owns more than 75 percent, and he and Princess Michael are sole directors) was founded in 1978, the year they were married.

They were always candid about the scope of their lucrative ventures, with 78-year-old Princess Michael declaring that she would “go anywhere for a hot meal”, and apparently proving the point by attending the opening of a Happy Eater on the A3 nearby. of Guilford.

As they say, where there’s smoke, Matt…

Smokers find it easy to chat as they crowd outside venues, and between puffs, Matt Smith, the former Doctor Who star who played Prince Philip in The Crown, seemed to enjoy his encounter with an unidentified woman at Madeo’s restaurant. in Hollywood.

Smith, 40, whose ex-girlfriends include Mamma Mia 2 star Lily James, could be seen engrossed in conversation with the brunette before hugging.

Last month, he was photographed hugging Lily in north London, after she reportedly split from American rocker Michael Shuman. Smith dated Lily for five years until 2019, blaming her split on ‘hectic’ work schedules.

Matt Smith, 40, whose ex-girlfriends include Mamma Mia 2 star Lily James, could be seen engrossed in conversation with the brunette before embracing.

Last month, he was photographed hugging Lily in north London, after she reportedly split from American rocker Michael Shuman. Smith dated Lily for five years until 2019, blaming her split on ‘hectic’ work schedules

Neil Morrissey was a little surprised to find out that several of his ancestors were misbehaving when he filmed a new ITV1 documentary to find out more about his Irish roots.

On DNA Journey, which will air next week, Jennifer Edmond, an assistant professor of Irish history, tells the 60-year-old Men Behave Badly and Line Of Duty star that the family of his great-great-grandparents, Lawrence and Mary Laughlin, ‘might have been troublemakers’ due to breaking the law in Castlecomer, County Kilkenny, in the early 20th century.

“I was separated from my family for so many years, but now a lot of gaps have been filled,” says Morrissey, who was treated when he was 10 years old.

Prunella back in the theater

Due to Prunella Scales’ failing health, it was announced in 2020 that she and her devoted husband, Timothy West, had no choice but to end her distinguished acting career of 67 years.

But the 90-year-old Fawlty Towers star is still eager to appear in the West End and on Tuesday she and West attended The Unfriend, a comedy at The Criterion Theatre.

“They were friendly to the crowd, staying to the end and even getting in and out of the stalls without help,” a fellow theater-goer tells me. It really was a nice sight.

Mirren’s last role… Great on the red carpet

Oscar winner Dame Helen Mirren has played many roles during her storied career, but her role as a real-life grandmother is the one closest to her heart.

The 77-year-old actress has no biological children but has enjoyed being a stepmother to the two children of her husband, American film director Taylor Hackford. And she brought one of her grandsons, Basil, to the Los Angeles world premiere of Shazam! Fury Of The Gods, holding hands with the child on the red carpet.

Dame Helen plays one of the villains in the movie, so let’s hope she didn’t give him nightmares.

Oscar winner Dame Helen Mirren has played many roles during her storied career, but her role as a real-life grandmother is the one closest to her heart.

Will University Challenge also wake up? The BBC quiz is announcing a new question maker, who must show “recent experience of working with university students and knowledge of the ongoing cultural conversations regarding representation and access in this context.”

Perhaps the new host Amol Rajan could personally test the applicants on their political correctness?