EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Ex-Army chief and magazine guru vie for Eton’s top job 

Eton College is often regarded as the most famous school in the world — alumni include Prince William and Harry, as well as 20 Prime Ministers. years ago.

But next week, the battle for the school’s soul reaches a new intensity with the final round of applications for the post of Provost.

The incumbent former cabinet minister, Lord Waldegrave, has, according to critics, expanded his role to the point that it is now reportedly overshadowing that of the headmaster, Simon Henderson, known as ‘Trendy Hendy’ for his ‘awake’ views.

I can reveal that the two key individuals shortlisted to succeed Waldegrave are the former king of the glossy magazine world. Sir Nicholas Coleridge, 66, now Chairman of the Victoria & Albert Museum, and a former Chief of Defense Staff General Sir Nicholas Carter. , 64.

The pair, plus, I understand, another candidate, will be judged by Eton’s Fellows, as the governors of the £46,296-a-year school are called.

The 12 Fellows, led by Waldegrave, include Caroline Moore, wife of Coleridge’s old friend, author and novelist Lord (Charles) Moore of Etchingham. He noted that Coleridge, who chaired Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant, is “a supreme tactician.”

So is Carter. In one of his last appearances before the Commons Defense Committee, he fluently displayed what one observer called “executive jargon.”

Maybe he’ll persuade Will Knowland – cleared of professional misconduct by the Teaching Regulation Agency – to dine at the Provost’s Lodge soon?

King of the world of glossy magazines Sir Nicholas Coleridge, now President of the Victoria & Albert Museum, has been shortlisted to succeed Lord Waldegrave

Former Chief of Defense Staff General Sir Nicholas Carter is also on the shortlist

Incumbent former cabinet minister Lord Waldegrave (pictured), critics say, has expanded his role to the point that it is now reportedly overshadowing that of the headmaster, Simon Henderson

Noel, you’re not shady enough to be a true duke

Now 56, Noel Gallagher apparently feels ready to be ennobled. “I wouldn’t mind being the Duke of Manchester,” says the Oasis star. “If there’s some of that stuff lying around, that would be good.”

He has already tried out his favorite title at ‘some f****** posh blunder’. “This man said to me: ‘Where do I recognize you from?’” he explains. ‘And I said, ‘I’m the Duke of Manchester!’

Unfortunately, I’m afraid he doesn’t have the required credentials. Thrice-married bigamist Alexander Montagu, 13th Duke of Manchester, 60, has been variously deported from Canada, fired a harpoon gun at his first wife, been jailed in Australia (twice) and the US, and worked for underworld ‘fixer’ Tom Ericson. (The latter expired on the day he would face 11 murder threat charges.)

Carole admits she was “naive” when the party company went bankrupt and owed millions

The Princess of Wales’ mother, Carole Middleton, is deeply “upset” by the collapse of her mail-order business, a close friend tells me. Yesterday I reported that she was charged with ‘treason’ after Party Pieces went bankrupt, with debts of £2.6 million.

“Carole is understandably upset and deeply disappointed in this situation,” says the friend. “She has really worked hard over the past five months to find a buyer who would not only move the business forward, but also honor any outstanding debts.

Carole believes in responsibility and accepts that she would have been a bit naive to step back and trust someone else to run the business she had nurtured for decades and it was very sad to see the company this way was sold.’

The friend claims, “The truth is that Carole stepped away from the company more than three years ago and entrusted day-to-day running to a new management team. Unfortunately things took a turn for the worse and by the time she realized it was just too late.’

However, one of her suppliers told me yesterday that Ms. Middleton had given personal assurances that Party Pieces’ debts would be fully repaid earlier this year.

Inconvenient timing for Prince William, who, I hear, held his first private talks at Kensington Palace with Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday. The previous day, Prince Harry had violated the royal convention at the Supreme Court by launching an extraordinary attack on the government of Rishi Sunak. “The timing was pure coincidence,” emphasizes a royal source.

Patsy Kensit wants to be a grandmother. “I’m not sure how I’d like to celebrate my birthday, but hopefully with my family and maybe a grandchild,” says the actress, 55, who is engaged to real estate mogul Patric Cassidy. She has two sons: James Kerr, 29; and Lennon Gallagher, 23. ‘I keep telling Lennon, ‘Just have a baby.’ “And I’ll tell Issy [his girlfriend], “I will ensure. Just do it for me”.’

Roger drums up his girls’ support for the Queen show

Roger Taylor’s kids have a bit of a love-hate relationship with his band Queen, but they were willing to join him for We Will Rock You’s gala night.

The drummer’s daughters, models Lola, 22, and Tigerlily, 28 (above left and right), watched the jukebox musical, based on the group’s hits, at London’s Coliseum Theater before walking him around the the party. Tigerlily, whose mother is Taylor’s ex-wife Debbie Leng, admits she was once ashamed of her father’s bond.

“I used to listen to them so much when I was younger, but I drifted off because I used to get bullied in school. People would put them on at a party and say, “Ha! Ha!”, so I sort of resented them for a while.”