EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Gardener Alan Titchmarsh will be rooting for Charles from home

Regardless of Charles’s downsized monarchy, poor old Alan Titchmarsh could also have fallen victim to the King’s downsizing of his friendship group.

When asked if he has received an invitation to next month’s coronation, the 73-year-old presenter says: ‘No. I want to spend the day at home watching TV with my wife Alison.

“We’ll check at home before partying with the family.”

The broadcaster, who played a key role in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, has been asked to cover the coronation as a presenter, but prefers to spend the day with those closest to him.

‘I’m not working, although I’ve been asked. I’m not going to do that, but I’m very grateful for the offers.’

Why waste money on expensive photo shoots? TV presenter Nick Knowles has a cheeky way of keeping costs to a minimum when he tries to get his hands on professional snaps of his glamorous girlfriend Katie Dadzie.

The BBC’s 60-year-old DIY SOS host, who recently attended a bash with the 33-year-old business owner and knew photographers would ‘much rather have a few shots of Katie alone’, asked: ‘Actually, if has any of you have any good ones from her, could you email them to me? Seriously, I could use some.’

He is already blessed with three children, apart from being heir to a 7,000 acre estate and ancestral seat in Hampshire, plus another 2,300 acres in southern Spain – and the magnificent home known as ‘Number 1 London’. ‘.

Now, however, there is a clearly intimate reason for Arthur Wellesley – formally the Marquess of Douro, eldest son of the Duke of Wellington – to be of good cheer. I can reveal that he will be marrying Canadian firecracker Hayley Whitehead.

“Everyone loves it,” a friend tells me, adding that an early fall wedding is planned.

The happy news comes three years after 45-year-old Arthur parted ways with his first wife, Jemma Kidd, model Jodie Kidd’s older sister, and seven years after he and Hayley both joined investment firm Oakley Capital.

In 2021 it became clear that the relationship between Arthur and Hayley had transcended the purely professional when they were photographed together in Ibiza. Hayley, 36, then left Oakley to join investment firm CVC.

Wedding celebrations traditionally take place in the home of the bride’s parents, as when Arthur married Jemma in 2005 in a glamorous wedding held at Holders, the Kidd family estate in Barbados.

It became clear that Arthur and Hayley’s relationship had transcended the purely professional one when they were photographed together in Ibiza

But the couple may choose to emulate one of Arthur’s sisters, Lady Charlotte Wellesley, who preferred the Dehesa Baja family estate in Spain before her marriage to Colombian-American billionaire Alejandro Santo Domingo.

Arthur’s cousin Sofia Wellesley and her husband, super crooner James Blunt, were guests on the occasion. So was the then Duchess of Cornwall, who is likely to be more dutiful this autumn…

Strictly winner Rose Ayling-Ellis, the show’s first-ever deaf contestant, is glad there is someone on TV that those suffering from the same condition can identify with.

“It’s so nice for deaf kids to have someone to look up to these days — which I never had when I was a kid. I want to keep working on that, but I have to remember that I also want to do things for myself,” she tells me at a party in central London.

“However, I cannot exert the pressure to represent everyone, because that is impossible. I can only do my best,” adds the 28-year-old former EastEnders star. But she calls for more people with disabilities to work on scripts for soap operas.

“I’ve now joined the Writers’ Access Group, which is run by the BBC, and we’re trying to find more disabled writers, because at the moment we can play these roles, but no one is writing them.”

Strictly winner Rose Ayling-Ellis, the show’s first-ever deaf contestant, is glad there’s someone on TV that people with the same condition can relate to

Known for her “boho chic” style, Sienna Miller seems to choose Victoria Beckham as the inspiration for her clothing.

The 41-year-old Hollywood actress carries a designer bag from the former Spice Girl’s boutique in Mayfair as she heads to a lunch date in London.

Sienna, whose exes include actors Jude Law and Tom Sturridge — whom she was with as a ten-year-old daughter — showed off her stylish fashion credentials in a gray blazer with flared white jeans.

However, it’s highly unlikely she would have bought anything skimpy from the Beckham brand, as she reveals, “I’ve never been one to like to be overtly sexy.”

“I don’t think I would wear a lycra wrap dress with bits cut out of it. I don’t feel the need to be exhibited like that.’

Attribution: Sienna Miller with her Victoria Beckham bag in the former Spice Girl boutique in Mayfair

Paul Merton returns to stand-up for the first time in over a quarter of a century. The Have I Got News For You star has confirmed two dates for his work-in-progress performances, which will be held at the Museum of Comedy in London’s Holborn on May 21 and 28.

“I’m returning to stand-up now because I believe what the world needs right now is another stand-up comedian,” says the 65-year-old who has been team captain with satirist Ian Hislop for 33 years on the BBC show .

“A lot of people have no idea I did stand-up, and I’m one of them. I thought I’d stand again while I could still stand.”

Life has never confined Petra Khashoggi to the straitjacket of convention, as her father was reminded last Sunday night.

Petra, 42, who was 18 when she learned she’s the daughter of former cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken, not billionaire arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, stopped by Aitken at his London flat – quite a surprise considering she’s now in New York City. York lives.

Aitken explained that Petra made a “spontaneous” decision to cross the pond — accompanied by her husband, man-over-Manhattan Danny Baker Jr. – and had just enough time to warn Petra’s mother, Soraya, who joined them for dinner.

“It was a joyful delight,” Aitken tells me, “and a special pleasure to meet Danny for the first time.”

Meeting: Danny, Petra, Aitken and Soraya are having fun while lounging at home

Spare a thought for Jools Holland after his European tour was thrown into chaos. He collapsed before taking the stage in Belgium on Thursday evening and had to cancel the performance.

Due to a performance in concert hall De Roma in Antwerp, the Hootananny star fainted during the sound check and had to be rushed to hospital. “I went down with a bug and was unwell all day, then passed out for a second, unusually at sound check,” says the 65-year-old ivory tinker. After being taken to a medical facility, Holland was told by the doctors to take a night off.

Spare a thought for Jools Holland after his European tour was thrown into chaos

For someone who starred in The Shawshank Redemption, Tim Robbins could find himself back in if he continues the kind of blatant rule violation on display here.

The Hollywood heavyweight, dressed in a long blue coat, jeans and a beanie, was given a number of ‘tut-tuts’ from passers-by and a fine during his bike ride through London’s Primrose Hill park, where cycling is not allowed. of up to £60 if caught.

Two-time Oscar winner Tim, 64, and American film director and cinematographer girlfriend Reed Morano, 45, have been to the capital to film the upcoming Apple TV+ series Silo, in which he stars.

The Hollywood heavyweight received a number of ‘tut-tuts’ from passers-by during his bike ride through London’s Primrose Hill park

Don’t ask Jeremy Paxman his opinion on television programming, despite his more than half a century in broadcasting. The 72-year-old, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, says he used to only look at himself on the small screen.

“I don’t really look at anything,” he tells me. “I was approached by one of those survey people and they said, ‘What are you watching?’ And I said, ‘I watch University Challenge and Newsnight, but other than that I’m no good to anyone.’ ‘

Don’t disturb David Suchet after a performance – well, not before he’s shaken off the character he’s playing.

The 76-year-old Bafta nominee recently starred in the one-man show Poirot And More, at London’s Hampstead Theatre, and always asks herself three questions to bring herself back down to earth.

“I remember a psychiatrist friend who came backstage and accused me of still being a character. I was offended,” Suchet tells me at an event in the capital.

“He said, do you mind if I ask you little questions like, ‘What’s your phone number, what’s your children’s date and date of birth?’ I couldn’t get it out and I tripped.

“To this day I look in the mirror and do this exercise before letting anyone into the locker room.”

Don’t disturb David Suchet after a performance – well, not before he first shakes off the character he’s playing