EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Making Prince Andrew wear coronation robes could backfire on King

The King’s decision to allow Andrew to attend the coronation in his Order of the Garter robes threatens to backfire. The disgraced duke, who was denied permission to wear a military uniform at his mother’s funeral, is now lobbying for a more public role at next month’s Garter Day events. Last year he was banned from taking part in the public garter procession to St George’s Chapel. Now his business is that the public has been reminded that he is a member of the oldest order of chivalry, so there is no point in hiding him anymore. No good deed goes unpunished, Charles!

Charles is continuing his mother’s tradition of presenting the coronation medal to the wider royal family, and Harry and Meghan are expected to receive theirs soon. But even before the medals are shipped, a potential recipient has put his for sale online for £750. Will Harry be tempted to follow suit, as the memento features an image of Queen Camilla?

Princess Anne’s current Canadian trip, just three weeks after Prince Edward’s return, irks the king, who wants to reduce duplication among his smaller band of working royals. He was just as annoyed when Sophie Edinburgh embarked on a trip to the US last December, the day after William and Kate finished. HM wants to introduce a centralized system so that the ‘royal stardust is more evenly distributed’. Good luck with his wayward sister Anne!

ITV’s Schofield/Willoughby soap prompts former BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin to reflect on the men she has shared airtime with. It’s a fight for airtime.’ Surely not pushy former BBC man Jon Sopel, Louise’s longtime co-presenter on the BBC News channel?

ITV’s Schofield/Willoughby soap prompts former BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin to reflect on the men she has shared airtime with. It’s a battle for airtime’ (File photo)

The late Fiona, Lady Montagu’s obsession with Elvis – even her spaniels had jeweled capes and collars – evokes memories of the late Dowager Duchess of Devonshire’s devotion to Presley. Debo was a frequent visitor to his Graceland home in Tennessee and even kept an Elvis phone in the downstairs restroom in Chatsworth. And she was kind enough to only allow telephone press interviews on his birthday.

Recently-abandoned lovebird Vanessa Feltz has shed the pounds to get her formidable infrastructure beach-ready. “I’ve been on the infamous ‘broken heart diet’, which works spectacularly well,” she sighs. “I’ll take my flaws and shaky bits and spread out on a towel with the best of them — and have the time of my life.” Atta girl!

David Furnish, Elton John’s wife, recalls the star wearing a jumbo Louis XIV wig with a galleon on top, complete with cannons firing talc for his fiftieth birthday party. On the way to the location in a car, David had to hold the wig in place. “He was so heavy that he kept tipping back and forth, and every time the car moved, his wig moved around.” Put into perspective King Charles’s discomfort with wearing the 5 pound St. Edward’s Crown at the coronation.