PLATELL’S PEOPLE: The more Meghan and her risible mouthpiece Scobie smear Kate, the more we love her!

Nearly three years ago, Meghan told Oprah Winfrey, without naming names, that senior members of the royal family had raised “concerns” about the skin color of her and Harry's son, Archie, before he was born.

The Sussexes suggested, and their supporters shouted, that this proved that the House of Windsor was racist: that poor mixed-race Meghan had been marginalised. The shocking allegations threatened to shake many people's faith in the monarchy itself.

Thanks to her ridiculous mouthpiece, Omid Scobie – who collaborated with her on his first book Finding Freedom – we know that Meghan has also written a 'private letter' to the king, outlining her concerns about alleged racism in the royal family.

The Dutch translation of Scobie's book Endgame seems to call both the king himself and Kate the so-called 'royal racists'. Scobie insists he never mentioned them, but Dutch translator Saskia Peeters insists the names were in the original manuscript she was working on: Fact.

Now we are left with a conundrum. How did Scobie get the names of the 'royals racists' when they were in Meghan's 'private' letter to Charles?

Sources close to the Duchess have insisted that neither she nor her entourage handed Scobie the letter. Therefore, we can only speculate as to how on earth he got his hands on it.

Whatever the truth, Meghan's popularity is plummeting in America, despite her increasingly desperate attempts to reinvent herself. Last month, a Newsweek poll revealed that she has dropped to a rating of +10, with Kate topping her at +34.

Is it just a coincidence that one version of Scobie's book scandalously attacks Kate as a 'part-time royal of Stepford'. . . Katie Keen' and, worst of all, a racist – the worst slur you can throw at someone?

Is it merely an accident that the book also attacks the king, when everyone knows how sensitive the monarchy is to such cruel accusations?

Is there no end to the Sussexes' quest for revenge, to their endless destruction of the royal family?

Meghan might have dreamed of being a new Diana. But she's no better than a cardboard cutout of the late princess.

All I know is that the more Meghan and her mouthpiece Scobie Kate smear, the more we love and want to protect the woman who will one day be our queen.

Pay for a memory

How terrible that more than half of us will deny our loved ones a proper funeral because they consider a grand farewell to be a waste of money.

The funerals of my brother Michael and my parents were joyful events honoring a life well lived.

The sound of the lone bagpiper playing Amazing Grace as the coffins left the church was a constant and comforting refrain in their memories – and worth every penny.

Did I'm A Celebrity lose the plot by first paying Nigel Farage a record £1.5 million and then letting Leftie producers cut his airtime because they don't like his politics? Even Ant and Dec's jokes can't stop the show losing two million fans. I'm a viewer, get me out of here!

On a list of worst Christmas gifts is a can of WD-40: unfair, because the stuff can come in handy. My most disappointing gifts were from my former fiancé: extra thick, long thermal socks and a nose-shaped pencil sharpener, clearly made from Barry Manilow's giant schnoz. No wonder the engagement didn't last.

Heidi's girl has to build her own modeling career

We're all for kids following in their parents' footsteps, but isn't there something creepy about Heidi Klum and her daughter Leni, 19, doing a tiny lingerie shoot together? It also seems a bit unfair to expect little Leni to make a career as a model, while her statuesque, fifty-year-old mother is still sensationally successful. Perhaps it is best for Leni to stick to her chosen career path: studying interior design (not exterior design).

Already mired in what seems to me to be entirely justified accusations of anti-Israel bias, the BBC has now chosen Guz Khan to host the satirical comedy show Have I Got News For You. The comedian has accused the Jewish state of “war crimes” and “ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.” The biggest joke of all is the BBC's 'impartiality'.

Julia Roberts showed up to the premiere of her latest film with spindly, bare legs covered in goosebumps. Now we know why one of the most beautiful women in the world chose a stunt double for photos of her pins in Pretty Woman.

Westminster Wars

• The death of former Chancellor Alistair Darling at the age of 70, a titan during the last Labor government, reminds us of a time when the country was governed by politicians with principles, intelligence and integrity – unlike the pygmies who are now trying to usurp us to rule. The thought of the robotic Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves stepping into Alistair Darling's shoes is enough to make you cry.

• Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy says the European Union will be Labour's “number one” foreign policy priority if they come to power. Meanwhile, EU leaders and officials describe dealings with Keir Starmer as 'like honey on toast'. As many feared, vote Labor and destroy the democratic will of 17 million people who voted for Brexit.

Finally some good news: the BBC's riotous political show Newsnight is losing half of its whopping 60 staff and being cut from 40 to 30 minutes. As an avid political junkie who, like millions of others, turned off Snoozenight long ago, I think that's still 29 minutes too long.

My bells are ringing for Shane

Shane MacGowan's Fairytale Of New York is reportedly the most played Christmas song, but astonishingly never reached number 1.

Now, following the death of The Pogues' singer, the song he made legendary with Kirsty MacColl is tipped to top the charts this year.

You can bet the bells will be ringing for Shane in my house – and millions of others – on Christmas Day.

After twenty years of Top Gear and The Grand Tour, Jeremy Clarkson (63), James May (60) and Richard Hammond (52) are giving back the keys to their hit shows. Aren't they a little young to close the door? My father, an automotive journalist, was 70 when he left his beloved job, saying it was like having his legs cut off.

Hamas claims that their youngest hostage, ten-month-old Kfir Bibas, was killed along with his brother and mother in an Israeli attack. What a terrible world we live in when savages can kidnap a baby and then blame others for its death.

Insult to the victims of the murdering nurse

Lucy Letby, the nurse serving a life sentence for murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six, has been moved for her own protection from a high-security prison to a 'soft' private prison where she has a private bathroom, a desk and desk. , telephone and television. Hardly a decent punishment for a gruesome serial killer – and another dagger in the hearts of the families of the babies she murdered.

My moggie Ted disdains a new study claiming that having a dog can save us from dementia. Apparently, walking a dog improves social connections.

Ted says yes, but you have to carry poop bags to clean up their mess, they are smelly and needy, while a cat is a constantly calm companion who takes care of themselves, loves unconditionally and most importantly purrs softly and doesn't spend the entire day barking.