The King paid £3.75million for house next to Camilla’s

by

Even though Prince Andrew has caused significant embarrassment for the Royal Family, his brother continues to let him live rent-free at Sandringham, providing staff and an annual allowance to cover his expenses.

King Charles is, I learn, even more generous with his wife, Queen Camilla.

Recently released records show the Queen purchased the property adjacent to her rural estate, Rey Mill, for an impressive £3.75 million.

This figure is higher than initial estimates and represents a significant jump from the £675,000 the previous owner paid for it eight years ago.

The King recently purchased The Old Mill in Reybridge, Wiltshire, through a newly established company. Records show the property was bought last March by Frisa Nominees Ltd., a company created the month before and using Buckingham Palace as its official address.

Frisa Nominees is run by two people who work for the royal family: James Chalmers, who manages the King’s finances, and Catherine James, who works in the Private Secretaries Office at Buckingham Palace.

Last year, The Mail on Sunday reported that King Charles purchased The Old Mill, which is located on the same private lane as Rey Mill. A source revealed he used his personal money to buy the property, as there were concerns it might be sold and converted into a wedding venue.

People often create limited companies when buying property to reduce their tax burden and make it easier to pass on inheritance.

According to a palace insider, the creation of this new company is simply a routine step in buying and managing the property.

Earlier this month, I revealed that ownership of Rey Mill, a property bought by the Queen in 1996 after her divorce for £850,000, had been quietly moved to new owners. Those owners are her son-in-law, Harry Lopes, and financier Jake Irwin. A family friend explained that Lopes acted on behalf of his wife, Laura (the Queen’s daughter), while Irwin represented her son, Tom.

The lawyer clarified that it’s generally not recommended for someone who benefits from a trust to also be in charge of managing it.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman declines to comment.

 

Will comic Jack get to the church on time?

With comedian Jack Whitehall’s wedding day getting closer, his mother is starting to fret that he might arrive even later than his fiancée, model Roxy Horner.

‘Jack will be late, because he always is,’ despairs Hilary Whitehall. ‘He is a nightmare.’

The actress says Roxy, age 34, is as consistently late as her 37-year-old son. Hilary, who also has children named Barnaby and Molly, explains, ‘Neither of them can manage their time well at all.’

Hilary explains that the others, especially Molly who has young children, get frustrated. They plan something with Jack, but he and Roxy are significantly late – around half an hour to 45 minutes. Hilary, however, has a plan to deal with the situation.

I heard this trick from Jack’s assistant. When scheduling a meeting with them, tell them a time that’s half an hour before you actually want to meet. For example, if you want dinner at 8:00 PM, tell them dinner is at 7:30 PM, and stick to that time.

 

Pop singer Chesney Hawkes surprised attendees at a charity event in Manchester. During his performance of “Get A Hold Of Yourself,” a video of him nude was shown on a screen behind him. One guest jokingly complained, saying it ruined their appetite, and they couldn’t finish eating.

 

Army museum charity’s cash still missing two years on

Does a past association with the former Duke of York inevitably lead to a spell in purgatory?

It appears this is true for Lord Nicholas Soames, who supports the Ogilby Trust and serves as a trustee for a military charity that provides funding to museums nationwide.

It’s been over two years since I reported up to £400,000 missing from the trust’s funds, and not a single penny has been recovered, nor has anyone been held accountable.

I can share that the Army Museums Ogilby Trust has let go of one of its important employees.

Following his problematic interview with Emily Maitlis, Prince Andrew’s charitable trust has stated that the ongoing investigation is still being handled by Wiltshire Police.

 

Norton leaps to defence of Claudia’s new show

Claudia Winkleman’s new talk show got a mixed reaction from critics, with some calling it chaotic, dull, and a misstep.

You know, there’s been a bit of chatter about Claudia Winkleman taking over the Friday night slot, and I think it’s fantastic. I was chatting with Graham Norton at a charity event recently, and he put it perfectly: Claudia isn’t trying to be anyone but Claudia, and that’s exactly what makes her show so good! She’s bringing her own unique energy and style to it, and honestly, she’s absolutely nailing it. It’s refreshing to see someone just be themselves, and that’s what viewers are responding to.

It’s not surprising that he supported the show, as his company, So Television, actually produces it.

 

Ruthie Henshall was once a star of London’s West End and even dated Prince Edward, enjoying a glamorous life that included evenings at Buckingham Palace. However, the 59-year-old actress says life became much harder when she raised her two daughters, Lily, 22, and Dolly, 20, largely on her own. She says she received very little support from their father, singer Tim Howar, and was a single mother for sixteen years, handling both childcare and finances independently. Her daughters had limited contact with their father, and she was left to manage everything herself.

Read More

2026-03-17 04:49