End of an era as sonless Sir Benjamin Slade turns his mansion over to hotel group

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His search for a spouse gained widespread national recognition as he highlighted his preference for a ‘quality partner’ who was significantly younger than him. He further elaborated by stating that just like choosing a new vehicle, one would opt for a brand-new model rather than an outdated one.

Sir Benjamin Slade, aged 79, has acknowledged that he won’t be able to father a son to carry on his baronetcy, which was established for his great-great-great grandfather in 1831, nor will he pass on Maunsel House, the family estate in Somerset, and its 1,300-acre property.

Sir Benjamin Slade, who is now 79 years old, has admitted that there won’t be a male heir to inherit his baronetcy, granted to his ancestor in 1831, nor will he be passing on Maunsel House, the family estate in Somerset, and its expansive 1,300-acre land.

Accordingly, he’s now thrashing out a deal which will see Maunsel leased for the next 40 years.

The newcomer won’t be an individual person but rather a corporate business. Sir Benjy informs me that he has an arrangement with a luxury hotel chain, and his intention is to finalize terms that would grant him access to Maunsel multiple times per year, albeit at a cost every time he uses it.

He avoids mentioning the specific hotel chain, but based on his past comments about Russians being ‘dishonest’, Chinese as ‘impossible’, Arabs as ‘a bloody nightmare’, and his preference not to work with countries that have green in their flag, it’s likely that he’s referring to a British group.

This scenario allows for a fresh participant hailing from the United States, a nation that shares many ties with Sir Benjy, who resides in an estate farmhouse. These connections became apparent in 2005 when he initiated discussions for a reality TV show centered on exhuming the remains of his 12th-century ancestor, William Atte Slade. The goal was to compare these remains with DNA samples from potential Slade descendants worldwide.

By that point, Sir Benjy’s fourteen-year union without children with Pauline Myburgh had ended. Similarly, his six-year relationship with Fiona Aitken, who is now the Countess of Carnarvon, was also at an end.

Recently, Sir Ben had a romantic involvement with the American woman named Sahara Sunday Spain. In the year 2020, she gave birth to his child, unfortunately for her chances of inheriting from Sir Benjamin, a daughter named Violet.

Perhaps one day she’ll check into the hotel alongside him?

 

Soprano’s secret romance

As a die-hard admirer, I can’t help but marvel at Danielle De Niese’s extraordinary journey that mirrors the grandeur of the operas she graces with her presence. It all began when, at just nine years old, this Australian powerhouse won a talent competition in Melbourne. Fast forward to Los Angeles, where, at an age when most are still grappling with high school, she scooped up an Emmy award! Simply breathtaking!

The 46-year-old soprano has shared that she chose not to test luck following her romantic involvement with Gus Christie, the 61-year-old executive chairman of the Glyndebourne Opera House located in East Sussex.

Individuals traced back their path, much like Gus’s grandfather John Christie did, who established Glyndebourne and wed the renowned soprano, Audrey Mildmay, over seven decades prior.

The singer reveals that they started dating and chose to keep it private due to the legendary tale surrounding Glyndebourne. According to the story, John married a soprano there.

During the initial stages of Gus and my relationship, we chose not to share it with anyone else as I wished to avoid getting too carried away with excitement.

 

Cinderella star’s slippery moment

In the classic story of Cinderella, the glass slipper plays a crucial role, but for actress Lily James, who starred in Disney’s 2015 adaptation, it caused more frustration than enchantment.

The actress who appeared in both Downton Abbey and Mamma Mia 2, aged 36, disclosed that she put effort into granting a wish of her friend’s niece by conducting a video call while dressed as Cinderella in Jimmy Choo’s diamond-embellished shoes created for the movie.

‘This little girl lit up,’ Lily recalls. ‘Then I said, “Look, I’m going to put it on”.’

In sheer dismay, the celebrity born in Surrey discovered that the shoes were too snug. Sharing her story, she confessed, ‘After hours of dancing at London’s Koko nightclub, my feet had swollen up considerably. I struggled to fit into the shoes…’

 

Forget sun tans – Lila chills in an electric face mask 

Reflect on Lila Moss, the model, who still finds herself resorting to elaborate beauty routines, even during her vacation time.

The 22-year-old daughter of Kate Moss and magazine editor Jefferson Hack was spotted using a black LED face mask as she relaxed and read on the beautiful Spanish island of Formentera.

The device for light therapy aimed at reducing signs of aging is reportedly effective in enhancing skin complexion. While Lila takes a break, she’s spending time with her friend Lady Lola Bute, who is 26 years old and the daughter of the late 7th Marquess of Bute, better known as racing driver Johnny Dumfries.

In the photo, Lila, who manages type 1 diabetes, is noticeably wearing a blood sugar monitor. This year, she became the spokesperson for Mattel’s inaugural diabetic Barbie doll.

 

In the midst of her contentious divorce from ex-England rugby star Danny Cipriani, Victoria Cipriani is making headway as she’s recently earned her certification as a neuroscience practitioner.

Victoria, aged 43, states emphatically that she did not arrive at her current state by means of manifestation. Instead, she attributes her journey to understanding herself as one marked by enduring pain, consistent practice, and an unyielding drive for self-discovery.

 

Venerable actress Anne Reid, who more recently portrayed Queen Elizabeth in the production “By Royal Appointment,” reminisces about a regrettable instance during which she was before the late monarch and inadvertently forgot her lines.

The 90-year-old reminisced about an incident at Buckingham Palace where they were acting out a scene from Romeo and Juliet. During this performance, they portrayed the nurse character but froze with fear in the midst of their speech, leading them to stumble and improvise, resulting in a lengthy and somewhat unplanned performance.

‘Afterwards, the Queen said to me, “You had a lot to say, didn’t you?” I replied, “Yes, too much”.

No flies on Her late Majesty!

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2025-08-15 01:19