‘He knew they weren’t his’: The extraordinary vintage wine row tearing apart one of Britain’s most prominent aristocratic families as the Earl of Bradford threatens to sue his son and glamorous daughter-in-law

Receiving 12,000 acres of land on the border of Shropshire and Staffordshire, along with 130 houses and cottages to rent out, is a remarkably fortunate inheritance.

However, Alexander Bridgeman, the oldest son and heir of the 7th Earl of Bradford (Viscount Newport), might not be fully satisfied.

Close family friends are worried that a long-standing disagreement between a father and son is about to escalate into a legal battle.

The situation is disheartening. Richard Bradford – known as the earl – worked incredibly hard to keep the estate afloat after his father’s unexpected death in 1981. At 33 years old, he was left with an £8 million tax bill, which he managed to pay, but only by selling Weston Park, the family’s historic home.

Wanting to ensure Alexander wouldn’t face the same difficulties he had, he transferred ownership of his properties to Alexander in 2019. A friend remembers that he also gave Alexander the farmhouse he lived in—likely to avoid taxes—and left a large collection of valuable wine, planning to move it later.

However, he never actually got to try it. Alexander and his friends, along with a particularly unpleasant man who urged him on, drank the entire thing before he could.

The disagreement has been ongoing for years, and now it’s escalated to the point where Richard is threatening legal action against Alexander to recover about £30,000 – the value of the lost wines.

I’ve been a long-time fan of the earl – he’s such a character, running Porters and all. It’s really sad to hear he’s admitted things aren’t going well with Alexander, who’s 45. He told me directly that Alexander knew the wines didn’t belong to him, and they’re definitely not speaking on good terms right now. It’s a shame, honestly.

Alexander’s wedding to Eliza Liepina in 2022 gave the first hint of what would happen to his wine collection. During the best man’s speech, he specifically thanked Lord Bradford for a bottle of Chateau Latour from 1967.

It turned out he wasn’t joking. Bradford says they drank at least half a case of alcohol, adding that Alexander is known for throwing pretty lively parties.

A bottle of Latour from 1967 might sell for around £500, though it’s very hard to find. However, it wasn’t the priciest wine Alexander ever drank.

They also enjoyed two bottles of Latour 1955, each worth around £1,000. The earl mentioned that a bottle of Palmer 1961 was finished as well, but didn’t mention its potential value of around £4,000.

He estimates that a large portion of the wine collection was purchased before his son, Alexander, was born. He believes the total value of the wine they’ve consumed could be around £30,000, but it’s definitely at least £20,000.

After an email asking for the money went unanswered, the earl has now turned the matter over to his lawyers. He says he’d prefer to simply receive what he believes is owed to him, but is prepared to pursue the matter further, even taking it to court if necessary.

Queen’s son sees beloved dog savaged

The King turned 77 yesterday but his stepson was in no mood to celebrate.

Tom Parker Bowles recently saw his Jack Russell, Maud, badly attacked by a mastiff close to Kensington Palace.

Tom, our restaurant critic for The Mail on Sunday, described seeing a large dog – possibly a Cane Corso – on a metal chain. They made sure to give it plenty of space as they walked past.

‘But it spotted Maud, dragged the owner off his feet and attacked her. It was 15 stone at least.’

After a struggle, I finally fought the animal off, tumbling on the ground and frantically trying to pry its jaws open from around her small body.

Maud, pictured, had to undergo ‘very serious surgery’ and remains in the care of an emergency vet.

‘I want to thank the old man who hit the dog with his stick as it continued to attack,’ he adds.

Holly’s hint she WILL waltz into Strictly job

Earlier this month, a former executive at BBC 1 suggested that Holly Willoughby could potentially take over hosting duties on Strictly Come Dancing when Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly step down.

And Holly, 44, is in no rush to play down the rumours.

I was chatting with her at the Winter Wonderland preview, and she was so sweet! When I asked about what she’s been up to, she immediately lit up talking about the show lineup. But honestly? She confessed she’s currently enjoying some downtime at home, and is completely hooked on Strictly Come Dancing right now – just like the rest of us!

She made this statement after I shared that Peter Fincham, a former executive at the BBC, was warned about Holly by someone with inside knowledge – and the tip came while he was getting his hair cut!

Okay, so get this – my hairdresser, Harry, actually cuts the hair of someone really important at ITV! He’s super discreet, of course – he says whatever happens in his chair stays in his chair – but he let slip something HUGE. He’s absolutely certain Holly Willoughby is going to be the one taking over! I’m telling you, it’s happening! He’s so confident, and knowing who he cuts the hair of… it’s a done deal, I just know it!

A ‘miracle baby’ for Victoria Aspinall

Victoria Aspinall’s difficult journey to become a mother led to the end of her marriage to Damian Aspinall, who comes from a family known for casinos and wildlife parks. Now, she’s happily announced the birth of her baby, calling it a ‘miracle.’ She’s shared a photo of the child online, but has chosen to keep the name and gender private. The 39-year-old, who used to work at Burberry, appears to be raising the child as a single parent.

She said she was completely stunned to learn she was pregnant. For seven years, she and her husband had desperately wanted a child, going through multiple rounds of IVF, experiencing heartbreaking miscarriages, and slowly losing hope. The journey took a huge toll on her, costing her the things she once enjoyed.

Kids’ pitch ban for Petra’s man

Life in Los Angeles isn’t all sunshine and smoothies for Bernie Ecclestone’s son-in-law Sam Palmer.

James Stunt, a former car salesman and husband of Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone, says he’s been barred from watching his stepson James’s football games. This happened after a heated argument with a match official.

Sam, 42, who is the stepfather to Petra’s three children from her previous marriage to James Stunt, and also father to her three-year-old daughter Minnie, recalls an incident at their new $42 million home, which they moved into in 2023. He was throwing balls back onto a nearby field when a man approached him on a golf cart and angrily demanded he stop. Sam responded firmly, explaining that he wouldn’t tolerate being spoken to disrespectfully, particularly in front of his children.

I completely lost my cool, and honestly, I don’t regret it. I didn’t physically hurt him, but a part of me wishes I had, because the consequences would likely be the same. He ran off upset and reported the incident to the club. Turns out, he was a league official! I definitely said some harsh things, but he was asking for it.

Samuel West, known for his role in ‘All Creatures Great and Small,’ notes that actors debate how much of their own personality should influence their characters. However, Imogen Stubbs had a firm opinion on the matter. West recalls that on her first day at RADA drama school in 1985, Stubbs, feeling nervous, responded to a tutor’s encouragement to ‘be yourself’ by saying she disliked herself and that’s precisely why she was there. West believes this sentiment reflects the experience of many actors.

David Cameron abandoned his idea to build a swimming pool at his £1.8 million country home in the Cotswolds after nearby residents complained it would make his garden look like a cheap holiday resort.

The former Prime Minister has requested permission to expand his garden by incorporating two small pieces of neighboring land.

He already has a £25,000 shepherd’s hut near his home in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, where he wrote about his time as Prime Minister. The local council is likely to decide on a related matter this month.

Theatre producer JJ Powell, known for successful shows like Sunset Boulevard with Nicole Scherzinger and Merrily We Roll Along featuring Daniel Radcliffe, was surprised and pleased when Esquire Mexico told him he’d been named a ‘man of the year.’ However, he was shocked to learn the ‘honor’ would cost him $15,000, which he immediately refused to pay. He then publicly criticized the awards on social media, calling it a ‘bought accolade’ and an ‘ego boost’ for those who paid for it. Esquire magazine has not yet commented on the situation.

O’Toole’s stair-free fitness plan

Orlando Bloom fondly remembers working with the late Peter O’Toole, who portrayed his father in the 2004 film Troy.

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe what Orlando Bloom told me! He was talking about this incredible scene he filmed, and it was shot at the top of, like, a HUGE staircase – he said it had around a hundred steps! It’s so him, throwing himself into a physically demanding scene. I mean, it’s Orlando Bloom – the guy who was Legolas in Lord of the Rings AND Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean! He just commits to everything he does.

A cigarette dangled from his lips, and the assistant director beside him asked, “Have you ever considered giving up smoking?”

And he went, “No, but I’ve thought about quitting stairs.”’

Stolen bag brought back… by the thief!

Here’s a crime story with, for once, a happy ending.

Lady Alice Manners, daughter of the Duke of Rutland, was upset after her handbag was stolen in west London this week. She had accidentally left it in the basket of a rental electric bike while shopping.

I was so upset when I realized my bag was missing! I’d only been in a shop for about fifteen minutes, and when I came out, it was just…gone. I quickly ran out to look, but it was no use. I shared what happened online, and it’s just so frustrating.

The thief contacted her later, having found her on Instagram. He’d gotten her name from a copy of her driver’s license, she explained.

He explained that he initially took the bag and used my gift card from White Company to make a purchase. However, he then realized it was a mistake. He was striving to improve his religious practice, so he cancelled the order and personally returned the bag to me.

Lady Alice posted a photo of herself with the reformed thief, and included the message: ‘It’s never too late to make amends.’

(Very) modern manners

Planning to dig out your old Christmas decorations? Amanda Cronin has grander plans.

A star of The Real Housewives of London revealed she’s spending £4,000 on Christmas decorations this year. She plans to put them up on November 24th – earlier than most – and is going with a pink and black color scheme, including a decorated tree, garlands, and a festive display around the door.

2025-11-15 04:41