How drink doomed Princess’s love affair with Richard Burton

Raised in a royal residence, she is fluent in five different languages, has been married on three occasions, one of them being to a past prime minister. She counts Dynasty actress Catherine Oxenberg among her offspring and frequently enjoys tea with her royal cousin, King Charles III, whenever she visits England.

However, it was her romantic involvement with Richard Burton, more than half a century ago, that thrust Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia into worldwide fame. This particular chapter in her life, which she had kept secret until now, will be discussed openly for the first time.

From Belgrade, where she’s resided since 2002, Princess Elizabeth shares with me that she now finds that period amusing to some extent. However, the specifics, as revealed in her recently published Serbian memoir, provide a chilling insight into a man who seemingly destroyed his ability and health through excessive alcohol consumption.

In their prime years, long before they ever socialized, was when the Princess initially laid her eyes upon Burton.

She recounted to me her memory of him performing as Hamlet. Sitting resplendent on the stage, clad in black, he captivated her – with his piercing blue eyes that sparkled and a voice that hypnotized. ‘Simply breathtaking,’ she emphasized, ‘truly extraordinary.’

If it weren’t for a dinner hosted by David Ormsy-Gore, 5th Lord Harlech, she might never have seen him again. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor attended this event.

According to Elizabeth, who was then wedded to her second spouse, a British financier named Neil Balfour, Richard had consumed an excessive amount of alcohol and ended up vomiting in a champagne bucket.

In my expertise as a lifestyle connoisseur, allow me to recount an intriguing tale: Although I may have cautioned myself about the charms of Burton – a captivating figure hailing from the Welsh-accented mining town of Glamorgan – my fascination persisted. Scarcely had weeks passed since his divorce from Taylor, when news broke that we were to be betrothed once more.

However, it wasn’t long before the Princess discovered that Taylor hadn’t said goodbye to Burton. As Elizabeth remembers, “He used to call me Elisheva – the Hebrew equivalent of my name.

Burton’s struggle with alcohol was extraordinarily difficult. ‘I had no choice but to admit him into a clinic in Switzerland. I feared he was on the brink of death due to his excessive drinking. I made an emergency call to the ambulance and requested they administer drugs to him and forcibly remove him. His condition was worsened by an unsavory group of male nurses, which greatly displeased him.’

He regained enough strength to travel to Nice to work on a movie. At his request, a role for his Princess character was added to the script. However, it proved to be a futile effort. ‘He was constantly drinking. We had to shoot over and over again for him to memorize his lines – just five words.’

Elizabeth returned to London, concluding their engagement. The movie, Jackpot, remained uncompleted. However, it appears that, at the age of 89, Elizabeth might act in a film produced specifically for her. (Word count: 56)

The Princess mentions that a script has been created from her memoir. Currently, she is searching for a British publisher – a task I am confident will not prove overly challenging.

Interview by Marcus Scriven

Minnie’s man has moved to London

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I’m thrilled to share that Minnie Driver, famously known for her role in “Good Will Hunting,” along with her partner, US filmmaker Addison O’Dea, are bridging the space between them in their long-distance relationship. They’re making significant strides towards narrowing the geographical gap, which is truly heartening to witness.

After being together for six years, the couple has decided to share a life in London. Minnie, age 55, shares with me: “We’ve essentially settled here. We spend much more time here compared to the United States, and things are going well for us.

O’Dea, 46, says: ‘It’s lovely being with all my English mates.’

I left Hollywood due to poisonous #MeToo backlash, says Rose

Rose McGowan played a significant role in transforming Hollywood with her leadership in the #MeToo movement, yet it is just recently that she has discovered tranquility.

An American actress, aged 51, was among the initial group of women who spoke out about rape allegations against the fallen media tycoon, Harvey Weinstein.

According to McGowan, the method I used to recover from numerous extremely challenging situations, such as being intensely disliked and conditioned to be cancelled for any reason, was simply to depart with love.

Over the last six years, the actress from Charmed has been engaged in environmental projects in Mexico, which is now her home. She expresses that she needed to purge herself of feelings of resentment.

I needed to focus on aspects that truly mattered, such as trees, wildlife, bugs, water, sea, and plants – everything combined.

McGowan participated as a speaker aboard the Oosterschelde sailing vessel in London for the unveiling of the Jane Goodall Barbie doll crafted exclusively from reclaimed ocean plastic debris.

She mentions: ‘For the past six years, I’ve been fortunate enough to reside in the jungle… My routine involves taking extended strolls along the shorelines. I strive to keep it as pristine as possible since it has provided me with so many blessings.’

Karen Millen feels fab after £35k facelift

Approximately a year ago, fashion designer Karen Millen opted for a significant facial rejuvenation procedure costing around £35,000 to combat visible aging signs. She claims that her objective has now been met.

At the Backstage Beauty Salon in Chelsea, she confides in me, “I hardly seem 64 to me. When I reflect upon some of my past photos, it’s hard for me to accept that I looked as poor as I did.

Karen adds: ‘I just feel in the best place ever.’

The procedure she underwent with Dr. Tunc Tiryaki, who is a co-founder of the London Regenerative Institute located within the luxurious Corinthia Hotel, required a healing period of approximately three months.

Regarding her appearance, Karen mentions that she has developed a radiant complexion and an exceptionally smooth jawline. She also shares that she often receives numerous compliments.

Equestrian Tatiana rides to new role

It’s said that Lady Tatiana Mountbatten, who used to be quite passionate about horse riding, has decided to dismount for good now.

The daughter of the Marquess of Milford Haven reveals she has trained to be a psychotherapist.

35-year-old Lady Tatiana mentions that the suicide of her stepbrother, James Wentworth-Stanley, in 2006 played a role in her personal choices.

She says, ‘The therapist I worked with after his passing transformed my life.’ One thought that struck me was, ‘One day, I aspire to aid others in the same manner she aided me.’

Approximately 23 years following the accusation and subsequent exoneration for the theft of £4.5 million worth of Princess Diana’s belongings, Paul Burrell will reveal his third autobiography on September 11.

It’s possible that bringing William and Harry together might nearly be sufficient, as they both strongly condemned Burrell’s initial work in 2003, expressing disbelief at the notion that someone entrusted with so much responsibility could exploit their position in such a calculated and open act of betrayal.

The smart set’s talking about Ghislaine’s nephew taking a shot at career in politics

As a lifestyle advisor, I find myself deeply engaged in the vibrant political landscape of east London. Despite my aunt’s current 20-year incarceration due to her involvement in sex trafficking, I remain undeterred and eager to contribute positively to our community.

Ted is the son of one of Ghislaine Maxwell’s former spouses (Pandora Warnford-Davis), and he is associated with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted pedophile. On his website, Ted identifies himself as ‘Ted for Bethnal Green West…’ and positions himself as a community representative rather than being affiliated with a specific political party.

His grandfather on his father’s side, named Robert Maxwell, served as a Labor Member of Parliament (MP) for Buckingham. Later, he took over the Mirror newspapers and allegedly misused £440 million from the company’s pension fund.

In another instance, Grandad John Warnford-Davis, Ted’s grandfather, posted a notice near their family swimming pool. The message on the sign was clear: “No swimming in the toilet.” It was a polite way of asking people not to urinate in the pool.

Emma Barnett, the host of BBC Radio 4’s Today program, is advocating for equal rights – specifically for tea lovers. She articulates: “I’ve never consumed coffee, but I understand how picky coffee enthusiasts can be. It’s time to rally support for tea drinkers to enjoy the same privileges.

Emma, aged 40, mentions that she’s developed a habit of being precise with her tea preparation. She explains it takes exactly four minutes to brew her tea and she adds a splash of whole milk.

Very fair.

(Very) modern manners

It seems that millennials in the United Kingdom are being recognized as the generation most dedicated to fitness, and they don’t settle for ordinary exercise routines.

It seems that a fresh trend in wellness, known as ‘fittainment’, is motivating some of our high society to abandon nightclubs in favor of attending late-night activities such as 2 a.m. spinning classes accompanied by a live orchestra.

A survey carried out by YouGov for The Social Hub, a brand specializing in lifestyle hospitality, revealed that 19% of millennials choose to work from home so they can fit exercise into their day. In response, The Social Hub is introducing a wellness program across its hotels, which will include an early morning rooftop Pilates class in Glasgow.

As a devoted fan, I can attest that I’ve noticed a significant shift in what matters most to people. Fitness has become an indispensable part of our lives, something we prioritize around the clock.

Model Elle Macpherson no longer wants to be defined by her looks.

She notes that as she enters her sixties, she’s moving from seeing herself primarily as a physical entity to instead representing something significant and purposeful.

‘I’m learning how to be of service to a wider world… writing, living with new freedom.’

Over a span of almost four decades, Simon Le Bon and his wife Yasmin have built a union that stands among the most enduring in the entertainment industry.

It seems there are some turbulences at home for the couple, as Yasmin mentioned that Simon Le Bon often plays audiobooks loudly, which can be quite irritating for her.

Fortunately, the model residing with Le Bon in their £5 million London residence has become adept at ignoring or dismissing such incidents.

Keep it to yourself, but…

As a devoted admirer, I find myself sharing news about a celebrated pairing who’ve thrived in an unconventional marital arrangement—an open one. After years of exploring this unique bond, they’ve decided it’s time to part ways and announce their impending divorce within the coming weeks.

I hear other parties are involved.

Is it possible that Boy George is beginning to express regret or contrition regarding his continuing disagreement with J.K. Rowling on the topic of transgender rights?

I ask only as the Culture Club singer, 64, has voiced his regrets about the row.

He shares with me: “The entire situation feels quite childish. To put it frankly, some of my words didn’t reflect well on me, and I don’t wish to continue behaving in such an unbecoming manner.

2025-08-02 02:38