RICHARD EDEN’ Harry and Meghan’s baker fights for survival

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She famously baked the organic lemon and elderflower cake with buttercream frosting for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. Four years later, the couple also asked her to create their daughter Lilibet’s first birthday cake.

Despite support from Prince Harry and Meghan, Claire Ptak’s business is still struggling, like many others in the UK under the current Labour government led by Keir Starmer.

Well-known pastry chef Violet Cakes is asking the public for help to keep her bakery in Dalston, east London, from closing. This comes after significant increases in business rates, which have also caused problems for pubs nationwide and led to some Labour MPs being barred by frustrated pub owners.

The Government has since announced a rebate for pubs but nothing for other businesses.

Claire is asking for help with funding online. She says they’re facing the same difficult issues as pubs, but haven’t been able to speak up about it, and are now in a serious situation.

Like many in the hospitality industry, I’m looking for ways to keep my business afloat. I’m determined to save it not just for myself and my daughter, but also for my 20 wonderful employees and our valued customers. I’m exploring options like crowdfunding and seeking investment. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Would you be willing to support a crowdfunding campaign if we launched one?

Claire is a talented pastry chef originally from California. After training there, she moved to London and published six cookbooks. She’s even baked a wedding cake for pop star Charli XCX, which she created last summer.

I was so thrilled when Meghan chose me to be a part of her wedding! We’d actually connected before – I had the pleasure of interviewing me for my lifestyle blog, The Tig, and we really hit it off. It was wonderful to then be included in such a special day.

It took five days to make the wedding cake, and some of the ingredients, like the elderflower syrup, came from the Royal Family’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

 

David Walliams caught out on film

During his Little Britain live shows, David Walliams, while playing the character of Des Kaye, a children’s entertainer, would invite young boys onto the stage. He then engaged in a game called ‘Hide the Sausage’ where he attempted to pull down their underwear.

David Walliams recently stated that a particular sketch was performed over 250 times without receiving any complaints. However, a BBC documentary from 2007 features Walliams reading a letter from a viewer who felt the sketch was deeply upsetting, writing that it reminded them of a past experience of childhood sexual abuse and ‘went too far’.

 

Jack Whitehall and Roxy have dress rehearsal for their big day 

Model Roxy Horner is really excited to marry comedian Jack Whitehall, and she’s even been trying out wedding dresses when she goes out, just to get a feel for what she might wear!

The model treated a Burns Night dinner like a practice run for her wedding, wearing a £615 white lace dress. At a Singleton Whisky event at Rosewood London, she explained she’s ‘in her bridal era’ and wanted to try out different wedding styles. The dress, from Nadine Merabi’s wedding collection, allowed her to get a feel for what she might wear on her big day.

Roxy, 34, says 37-year-old Whitehall will be ‘pleasantly surprised’ by her choice on the big day.

Vegetarian Roxy skipped the lamb and haggis pie but did treat herself to a wee tipple.

 

Racing genius who died at just 53 leaves fortune

He was remembered in one obituary as ‘the last true gentleman of horse racing,’ echoing the praise given to his father, who was called Britain’s ‘last great gentleman bookseller’ before passing away four years prior.

Joe Saumarez Smith, who sadly passed away last year at 53 after battling cancer, was known for his warm personality and sharp mind, much like his father, John. However, Joe surpassed his father in one remarkable way: his incredible ability to make money. Recently revealed details of his will show he left a fortune of £52 million, which he built entirely through his own skill and natural talent.

While studying at Bristol University, his successful bets once forced his local William Hill to close early. He continued to win big, notably earning £125,000 when Kicking King won the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

He became chair of the British Horseracing Association in 2022 and lovingly left everything to his wife, Wanda, and their two children.

 

A grandson for £6bn Earl

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen it all – and while a fabulous life is often associated with wealth, there’s truly nothing more valuable than family. Viscountess Chelsea, who happens to be married into a very fortunate family with a £6 billion estate and incredible property in London, is now experiencing the joy of motherhood with the arrival of her healthy baby son. It’s a beautiful reminder that the greatest luxuries aren’t material things at all.

Davina, 29, a social editor at Tatler magazine, recently welcomed her first child, a baby boy. She shared a photo online with her followers and called him ‘beautiful’.

She and her husband, George, 30, recently welcomed a baby boy named Henry. George’s father is the 9th Earl Cadogan. The couple have been together since their teenage years.

 

Now that she’s left The Great British Bake Off, Prue Leith has a final career goal: she hopes one of her eight novels will be made into a movie in Hollywood.

Dame Prue, 85, admits with a smile that she dreams of seeing a couple of her novels adapted into movies. She playfully acknowledges it might be a bit wishful thinking, but it’s something she’d love to experience before she passes away.

 

Lady Mary’s malaria fears

Lady Mary Charteris is seriously ill after a family vacation to Kenya with her husband, Robbie Furze, and their daughter, Wilde.

The DJ and socialite posted on social media from her London home, wondering if she has malaria or the flu. She said she’s been completely unable to get out of bed, eat, sleep, or even breathe comfortably.

I seriously can’t believe it! Lady Wemyss, she’s just… so relatable! She said she never even thought about malaria pills! Can you believe that? She told someone it didn’t even occur to her, not even when she was getting her visa! It’s just… amazing. She’s so carefree and just… Ugh, I adore her!

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2026-01-27 04:06