EXCLUSIVE EDEN CONFIDENTIAL – Revealed: How the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are using their Christmas card to underscore their solid status within ‘the Firm’

King Charles and Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales have unveiled their Christmas portraits to much fanfare — and they are not the only royals keen to spread a little festive cheer.

As I can reveal that the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have put themselves front and centre with their Christmas card, which underscores their solid status within ‘the Firm’.

In my exclusive picture of the card —the main picture — taken back in March, shows a smiling Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, enjoying a performance by the Ukrainian choir in the city of Edinburgh on the day they were given their new titles.

On the back cover of the card, which they’ve labelled ‘If we could talk to the animals’, Prince Edward, 59, a keen rider, is shown meeting a Clydesdale horse in Garvagh, Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile Sophie, 58, is seen taking part in a puppy class at the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Training Centre in Reading.

Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, enjoying a performance by the Ukrainian choir in the city of Edinburgh on the day they were given their new titles

Prince Edward, 59, is shown meeting a Clydesdale horse while Sophie, 58, is seen taking part in a puppy class at the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Training Centre in Reading

Emblazoned with their ES monogram, the card contains a simple seasonal greeting

Emblazoned with their ES monogram, the card contains a simple seasonal greeting — ‘Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy new year from Edward, Sophie, Louise and James’.

Increasingly the Royal Family are using their Christmas cards to send out clear messages of intent. Just last week, William and Kate released their annual card with their family of five, including Prince George ten, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, wearing simple white shirts and jeans.

In contrast to King Charles, 75, and Queen Camilla, 76, whose Christmas card photo was taken in the throne room of Buckingham Palace following the Coronation in May, the Wales’s plain backdrop and lack of pomp shows an image of normalcy, a shrewd move as millions struggle with the cost-of-living crisis.

Over in the U.S., however, the holiday has brought some bad tidings for other family members, namely the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as it seems their American dream has officially turned sour. Industry bible The Hollywood Reporter has named Prince Harry and Meghan among the biggest losers of the year.

Mystery as movie star Morton ditches agent

For the cream of British stars, including Helena Bonham Carter, Benedict Cumberbatch and Dame Joanna Lumley, it is the talent agency of choice — yet I hear Bafta-winning actress Samantha Morton has parted ways with Conway van Gelder Grant.

Mystery shrouds the breakdown of their 20-year partnership, but sources say Morton, 46, is believed to have resigned shortly after her daughter, the rising star and actress Esme Creed-Miles, 23, also left the agency. Morton’s agent, Nicola van Gelder helped propel her to the heady heights of Hollywood, where she was Oscar-nominated for her role in the 2002 film In America.

Bafta-winning actress Samantha Morton (left) has parted ways with talent agency Conway van Gelder Grant

The Nottingham-born actress then went on to star in blockbusters, including Minority Report opposite Tom Cruise, and Elizabeth: The Golden Age with Cate Blanchett. The agency later signed Esme, Ms Morton’s daughter with the actor Charlie Creed-Miles, 51, who is starring in the drama series The Doll Factory on Paramount. Morton, pictured left with Esme, was unavailable for comment.

Visitors to Sir Winston Churchill’s Old War Office may find that one of its restaurants – Paper Moon London – is not enjoying its finest hour.

For I can disclose the restaurant in Whitehall has been served a one-star food hygiene rating by the Food Standards Agency. It is the second OWO-based restaurant to have earned just one star — the independently operated Cafe Laperouse was marked as needing ‘major improvement’ regarding its management of food safety.

Visitors to Sir Winston Churchill’s Old War Office (pictured)  may find that one of its restaurants –  Paper Moon London – is not enjoying its finest hour

A spokesman for the OWO tells me: ‘As soon as these establishments were advised of these ratings, they immediately took measures to address the identified issues. The restaurants remain open, and their teams have been working closely with Westminster council environmental health to complete the necessary improvements.’

Indestructible Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards turned 80 yesterday, which has left his bandmate Ronnie Wood feeling nostalgic.

‘We’ve had hundreds of funny moments along the way — bashings and bangings and insults and injuries,’ he says.

‘I remember on stage in Frankfurt once, Keith slipped over on a frankfurter.

Indestructible Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards (pictured: right)  turned 80 yesterday, which has left his bandmate Ronnie Wood (pictured: left) feeling nostalgic

A frankfurter in Frankfurt — you couldn’t make it up.’

In another rock n roll tale from memory lane, Wood, 76 adds: ‘Back in the mad old days, there was one guy who would not leave our floor in the hotel. So, Keith used him like a battering ram.’

A heavenly conundrum for queen of bonkbusters

Bonkbuster author Jilly Cooper is contemplating an afterlife threesome, which she admits could prove awkward.

At the age of 86 she has ruled out remarrying, following the death of her husband Leo ten years ago.

Bonkbuster author Jilly Cooper is contemplating an afterlife threesome, which she admits could prove awkward

She says: ‘I don’t go to church any more. I ought to but I don’t.

‘I still believe in God. I need to. It comforts me that I will see people like my parents again.

‘Leo must be up there with his first wife! She was ravishing and beautiful. It might be quite awkward when I get there.’

In this age of woke, where trigger warnings must be placed on dated comedy material to appease the sensitivities of millennials, one boomer who has had enough is Hi-De-Hi! star Su Pollard. The 1980s sitcom now carries a warning that it contains ‘language and attitudes of the era that may offend’. Su, 74, tells me: ‘The classics should be allowed to be classics. That’s all it was, good slapstick comedy and people just having belly laughs.’

In this age of woke, one boomer who has had enough is Hi-De-Hi! star Su Pollard

The actress, who played maid Peggy Ollerenshaw, adds: ‘There’s no need to be this sensitive. Shows like this should be on TV all the time without being cancelled or deemed offensive.’

Carey reveals her romantic reservations

Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford attend the 93rd Annual Academy Awards

Carey Mulligan fiercely guards her privacy in relation to her musician husband of 11 years, Marcus Mumford.

However, in rare comments, the Maestro star reveals she didn’t view him as ‘boyfriend material’ when they met as kids. 

She says: ‘We went to (Christian youth) camp together, and then we were pen pals.’ Mulligan wrote in her diary that Mumford was the kindest person she’d ever met, rating him nine and a half out of ten.

‘But I also wrote that he definitely wasn’t boyfriend material. Not that I’d ever had a boyfriend at that time, but I decided that he was not it,’ she adds.

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