EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Business is a family affair for Jack Brooksbank
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Business is a family affair for Princess Eugenie’s husband Jack Brooksbank as he changes the name of his drinks company as a tribute to the couple’s son
George VI is thought to have remarked that the royals are ‘not a family, we’re a firm’.
And Princess Eugenie’s husband, Jack Brooksbank, is determined to show that his own firm is very much a family business.
I can disclose that he has changed the name of his drinks company to AEB Consultants Ltd as a tribute to the couple’s sons — the initials stand for August and Ernest Brooksbank.
And, further strengthening the family ties, he has appointed his mother, Nicola, 70, as a director of the business.
His spokesman confirms the move, telling me: ‘Jack is delighted to have his mother on board. She provides all back-office support.’
Princess Eugenie ‘s husband, Jack Brooksbank , is determined to show that his own firm is very much a family business. Pictured: Princess Eugenie, August and Jack Brooksbank attend the Platinum Pageant in 2022
He has changed the name of his drinks company to AEB Consultants Ltd as a tribute to the couple’s sons — the initials stand for August and Ernest Brooksbank (Pictured: the couple at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2016)
It’s a touching move by Brooksbank, 37, as his father, George, died less than two years ago, just three days before August’s christening.
George, who had a life-threatening battle with Covid the previous year, was 72. The death notice read: ‘Loved all the good things in life but especially his wife, friends, boys, daughters-in-law and grandchildren.’
Jack’s spokesman tells me that the business’s name change reflects the fact that it has become a consultancy, specialising in the leisure, hospitality and property sectors.
The company, which has £765,000 in assets, according to its latest accounts, is currently described as offering the ‘wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages’.
Perhaps Jack could give his father-in-law, Prince Andrew, a job as well? He’s been out of work since stepping back from royal duties in 2019.
Royal cellist grounded by BA error
He performed at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, but Sheku Kanneh-Mason was hardly given the royal treatment by British Airways.
The airline refused to let the cellist board a flight home from Romania with his musical instrument.
‘I arrived early at the airport with my cello with my two confirmed tickets, one for me and one for the cello,’ says Sheku, 24.
The airline refused to let Sheku Kanneh-Mason board a flight home from Romania with his musical instrument. Pictured: Performing at the Royal wedding
‘I was not allowed to board with my cello and yet the blame was placed firmly on me. No solution was offered, no compensation.’
A BA spokesman tells me: ‘We have apologised to our customer for this mistake and are taking steps to help ensure that it doesn’t happen again.’
Shah’s grief over Bond girl wife
Former newspaper proprietor Eddy Shah is mourning his wife, the actress and model Jennifer White, who has died aged 80.
She starred in a spoof 1967 adaptation of Casino Royale, which featured David Niven as James Bond and Ursula Andress as Vesper Lynd, as well as films such as Carry On Doctor.
Jennifer had three children with Shah, 79, who caused a sensation when he launched the Today newspaper, with full-colour printing, in 1986.
Jennifer White starred in a spoof 1967 adaptation of Casino Royale (pictured), which featured David Niven as James Bond and Ursula Andress as Vesper Lynd
She died surrounded by her family at home in Wiltshire ‘after a long, chronic and painful illness’, a family spokesman says.
She was diagnosed with cervical cancer in the 1980s ‘at the same time as the trade unions attacked Shah’s printing works.
‘She was told three times that she wouldn’t last more than two months.’
King Charles was a model of diplomatic smiles at the Palace of Versailles state banquet, but inside he may have been shuddering. France’s incorrigibly tactile President Emmanuel Macron snaked an arm round him and patted his back.
One of the King’s oldest friends tells me: ‘His Majesty absolutely hates being touched.’ President Joe Biden kept touching him at Windsor earlier this year. Now, he has been pawed by handsy Macron.
At this rate, HM must be starting to feel like a prize tomato at the Malvern Autumn Show.
France’s incorrigibly tactile President Emmanuel Macron snaked an arm round him and patted his back
President Joe Biden kept touching him at Windsor earlier this year. Now, he has been pawed by handsy Macron
A roarsome 20th for Freya
How about this for a really wild birthday bash? Freya Aspinall celebrated turning 20 by having a slumber party with one of the lion cubs at her father Damian’s wildlife park in Kent.
While the model refers to herself as a ‘Lion mama’, she says her cubs are not pets as they will be ‘rewilded’ back to Africa.
‘If you are wondering why there are lions in the house, don’t get the wrong impression — they are not pets at all,’ says Freya, the daughter of actress Donna Air.
Freya Aspinall celebrated turning 20 by having a slumber party with one of the lion cubs at her father Damian’s wildlife park in Kent
She took to Instagram to share snaps of herself cuddling the little cubs, who she is the primary carer for before they get ‘rewilded’ back to Africa
She sported a pair of white silk pyjamas with sharks on them as she posed holding up rose gold ’20’ balloons
She was showered in gifts and wore a birthday tiara as she marked her special day with her family
While the model refers to herself as a ‘Lion mama’, she says her cubs are not pets as they will be ‘rewilded’ back to Africa
‘If you are wondering why there are lions in the house, don’t get the wrong impression — they are not pets at all,’ says Freya, the daughter of actress Donna Air
Rock star turned celebrity snapper Bryan Adams was surprised when he was asked to photograph the late Queen for her Golden Jubilee.
‘My agent said, “Are you busy on Wednesday? We’d like you to shoot the Queen and it’ll be at her house.” I even said, “What house is that?” [It was] Buckingham Palace.’
The late Queen was intrigued by the Canadian’s large-format camera. ‘She came down with the corgis. She said, “Oh, we haven’t seen one of those for a while.”‘
The resulting image is considered one of the best portrayals of Queen Elizabeth’s later years.
Singing ban silences Cathy at Tina musical
Heightened tensions among West End theatregoers have led to bans on audience members singing along with the performers, after fights broke out in auditoriums.
And Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman was left frustrated by the rules at The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre during a gala performance this week.
Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman was left frustrated by the rules at The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre during a gala performance this week
‘It took every bone in my body to not sing along during the performance,’ the presenter, 49, tells me. ‘I even went to karaoke last Saturday to get some practice in.’
She adds: ‘I was dressed for Tina and brought out the sparkles. I wanted to be simply the best.’
The website of the jukebox musical, which stars Karis Anderson as the late singer, states: ‘Tina is the Queen of Rock & Roll, and her vocals are unlike any other, so please let our professional cast do all the singing and the talking during the show.’
Boogie-woogie pianist Jools Holland wants to make an apology.
‘I’m ashamed to say, when The Tube was on, I rather opened the floodgates for people to be vulgar on the television,’ he tells me at the Boisdale Music Awards in Canary Wharf, East London.
When Holland, 65, presented the Channel 4 music programme in the 1980s, he let slip the words ‘groovy f***ers’.
Jools Holland and Polly Gibbons at the Boisdale Music Awards in Canary Wharf, East London
When Holland, 65, presented the Channel 4 music programme in the 1980s, he let slip the words ‘groovy f***ers’
He says: ‘I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to the nation.’
Morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse was among those who complained about his foul language. ‘I did actually write back to her to apologise, saying: ‘I couldn’t agree with you more.’ She was delighted to get my letter.’
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