Long synonymous with ladies who lunch – including Princess Diana when she was in the mood for a change from Le Caprice or San Lorenzo – Chelsea restaurant Daphne’s celebrated its 60th anniversary in characteristic manner this week.
But, as Charles Delevingne – father of Cara, Poppy and Chloe – and other guests were plied with champagne and treats, it was a newer member of the Chelsea Set who made the most stimulating contribution to the evening.
Former England striker Jermain Defoe, 41, laments what he sees as society’s tendency to rush to judgment on public figures.
‘We all make mistakes,’ he reflects. ‘[But in] society nowadays, someone does something and they get cancelled.’
No case has dismayed him more than that of his fellow former England star, Jermaine Jenas, whose treatment, Defoe tells me, is indicative of woeful double standards seemingly based entirely on the colour of someone’s skin.
Jenas was a presenter of The One Show, as well as a pundit on Match of The Day, until August when he was summarily sacked by the BBC following allegations that he had sent ‘inappropriate’ messages to a female colleague
Former England striker Jermain Defoe (pictured with Alisha Lemay) laments what he sees as society’s tendency to rush to judgment on public figures
‘He’s my friend,’ says Defoe of Jenas, who was presenter of The One Show, as well as a pundit on Match of The Day, until August when he was summarily sacked by the BBC following allegations that he had sent ‘inappropriate’ messages to a female colleague.
‘What I don’t like is if you’re black and you do something wrong, any opportunities that you have will be gone,’ Defoe adds, ‘but, if you’re someone else, you’ll find ways to get back in.’
He refrains from naming those who ‘are getting chance after chance’. Others may note that the first complaints about Huw Edwards were made to the BBC in May 2023.
Only in April this year did Edwards resign – five months after his arrest, which was known to the BBC, for possession of the most serious category of indecent images of children.
Ding dong, merrily on Highgrove!
- King Charles is selling Christmas decorations inspired by Camilla’s rescue dogs, Bluebell and Beth, for £12.95. ‘Complete with a royal red crown, this charming Jack Russell… is a splendid addition to your decoration collection,’ gushes the Highgrove shop.
Queen Camilla poses with wicker dogs Bluebell and Beth at the Highgrove Garden
Harry Potter actress learns as she earns
When it comes to being Britain’s richest student, Emma Watson has the magic touch.
I hear that the Harry Potter star, who is studying for a Master’s degree in creative writing at Oxford University, has topped up her acting fortune with a £1.9million profit at Hestia Hebe, the private company into which she channels her earnings.
Emma, 34, who played Hermione Granger in the film series, reports £23.9million in accumulated earnings for 2023.
Last year, she netted a £2.6million valuation upturn on her City dealings.
Emma Twason (pictured in February) has topped up her acting fortune with a £1.9million profit at Hestia Hebe
Santa’s very poignant night
The 60th anniversary party for Daphne’s, the much-loved Italian restaurant in Chelsea, was a bittersweet affair for novelist Santa Montefiore, who attended with her daughter Lily.
Santa used to visit with her sister, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, the socialite and television presenter, who died in 2017 aged 45.
‘When my sister went out with Mogens Tholstrup, who owned it, this was her home away from home,’ says Santa, who is married to historian Simon Sebag Montefiore. ‘So we, in our early twenties, were here all the time. I have so many memories.
‘I suppose it’s bittersweet, but I don’t come here and think of her loss. I come here and think, ‘Oh, weren’t those days fabulous?'”‘
Lily Sebag-Montefiore (left) and Santa Montefiore (right) attend Daphne’s 60th anniversary birthday
Becker girl holidays after wedding snub
Boris Becker’s daughter Anna Ermakova appeared lost in thought as she basked in Mediterranean sunshine after missing her father’s wedding.
The singer, 24, was conspicuous by her absence when Lilian De Carvalho Monteiro, 33, a political risk consultant, married 56-year-old former Wimbledon champion in Portofino, Italy, last month.
Becker’s sons Noah, 30, and Elias, 25, attended, but his fourth child, Amadeus, 14, was also absent.
Boris Becker’s daughter Anna Ermakova appeared lost in thought as she basked in Mediterranean sunshine after missing her father’s wedding.
Becker and Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro married in Portofino, Italy, last month
Harry not invited to Firehouse lavish ball
Chiltern Firehouse, where Princess Beatrice had her engagement party and Britain’s richest artist Damien Hirst met girlfriend Sophie Cannell, who was a waitress there, is celebrating its tenth anniversary party with a lavish masked ball tomorrow.
Its owner, American hotelier Andre Balazs, describes the bash as a ‘black and white affair’ in homage to the celebrated Black and White Ball hosted by author Truman Capote in New York in 1966.
The ultra-strict guest list has caused a commotion, with no ‘plus-ones’ allowed. Prince Harry is in London this week but has not been invited. ‘He’s not one of our crowd,’ a source tells me.
Princess Beatrice had her engagement party at the Chiltern Firehouse (pictured)
Prince Harry is in London this week but has not been invited to the Chiltern Firehouse tenth anniversary party
Will Ofcom boss become the next Cabinet Secretary?
Ofcom boss Melanie Dawes, who is one of those being tipped for the role of Cabinet Secretary, would certainly bring a touch of landed class to Sir Keir Starmer’s Downing Street.
Ms Dawes hails from one of the finest historic homes in England, Birtsmorton Court in Worcestershire.
It has a magnificent moat – good defence, perhaps, against any unwanted incursions from Sir Keir’s tricky chief of staff Sue Gray, with whom the new Cabinet Secretary will have to forge some sort of working relationship.
