Prince Harry's Friend Howard Spooner Finds New Love with Talented Chef
While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face criticism during their Australian tour, described by one critic as 'a pathetic cry for public love', Harry's old friend Howard Spooner is enjoying a much happier chapter in his personal life.
The twice-married hospitality entrepreneur, who once co-owned Harry's favourite nightclub Public, has embarked on a sizzling romance with effervescent blonde Olivia Brinkley, who is seventeen years his junior.
A Culinary and Artistic Partnership
Olivia Brinkley, 39, is the daughter of John and Jenny Brinkley, who own several eponymous London restaurants. Her talents bridge both artistic and culinary worlds, serving as executive chef at her parents' flagship establishment.
'I was very pleasantly surprised,' Spooner recalls of their first meeting, explaining he initially thought 'Ollie' was a man when a friend invited him to an art exhibition. The encounter occurred during a difficult period for Spooner, following his father's funeral and while dealing with his mother's dementia care and a severe case of shingles.
Despite receiving a lawyer's letter informing him that his second wife Lucy Gilman wanted a divorce, Spooner eventually embraced this new relationship. He and Lucy have two young children together.
Business Ventures and Lifestyle
Spooner, who was educated at the prestigious £69,000-a-year Gordonstoun school, now divides his time between the Isle of Wight, where his family owns the George Hotel, and Bournemouth. It was in Bournemouth that he and Olivia recently opened their seafood restaurant Sexy Lobster.
'She's a fantastic chef and we can showcase all her art here,' Spooner explains enthusiastically about their new venture, suggesting he may be having more enjoyment currently than his royal friend Prince Harry.
Other Society Updates
Cornish Appointment for Former Countess
Former magazine editor Cathy Wilson, who was married to 'the hippy Earl' Perry St Germans until his death nine years ago, has received a prestigious new appointment. After leaving the stately Port Eliot estate sixteen months following her husband's passing, she has now been appointed a deputy lieutenant of Cornwall.
This position will see her assisting the King's representative in the county, potentially bringing her back to the ancestral seat she vacated in 2017 to make way for Perry's grandson Albie, who succeeded as the 11th Earl.
Vogue Editor Finally Marries After 22 Years
Former Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman has married journalist David Jenkins at Chelsea Old Town Hall in west London, twenty-two years after they began their relationship. The wedding comes four years after Jenkins proposed while recovering from cancer surgery, a proposal Shulman initially declined fearing it might 'jinx' their relationship.
'Only 22 years together, so no rushing into it,' Shulman humorously remarked about their lengthy courtship before finally exchanging vows.
Gordon Ramsay Legal Dispute
Gordon Ramsay's alleged former mistress Sarah Symonds claims she is being 'intimidated' by the TV chef and his wife Tana. Symonds, who publicly supported Caroline Peaty during a family rift over a wedding, received what she describes as a 'cruel' and 'threatening' legal letter delivered by hand to her home.
'It's obvious they feel threatened by me and what I know,' says Symonds, who is currently undergoing breast cancer treatment. The timing of the letter delivery, shortly after her first cancer support group meeting, has reportedly set back her emotional recovery.
Chef Raymond Blanc's Kitchen Diplomacy
Renowned chef Raymond Blanc, who joined the kitchen team for last year's state banquet honoring French president Emmanuel Macron, has faced challenges maintaining harmony between French and English chefs at his own restaurants. His attempt to arrange a football match to improve relations was complicated when both sides expressed interest in kicking him if he played.
'So I decided to be referee,' Blanc explained of his diplomatic solution to the kitchen tensions.
Home Secretary's Weightlifting Ambitions
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has revealed her passion for weightlifting during an appearance on the Political Party podcast. 'I love weightlifting,' declared the 45-year-old politician, whose personal best is 105kg (16 stone).
Mahmood explained she took up the sport to improve her health after reading about other women who had benefited from weight training, adding she needs to 'build myself back' to her previous fitness levels.
Earl's Pub Fire Disaster
The Dorset Arms in Withyham, East Sussex, owned by the de la Warr family, has been closed after suffering significant fire damage. The blaze has potentially destroyed the Earl's prized Buckhurst Park sausages, whose recipe took over twenty attempts to perfect.
Earl de la Warr, 78, now faces rebuilding efforts at the village pub, a challenge closer to home than those faced by his ancestor who helped capture French king John II at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356.
