There has been not so much as a whisper from her for several months, nor any public sighting – barring a brief glimpse at the £2,000-a-night Mayrlife Medical Health Resort in the Austrian spa town of Altaussee. But if Sarah Ferguson, who was stripped of her Duchess of York title last year after the publication of her old emails to Jeffrey Epstein – 'You are a legend,' she assured him in one of them. 'I am at your service. Just marry me' – thought things could not get worse, she now has undoubted cause to revise her opinion.
For I can disclose that her old flame and steadfast friend Paddy McNally has, at the age of 88, suffered the kind of tragedy that puts Fergie's self-inflicted woes very firmly into perspective. His son Sean – one of the two children, both boys, Paddy had with his late wife, Anne – has died very suddenly. 'He lived a fairly remote life on an estate in Scotland,' a chum tells me, adding that a private funeral has already been held for Sean, who was in his early 50s.
It is the cruellest of blows for McNally, who has been in delicate health for some time. But it will also be an especially painful moment for Fergie, who met Paddy when she was employed to look after his young sons, Sean and Rollo, following their mother Anne's death in 1980. At the time, Paddy was in his pomp, making immense amounts of money in tandem with Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, revolutionising F1 corporate entertainment with the Formula One Paddock Club.
It seemed, for a time, that Sarah would share his fortune with him – and become his second wife and stepmother to Sean and Rollo. She revelled in the high life that McNally and chums indulged in at his chalet in Verbier – nicknamed The Castle – as her status advanced from child-carer to lover. Even after their three-year romance ended in 1985, the two would remain friends, with McNally loyally declaring that Prince Andrew (as he then was) was a fortunate man when news of his engagement to Fergie was announced in 1986.
As his fortune grew unstoppably, Paddy acquired Sevenhampton Place in Wiltshire, once the home of James Bond author Ian Fleming, as well as a property in St Tropez and a grouse moor in Scotland – all while retaining 'The Castle'.
Princess Anne's ballooning limit
She is one of our most indomitable royals, but Princess Anne does draw the line at some activities. Actress Rula Lenska was a qualified hot-air balloon pilot and once visited the Gloucestershire estate owned by Queen Elizabeth's daughter. 'We landed in Gatcombe Park and she said to me, “Oh, I’ve always wanted to go up in one of those.” I said, “Hop in Ma’am, and I’ll take you for a ride.” She said, “I don’t think Mummy would like it.”'
Earl Spencer's secret wedding
Earl Spencer’s announcement that he had got married for a fourth time did not leave only friends surprised. I hear that some of his own children found out after he had exchanged vows with Cat Jarman, 44, a Norwegian archaeologist. 'They found out via a text,' claims a family friend. It was revealed in February that Princess Diana’s brother, 62, who has seven children, finalised his acrimonious divorce from Canadian Karen Gordon.
Natasha Kaplinsky sells ski chalet
Now president of the British Board of Film Classification, Natasha Kaplinsky has put her ski chalet in the French Alps on the market for £2.7 million. She was the talk of the TV business when she signed as a newsreader on Channel 5 on a reputed salary of £1 million a year. Now, she apparently feels the need to trim her outgoings. For I hear that the former Strictly Come Dancing winner has put her ski chalet in the French Alps on the market for £2.7 million. It has five bedrooms, a sauna, a massage room and a wine cellar, and is just a three-minute walk from the ski lifts. Natasha, 53, has owned the property for more than a decade with her husband Justin Bower, a banker. In 2018, they had it extensively renovated over nine months, instructing alpine interior design firm Shep and Kyles to make the property 'ski lodge meets snow queen chic with a little bit of Strictly Come Dancing glitter'.
Geri Halliwell wants to buy a football club
Now, the former Ginger Spice has revealed her true goal: To become a football club owner. The singer and author, 53, shared her ambition with BBC sports presenter Clare Balding, who inspired her. 'I met her at Cheltenham,' Clare says at the Goodwoof festival at Goodwood in West Sussex. 'She said, “I really want to buy a women’s football club.”' Clare says Geri added: 'I remember articles you were writing about women’s football before it was the big thing it is now.' Geri would be following the example of Alexis Ohanian, husband of former Wimbledon champion Serena Williams, who bought a ten per cent share in top Women’s Super League team Chelsea, thought to be worth around £20 million. And Geri certainly has the money. She is married to former Formula 1 team boss Christian Horner and their combined wealth is estimated to be more than £400 million.
Damien Hirst's girlfriend turns to music
To keep her boyfriend Damien Hirst entertained, Sophie Cannell took up dancing on a pole that the artist had installed in his home, complete with two armchairs for spectators to enjoy her performance. On the wall was a huge photograph of her wearing lingerie and knee-high boots. Now, the former ballerina is trying another form of entertainment. I can disclose that Sophie, 32, is promoting her music online under the name Niah, having closed down her previous Instagram account. Her tracks include I’ve Been So High and Wanna Be Yours. The celebrated photographer Rankin, a friend of Hirst’s, has produced her debut music video. Sophie, who gave birth in 2024 to her first child with Hirst, 60, reveals that she has been recovering from spinal surgery and says music has become a source of comfort. 'After being away for spine surgery and focusing on my recovery, this song Wanna Be Yours is finally my surrender,' she says.
Wallis Day's daring Cannes look
With the mercury soaring, Wallis Day declares there is an art to wearing very little. The actress and model, 31, put on an eye-catching red gown designed by Stephane Rolland, featuring a dramatic slit to her waist, for the amfAR Gala in Cannes. 'I don’t mind to dare to bare even if it looks too much to other people,' she tells me. 'When it’s done so beautiful and structural like this, it gives off art and less raunchiness.' London-born Wallis, who played Kate Kane in the TV series Batwoman, hopes to secure new work at the Cannes film festival. 'I’m looking for some badass roles,' she says. 'I’m like, “Give me the Bond girl s***.”' With a look this lethal, she is already dressed for the part...
Mick Jagger proves active father
When Sir Mick Jagger fathered his eighth child, Deveraux, in 2016 at the age of 73, many people thought he would be too old to play an active part in his son’s life. The Rolling Stones star is, however, proving them wrong. 'My son Theodore played at his cup football final on Saturday – you won’t believe who I saw at the sideline,' the TV star Vogue Williams tells me. 'I looked over and said, “Is that Mick Jagger?”.' The singer was cheering on Deveraux. 'He looks well,' Vogue adds of Sir Mick. 'Really cool outfit on, a cap, and doesn’t walk like an 82-year-old. Now that has brightened up my day.'
Simon McCoy's personal newsreader role
Former BBC newsreader Simon McCoy sometimes modestly wondered how he’d managed to win the heart of Dynasty pin-up Emma Samms. Now, he’s discovered why. She uses him as her personal newsreader. 'Do I take advantage when he’s seen a news update on his phone and ask him to read it out to me? To deliver my own personal news report? Yes, you bet I do,' admits the actress, 65, who married amiable Simon, 64, in 2021. 'I already was a fan of his before we even met. Of course, even more so now.'
Fern Britton's royal postbox solution
If you want to solve a problem in your area... just call the King. Fern Britton has revealed the monarch helped install a new postbox near her home in Cornwall. 'I live in a very small hamlet,' explains the former This Morning presenter, 68. 'We lost our postbox ’til I wrote to the Post Office and I said, “Now, look here...”. They said, “No, no, we can’t do it.” So I wrote to the King. And I wrote to our local MP. And, by Jove, within a fortnight it was there.' Referring to the royal cypher, she adds: 'It’s got “King Charles III” [on it].' Perhaps someone should tell her it is the Royal Mail, not the Post Office, that is in charge of postboxes.
