With numerous friends of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge packed into historic Temple Church this weekend for the marriage of Olivia Hunt and Nicholas Wilkinson, it felt like a repeat of the Royal Wedding.

There was, however, one couple who were conspicuous by their absence: Prince William and Kate.

Their no-show has set tongues wagging again about the Duchess’s apparent reluctance to attend social events that would once have been certain dates for the couple’s diary.

Olivia Hunt and Nicholas Wilkinson (pictured) married this weekend a the historic Temple Church - but one couple were conspicuous by their absence

Olivia Hunt and Nicholas Wilkinson (pictured) married this weekend a the historic Temple Church - but one couple were conspicuous by their absence

‘Prince Harry was there, along with most of William and Kate’s friends,’ says one present. ‘Their absence was really striking.’

Willowy Olivia, 33, the sister-in-law of TV adventurer Ben Fogle, was William’s first girlfriend at the University of St Andrews. Their relationship ended after the Prince caught a glimpse of Kate in her famous see-through dress in a catwalk fashion show.

Olivia remained good friends with the couple and she was invited to the Royal Wedding in 2011.

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Her 34-year-old groom was named as Britain’s ‘hottest’ barrister by a legal blog in 2014. ‘I’m trying not to be intimidated by having a girlfriend who used to be with Prince William,’ Nick admitted the previous year.

He’s the son of senior judge Dame Heather Hallett, which should have helped secure London’s 12th-century Temple Church, built by the Knights Templar, for his wedding and Middle Temple Hall, one of the ancient Inns of Court, for the reception.

Security was in place for royal guests. Tourists and photographers were turned away from entering, apparently at the request of the police. One couple had come from Normandy to visit the church, which featured in Dan Brown’s best-selling thriller The Da Vinci Code, and were extremely annoyed not to be let in.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge did not attend, setting tongues wagging gain about the Duchess’s apparent reluctance to attend social events that would once have been certain dates for the couple’s diary

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge did not attend, setting tongues wagging gain about the Duchess’s apparent reluctance to attend social events that would once have been certain dates for the couple’s diary

Guests included Prince Harry’s ‘wingman’ and fellow party-lover Tom ‘Skippy’ Inskip and his fiancee, Lara Hughes-Young. Also present were key ‘turnip toffs’ who live near William and Kate in Norfolk, including the Van Cutsem brothers and their wives.

A Kensington Palace spokesman declined to comment on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s absence.

 

Lords Speaker Frances D’Souza has said she will not seek re-election to the £100k-a-year post after reports about her taste for chauffeur-driven trips at taxpayers’ expense. Perhaps she knew there was more bad news to come? 

Latest details include a £194 car charge for attending memorial services in Hyde Park and at St Paul’s. Last October her travel for a banquet at Buckingham Palace, one mile from Westminster, cost £226. 

At least she didn’t bill the public purse to get to Shoreditch, where she was sitting for her £12,000 portrait.

  • Following the publication of the item about Baroness D’Souza in this article, the Baroness has contacted us to say that it is incorrect to imply that will not seek re-election as Lord Speaker because of adverse news coverage of her travel ’expenses’. In fact she wished to give adequate time for her successor to take over the role with the minimum disruption to the House of Lords. An article announcing her retirement is available on the Parliament website. She adds that she is fully committed to transparency and continues to publish full information about her role and its associated costs. 
  Kate Hudson was happy to slip into a paper-thin, white evening gown... ...even though it was morning when she arrived at the London premiere of Kung Fu Panda 3

Kate Hudson was happy to slip into a paper-thin, white evening gown, even though it was morning when she arrived at the London premiere of Kung Fu Panda 3 (pictured)

As the daughter of Hollywood star Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson knows all too well the demands of the red carpet.

And yesterday she was happy to slip into a paper-thin, white evening gown, even though it was morning when she arrived at the London premiere of Kung Fu Panda 3.

Kate, 36, also put on heavy make-up and dark lipstick for the event in Leicester Square, which was full of children eager to hear Hudson reprise her role as the voice of panda Mei Mei. Mothers might not, though, have wanted to see quite so much of Kate as she bent over to examine a detail on the red carpet in her dress slashed to the navel.

 

£3.7million Miranda tops women's comedy rich list

Accused of dominating TV and films, expensively educated actors are now taking over the comedy circuit.

Royal Navy captain’s daughter Miranda Hart has toppled Sarah Millican, who went to a comprehensive school in South Shields, at the top of the women’s comedy rich list.

Hart, a 43-year-old alumna of £33,960-per-year Downe House boarding school, has made a profit of more than £2.2 million at her company, Kingmaker Productions, which channels her money from programmes including the sitcom Miranda. Millican, 40, whose father was a mining electrician, has seen her worth plummet from £2 million to just £600,000 in a year.

Hart has £1.6 million in the bank and is owed £2.1 million, giving her assets of £3.7 million. In contrast, Millican’s assets in her company SM Comedy have shrunk from £3 million to just over £600,000. That’s no laughing matter.

  Chloe Green (second left) donned a jet-black wig, heavily kohled eyes and a satin dress to celebrate her 25th birthday at a Chinese restaurant in Mayfair with mother Tina (second right)

Chloe Green (second left) donned a jet-black wig, heavily kohled eyes and a satin dress to celebrate her 25th birthday at a Chinese restaurant in Mayfair with mother Tina (second right)

Topshop heiress and her chums go mad in Mayfair

Ethnic fancy dress parties have become a minefield of political incorrectness, but retail heiress Chloe Green bravely went ahead with an ‘Oriental madness’ bash this weekend nevertheless.

The daughter of Topshop boss Sir Philip Green donned a jet-black wig, heavily kohled eyes and a satin dress to celebrate her 25th birthday at a Chinese restaurant in Mayfair.

Chloe was joined by her mother, Tina, property developer Patricia Mondinni and Lisa Tchenguiz, who received a £15 million payout after her 2013 divorce from Del Monte drinks tycoon Vivian Imerman.

For her outfit, 51-year-old Lisa chose a black PVC mini-dress and fishnet stockings, prompting a volley of Chinese whispers among fellow guests.

 

Mothering Sunday has failed to bring out the maternal instinct in soprano Camilla Kerslake, girlfriend of England rugby star Chris Robshaw.

The 27-year-old singer is not yearning to have children, because a baby would cramp their passionate love life. ‘I don’t want one of my own — not yet,’ she says. ‘The fact I can fly off to Milan Fashion Week at the drop of a hat, have sex whenever the mood takes us and perform at some of the most iconic and sensational venues in the world is how I get my kicks.’

 

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