TALK OF THE TOWN: Aristocrats today must be flexible… Viscountess Hinchingbrooke cleaned the loos and even roped in her mother-in-law, 78, to prepare for the return of visitors to the gardens at their Dorset estate
As a yoga guru, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke is used to being in some unusual positions… but none as awkward as cleaning the loos at the family estate.
Julie Montagu even roped in her 78-year-old mother-in-law, the Countess of Sandwich, to help make sure the ‘throne rooms’ at Mapperton House were spick and span, as the ever-practical American and her family got scrubbing to prepare for the return of visitors to the gorgeous Italiante gardens at their Dorset estate.
Julie, 47, tells me: ‘The downside of opening your gardens is that you have to provide loos for visitors. We have five of them but as we had been forced to furlough our staff, guess what? That duty fell to us.
‘My husband and even my mother-in-law did them. We all got the Marigolds on and scrubbed.
Julie Montagu, pictured left and right, mid-scrub last year, roped in her mother-in-law, 78, to help make sure the ‘throne rooms’ at Mapperton House were spick and span
‘People often ask me what the difference is between Royalty and the aristocracy, well I’d say that just about sums it up.’
One picture, top right, is taken from a video of Julie mid-scrub last year, in which she says: ‘Yep, you’re seeing this correct. I clean the loos every other night. I’m on loo duty!’
At times like this, the mundane ribbon-cutting duties of the average minor Royal must look like a walk in the park…
Awkward alert! Gorgeous architect Dara Huang has more reasons than most to harbour a grudge against the Royal Family.
Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi – her former fiance and the father of her four-year-old son – coupled up with Princess Beatrice just six months after their split, reportedly while they were still living together.
But Harvard-educated Miss Huang hasn’t let that get in the way of her philanthropic deeds. She has teamed up with beauty oil company Llio to support The Prince’s Trust – run by Beatrice’s Uncle Charles – with proceeds going towards women and girls in need.
Perhaps Beatrice’s dad Andrew might know some women who could benefit?
Catch of the week… Fuschia Sumner
What could be more spring-like than having the name Fuschia Sumner? The 38-year-old daughter of pop star Sting and ex-wife Francis Tomelty not only has a bright and floral name and a flourishing acting career but also an intriguing friendship with Jack Eve, handsome actor son of Trevor Eve and Sharon Maughan.
Fuschia and Jack’s playful friendship is often played out on social media – but she has been posting photos of herself looking broody with friends’ babies lately.
Someone snap her up by summer!
The 38-year-old daughter of pop star Sting and ex-wife Francis Tomelty not only has a bright and floral name and a flourishing acting career but also an intriguing friendship with Jack Eve