He renounced London after a decade in favour of a tranquil life on the edge of a Berkshire village with just 100 inhabitants – and two pubs. But there seems to be no danger of James Middleton sinking into bucolic obscurity.
Indeed, barely a couple of months after the publication of his book, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, which has proved an instant bestseller, the Princess of Wales’s brother has earned a golden paw-print of approval for the dog food company he established in 2019.
I can disclose that Hello Ella – named after the cocker spaniel James credits with helping him conquer profound depression – has attracted the backing of the remarkable Craig Taylor, who left school at 16 and subsequently transformed the fortune of his family’s small pet food business in Norfolk.
Taylor, 58, now heads what has become the biggest manufacturer of ‘freeze-dried pet food’ in Europe. And, after first becoming a very modest shareholder in Hello Ella in 2020, he’s just acquired a far more sizeable stake.
Documents filed at Companies House today record that Taylor has converted a loan he made to the company into 6,879 shares, priced at £72.68 each – or £500,000 in total. This means that his stake in Hello Ella is much the same size as James’s.
‘I’ve been impressed with the brand,’ Taylor tells me, ‘and how James has built a loyal following.’
Unsurprisingly, James, 37, is delighted. His company, he tells me, ‘has just won an industry award – for our kibble and raw food – as well as launching in Waitrose and Sainsbury’s. With Craig’s expertise, we can continue expanding.’
There seems to be no danger of James Middleton, pictured, sinking into bucolic obscurity, RIchard Eden writes
I can disclose that Hello Ella – named after the cocker spaniel James credits with helping him conquer profound depression – has attracted the backing of the remarkable Craig Taylor, Richard Eden writes
It’s a joyous contrast to his bleakest days. These followed his decision to drop out of Edinburgh University and establish a company called Boomf, making personalised marshmallows. It proved an ill-fated enterprise, which, by 2021, owed creditors £800,000.
At the worst moments, only Ella gave James ‘purpose and reassurance’, he reflected last month. Ella also bounded up to an attractive blonde – a trilingual Frenchwoman called Alizee. She and James later married and now have one-year-old son, Inigo – and six dogs.
India braves battlefield on charity mission to Ukraine
India Hicks is returning to Ukraine on a charitable mission in the new year, even though its army is struggling to fight off Russia’s advance.
‘It is going to be very dangerous,’ King Charles’s goddaughter tells me. ‘By the time I get there, it will be a full-on land grab.’
Hicks, 57, a granddaughter of the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, is on the executive board of Global Empowerment Mission, a humanitarian charity.
India Hicks is returning to Ukraine on a charitable mission in the new year, even though its army is struggling to fight off Russia’s advance, writes Richard Eden
Speaking at a signing of her latest book, Lady Pamela, about her mother, who was one of Queen Elizabeth’s bridesmaids, she explains: ‘I just don’t want to sit on the board and be a figurehead. I need to be there, but the situation is alarming. My husband is a little concerned.’
India, who was a bridesmaid when the King married his first wife, Lady Diana, became a godmother to the son of a Ukrainian couple this year. The christening of Zakhar, whose parents met her through her charity work, was held in June at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the most sacred monastery in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.
OnlyFans leaves me lonely, says Lottie
Having followed her half-sister Kate Moss into modelling and then stripped off for the adult website OnlyFans, Lottie Moss says her fame puts potential boyfriends off, writes Richard Eden
Having followed her half-sister Kate Moss into modelling and then stripped off for the adult website OnlyFans, Lottie Moss says her fame puts potential boyfriends off.
‘I’m single and mingling, having the time of my life, but it’s not always easy to find someone because of what I do and who I am,’ she tells me at the launch party for heiress Nicky Pietrzak’s Delulu London collection in west London.
Lottie, 26, right, who dated Made In Chelsea star Alex Mytton and is said to have been romantically involved with Brooklyn Beckham, added: ‘Not everyone can Google who they’re dating and find out everything that’s gone on in their life, but that’s unfortunately me.’
Lizzy’s a model daughter, Jerry
Elizabeth Jagger began her modelling career auspiciously at 13 when she joined her mother, Jerry Hall, on the catwalk.
Now 40, Sir Mick Jagger’s daughter still enjoys posing with Texan model Jerry, 68.
Elizabeth Jagger, left, began her modelling career auspiciously at 13 when she joined her mother, Jerry Hall, right, on the catwalk
The pair appeared on the red-carpet at the annual Mon Cheri Barbara Day charity ball at the Nymphenburg Palace in Munich.
St Barbara’s Day, or ‘Barbaratag’, is the feast day for St Barbara, the patron saint of firemen and miners.
Women’s equality activist Lizzy wore a silver sequin dress by The Vampire’s Wife, while Jerry sported a blue cape and matching gown.
Despite Phil Collins’ retirement from his drum stool following health issues, it looks as if Genesis could be reborn.
His son Nic, 23 – an acclaimed sticksman himself – is joining spin-off band Mike + The Mechanics for its 2025 world tour.
Guitarist Mike Rutherford says: ‘Nic brings a great energy to the band, and it’s nice keeping it in the family.’ As well as hits including The Living Years, the Mechanics promise to ‘drift into some of Genesis’s much-loved classic tracks’.
Will keyboard wizard Tony Banks join them, too?
Hardy hits jackpot
He played mercurial mob boss Alfie Solomons in Peaky Blinders, and there’s no doubt that Tom Hardy knows how to make a killing.
Hardy, 47, who lives in south-west London with his wife, fellow Peaky Blinders actress Charlotte Riley, 42, made a profit of £2.5million at his company last year, writes Richard Eden
Hardy, 47, who lives in south-west London with his wife, fellow Peaky Blinders actress Charlotte Riley, 42, made a profit of £2.5million at his company last year.
The Hollywood star’s accumulated earnings, which were disclosed in the latest accounts for his firm, 33 1/3rd Ltd, hit a staggering £22.2million – driven by his starring role in the Venom superhero films, which he wrote and produced.
The Mad Max and Inception actor recently starred in the third Venom movie – called The Last Dance – reportedly earning £15million.
TV presenter Evey Amery Kurlander has been left distraught by a ‘horrific’ burglary at the north London showroom of Eveyspreloved, her luxury vintage bags and watches brand.
The QVC star says thieves fled with goods worth tens of thousands of pounds, including a Hermes Kelly 28 crocodile bag, which can fetch £28,000. ‘I feel so upset about it,’ Evey, 57, tells me.
‘It’s all captured on CCTV. Two big guys got in through the fire exit and tried to get into the room, which is very securely locked, so they took a sledgehammer and smashed in.’ She adds: ‘It was awful to watch.
They took everything they could. Luckily, I wasn’t working late, as I could have been in there.’
