Dame Kelly Dismisses Wedding Rumors as False

She earned the undying adoration of the nation when she won two Olympic golds in the 800m and 1500m in Athens in 2004.

But Dame Kelly Holmes has found it harder to reach the finishing line of love – even when seemingly pounding down the home straight and into the arms of the woman who's captured her heart, sports massage therapist Louise Cullen.

Last summer, it was said that the couple had become engaged, thereby sealing a romance which first blossomed in 2021 after they met via an online fitness 'community' which sprang up during lockdown.

But Dame Kelly assures me there's no prospect that she and Louise will be mounting the marital podium. 'I'm not engaged and I'm not thinking about marriage,' she tells me, before explaining that she and Louise are perfectly happy as they are.

Dame Kelly Holmes and her girlfriend Louise Cullen, a sports massage therapist, met via an online fitness community

But she says there's no prospect that she and Louise will be mounting the marital podium, explaining that she and Louise are perfectly happy as they are

Indeed, she adds people fail to appreciate how challenging it has been for Louise to find herself subjected to so much attention. 'My partner was quite shocked when she saw this announcement everywhere,' says Dame Kelly, 55, referring to their supposed engagement. 'She's not in the public eye and prefers her privacy.

'I know there's an interest in my life but for her you have to understand you can't try and make her life what I have,' adds the former Army physical training instructor. 'It's intimidating, it's scary and, while some people are forward with it, it can make people like her retreat. They are not after the limelight and it actually makes them go backwards – they don't come out as much because of that.'

Dame Kelly realised she was gay when she joined the army aged 18, but she didn't publicly reveal the fact until 2022, a year after she met Louise.

Why Emma's cheesed off

The Crown star Emma Corrin has been told she can't eat dairy, which has put a damper on their dining experiences: 'I hate being that person in the restaurant

The Crown star Emma Corrin won a Golden Globe for portraying Princess Diana and her battle with bulimia in the Netflix series.

Off-screen, Corrin, 30, has food issues of a different kind.

'I just found out I can't eat dairy, which is so annoying,' the non-binary thespian has revealed.

'I'd been working with an amazing nutritionist. She said, 'You're super allergic to dairy'. I was a big dairy person – it's devastating,' explains Corrin.

The star adds it has put a damper on their dining experiences. 'I hate being that person [with a dietary requirement] in the restaurant.'

He played glum student Neil in 1980s sitcom The Young Ones, but Nigel Planer wonders whether the series could survive today. 'I don't think the amount of rudeness would be acceptable now,' he tells me at the Oldie literary lunch in London.

 Eco designers eyeing up the King's papayas

Eco-design duo Vin + Omi with Prue Leith in outfit made out of holly leaves and stems

His Majesty's favourite eco-design duo, Vin + Omi, who opened London Fashion Week with Prue Leith wearing a suit made out of holly leaves and stems from his Sandringham Estate, have a new target for their next collection – the King's papayas.

Omi tells me at the launch of their latest collection, titled JORD: Bring Back Nature, at the Art'otel Hoxton in London: 'He only has one papaya tree in Sandringham and I'm trying to mug my way in to get his papayas.'

The pair have collaborated with the King several times over the last six years, and have a joint love of 'humour and the environment'.

Omi adds: 'We have private audiences with him and the King's passion for reuniting the UK fashion and textile industry to nature is amazing.'

It's a cause which Vin believes the British Fashion Council are failing the industry on, saying: 'I think the Fashion Awards are the most ridiculous thing in the world, you're spending hundreds of thousands flying celebrities and everyone in, then the next day you're talking about sustainability and how you're supporting charities.'

They may be going through a rough patch in their relationship with their eldest son Brooklyn, but David and Victoria Beckham aren't letting it distract them.

Just days after it was revealed they'd sold their Miami penthouse for $24.65 million (£18.2 million), I can disclose that they've done what any prudent middle-aged couple would do – pay off the mortgage.

In this case, it was for a far from negligible $12.6 million (£9.3 million). Paying it off now eliminates monthly repayments of £36,783.

Cressida 'taking a break' from acting   

Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend is hitting pause on her acting career

Meghan Markle quit acting before marrying Prince Harry to embrace royal life, and now his ex-girlfriend actress Cressida Bonas is also hitting pause on her career.

But unlike Meghan, she wants to ditch her posh image.

'Since having children I've given acting a break,' Cressida, 37, says.

'In my 20s I was up for the stereotypical part of what I sound and look like. It's frustrating to be put in a box of privilege, and of my past relationship.'