He departed from royal service in dramatic fashion nearly three years ago, resigning as chief executive of the Prince’s Foundation following allegations that he’d discussed securing British citizenship – and a knighthood – for a Saudi tycoon who ultimately donated more than £1.5million to…the Prince’s Foundation.
But anyone who thinks that that was the last that they’d hear of one-time Buckingham Palace footman Michael Fawcett should think again.
Not only are his services, as an ‘events planner’, much in demand – thanks, I’m told, to the steadfast loyalty of longstanding, deep-pocketed clients, who marvel at his attention to detail – but he’s just trousered the best part of £800,000 in tax-free profit.
Amid persistent fears that it’s only a matter of time before Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Government levies Capital Gains Tax on the sale of ‘primary residences’, Fawcett, 61, has displayed characteristic adroitness.
He and his wife Debbie, a former housemaid at Buckingham Palace, have sold their own ‘palace’, a five-bedroom house just a mile from Hampton Court, for £1.3million.
RICHARD EDEN: Anyone who thinks that that was the last that they’d hear of one-time Buckingham Palace footman Michael Fawcett should think again
Fawcett resigned from one of Charles’ charities amid an alleged cash-for-honours scandal
Fawcett (L) started out with the Royal Family as a footman to Queen Elizabeth II in the 1980s
It’s a royal reward for the couple who bought the property for £490,000 in 2003. Thereafter, they ensured that it was refurbished to their own scrupulous standards – and boasted a portrait of Fawcett by acclaimed artist Peter Kuhfeld, who was commissioned by King Charles to paint the state portrait marking his Coronation.
The new owners don’t get their hands on the Fawcett portrait but can play with the knobs in his kitchen, which boasts two Miele ovens, a Miele microwave, a Miele extractor fan, a brace of fridge-freezers and an ‘integrated’ wine cooler.
Bedrooms are, of course, sumptuously carpeted. As chief executive of Dumfries House – the almost perfect Palladian mansion which the King ‘saved for the nation’ – Fawcett ensured that £40,000 of new carpet was laid, courtesy of a productive conversation with a philanthropic Arab gentleman.
It is, though, claims the estate agent, the rear garden – reached via bi-folding doors from the kitchen – that has ‘a real wow factor’, thanks to extensive ‘mature trees and shrubs’ and a summerhouse.
Only a matter of time, I’m sure, before Fawcett brings the same regal touch to the new residence which he and Debbie have bought eight miles away.
Emma’s reddy for her Marvel role
Who wears tights in summer? Emma Corrin, that’s who.
Corrin — Princess Diana in The Crown — demonstrated a quirky sense of style in a pair of red tights that matched her pointed-toe heels while promoting her latest film in Los Angeles, where the mercury reached 27C (81F).
The 28-year-old was arriving for an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to talk about the role in Marvel film Deadpool & Wolverine, in which the star plays a villain.
Corrin feared not being cast after meeting the director while suffering from the effects of a chemical peel: ‘I was trying to fix my skin and it basically removes a layer. I looked horrendous and my skin was all peeling off.’
Emma Corrin plays an antagonist in the new Marvel film, Deadpool & Wolverine
Face it, this familiar duo do dad proud
If the faces of these two women look vaguely familiar, there’s a reason why.
They are the daughters of Star Wars actor Ewan McGregor and rock star Sting — and they’ve been making a splash in the Hamptons, New York’s stylish seaside resort.
Mickey Sumner, 40, daughter of Sting and film producer Trudie Styler, joined her friend and fellow actress Clara McGregor, 28, whose mother is production designer Eve Mavrakis, at the Net-a-Porter and Mr Porter Hamptons Party.
Clara, who wore a sheer bralette with a pinstriped blazer suit, has previously admitted using her ‘nepo baby’ status to her advantage.
Speaking about her father, she said: ‘I have had a lot more opportunities because of who he is.’
Mickey Sumner (left) joined actress Clara McGregor (right) in New York on July 24
Eau de decay, Gio?
Is it just me, or is there a whiff of failure surrounding Giovanni Pernice?
The professional dancer, who quit Strictly Come Dancing after complaints about his behaviour, has slashed the prices of his fragrance range, Vita.
Bottles of 100ml will still set you back £63.75 (normally £75).
My suspicion is that the Italian’s former Strictly dance partner, Sherlock star Amanda Abbington who left the show abruptly last October, won’t be rushing to the shops.
Party girls who upset Ryan
Children’s birthday parties sound like riotous affairs chez Katherine Ryan.
The comedienne, 41, admits her daughter Violet’s seventh birthday bash a few years ago got out of hand.
‘There’s always alcohol at my kids’ parties,’ she says: ‘I would have wedding-style birthdays… The mums went wild. They refilled the champagne — they got especially gobby.
One of them started telling me: ‘I think a lot of the stuff you do is s***.’ ‘ Another tipsy mother suggested Ryan was having an affair with her spouse.
‘She lost her husband and came over, falling over the place, saying: ‘My husband’s at your house, isn’t he? He’s gone to your house.”
Ryan responded with: ‘Your ugly troll of a husband is not at my house.’
Ryan adds: ‘There’s always alcohol, but that year was the worst.’
Ms Ryan (pictured July 16) says there’s ‘always alcohol at my kids’ parties’
Vanessa Feltz was devastated when she split up with her fiancé, Phats & Small singer Ben Ofoedu, after 17 years together because he was unfaithful.
However, he hopes he can win the trust of voters.
He’s in formal talks to become the Tory mayoral candidate for the capital. ‘I’m going for mayor of London,’ he confirms at the Suki Wang London Summer Party at 180 The Strand.
He’s on a mission to restore law and order in Labour mayor Sadiq Khan’s crime-ridden capital.
Mr Ofoedu (pictured in 2021 with Ms Feltz) is in talks to become the Tory mayoral candidate
Aphra Brandeth, new Tory MP for Chester South & Eddisbury, admits she’s driven slightly round the bend by her father Gyles, himself once a Chester MP.
In her maiden speech in the Commons on Wednesday she acknowledged that she knew one of her predecessors ‘quite well — in fact, I have known him since I was born’.
She added that it could be ‘marvellous and sometimes irritating to have a parent who was himself an MP’.
