Jam wars? Not quite. Much has been made of the Princess of Wales’s offer to send her recipe for plum jam to young gardeners, in what many have interpreted as a ‘snub’ to her sister-in-law in the States.
The Duchess of Sussex is currently producing her own range of jams under her brand ‘As Ever’, having teased the preserve last year when she sent samples to friends and influencers.
In one of her recent selfie Instagram videos relaunching the brand, Meghan said: “Of course there will be fruit preserves, I think we’re all clear at this point that jam is my jam.”
But let’s not forget that Kate has a long history of home baking and, during her first Christmas with the Royal Family in 2011, reportedly gave the late Queen Elizabeth a homemade chutney as a gift. The following year she is said to have given out strawberry jam and plum preserve as Christmas presents.
Jam is a royal affair, with the King selling products from the Duchy of Cornwall estate since the 1990s. He continues to sell produce from the gardens of his own private home in Highgrove – including strawberry preserve and marmalade.
While many in the anti-Meghan brigade have seized on Kate’s very candid offer to send young volunteers at a community garden who were growing plums and turning them into jam her recipe as a not-so-subtle dig, it was nothing more than a kind offer.
There was no malicious intent behind it, nor William’s description of her homemade preserve as “amazing”. Aides were unsurprisingly left exasperated and a bit flustered when they realised what headlines would surely follow.
But there’s no need to pit the two women against each other – as lets face it, there’s only ever going to be one winner and there’s no prizes for guessing who.
Whatever the Queen has been drinking this week – I want some. She’s laughed, smiled and hand-shaked her way through another busy line-up of engagements and didn’t know where to look when she came face-to-face with a scantily-clad Gladiator.
On Tuesday she revealed she and the King had welcomed a new edition – eight-week-old puppy Moley – having been left heartbroken when Beth, a Jack Russell Terrier, died last November. Aides gave each other knowing looks as the Queen spoke of the happy news in front of the media, knowing all too well what reporters would be leading on.
She then spent almost 15 minutes shaking hands and saying hello to well-wishers in the rain, an unusually long time when riding solo. On Wednesday, her high spirits continued as she cheekily went on the hunt for her husband to help her ladle curry into takeaway boxes on a visit to an Indian restaurant.
“Gentlemen, we are waiting!” she said, brandishing her box and coughing loudly to catch the King’s attention.
Then, on a solo engagement later that afternoon, the Queen was left giggling when she met the BBC’s Gladiator star Nitro at a Palace reception, who was dressed in his skimpy spanx leotard that didn’t leave much to the imagination. She may be 77, but Camilla appears to be as lively as ever, and her trademark wink and cheeky smile are never far away.
Brace yourselves for the onslaught of coverage on Meghan Markle’s new Netflix show this week, as it’s released onto our screens from Tuesday morning after a two-month delay.
The series will see the duchess share cooking, gardening and hosting tips.
And journalists, fans and critics won’t be the only ones tuning in – as Palace aides will be allocated an episode each to make sure they are clued-up on the Sussex’s latest antics.
But you can be rest assured that the communications office will not be offering an official response to the show or any slights – subtle or otherwise – against the Royal Family.
The silent treatment has been the approach adopted by monarchy HQ, with no response given to Harry’s memoir Spare, his promotional interviews or their joint Netflix series: Harry & Meghan.
I hope Sir Timothy Laurence enjoyed his 70th birthday yesterday.
The ‘invisible man’, as he is so-often referred, is understood to have marked the milestone with a low-key dinner with friends and family at the home he shares with his wife on the Gatcome Park estate.
The former Naval officer has been an unwavering support to Princess Anne and the wider Royal Family throughout their 32 years of marriage and his invaluable role often goes unnoticed.
Their relationship may have got off to an inauspicious start – having wed during the late Queen’s annus horriblis – but the pair have become a staple of the Firm as we know it.
Sun sea and cocktails are on the agenda this week as I’ve jetted off to Mexico for some much-needed R&R.
Sadly, that means I’ll be taking a week off from my column as I attempt to break last year’s record of reading four books in a week. My colleague Jasmine Carey will be here in my place, keeping you abreast of all the royal comings and goings.
I’m currently obsessed with US thriller author Freida McFadden (I’ve read 10 of her books in the past six months) but I’m hoping to broaden my horizons when I browse Waterstones at Gatwick. Any recommendations welcome!
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