SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: Is Princess Bea batting for a bigger role in royal life?

By Sebastian Shakespeare

Published: 19:52 EST, 19 June 2014 | Updated: 07:37 EST, 20 June 2014


Princess Beatrice showed off her table-tennis skills when she reopened the Charles Read Academy school in Lincolnshire this week, but is she hoping to play a bigger part in royal life?

Princess Beatrice showed off her table-tennis skills when she reopened the Charles Read Academy school in Lincolnshire this week, but is she hoping to play a bigger part in royal life?

Princess Beatrice showed off her table-tennis skills when she reopened the Charles Read Academy school in Lincolnshire this week, but is she hoping to play a bigger part in royal life?

Prince Andrew is said to have long cherished an ambition for his daughter, who turns 26 in August, and her sister Eugenie, 24, to join him as working members of ‘the Firm’.

As well as cutting the ribbon at the academy, Fergie’s daughter — who performed relatively few royal duties until recently — carried out two other engagements.

She met students from nearby University Academy Holbeach and earlier visited the Isle of Wight, where she spoke to children from the Priory School.

Beatrice, who graduated in 2011 from Goldsmiths, University of London, started an internship at Sony Pictures Television’s London headquarters in January.

Buckingham Palace insists there is no change in Beatrice’s role.

‘She has a full-time job in the business sector, and occasionally carries out engagements in support of the Queen and the Duke of York as requested,’ says a spokesman.

 

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When Andrew was asked in 2009 if he wanted the Princesses to take on some of his duties, he replied: ‘If that is the sort of thing they want to do. I could make use of them because they would take some of the burden off me.’

 

Now Corbett's girl is selling fork handles

It was the Two Ronnies’ most celebrated sketch — and now Ronnie Corbett’s actress daughter Sophie is paying tribute by naming her new Brighton boutique Four Candles.

Sophie, who does TV commercial voiceovers for the likes of Talk Talk and Carte d’Or, has also roped in her father to cut the ribbon at next week’s grand opening.

The 1976 sketch saw Corbett, behind the counter in a hardware shop, mistake Ronnie Barker’s request for fork-handles and produce four candles instead.

Tribute: Ronnie Corbett's daughter Sophie is paying tribute by naming her new Brighton boutique Four Candles

Tribute: Ronnie Corbett's daughter Sophie is paying tribute by naming her new Brighton boutique Four Candles

Corbett, 83, will have Sophie’s mother and his wife of 49 years, the actress Anne Hart, by his side for the ceremony on Sunday, June 29.

Sophie, 45, says: ‘I have had such wonderful love and support from both my parents all my life that I wanted to pay tribute to them with the name for the boutique.

‘We shall be selling everything imaginable, ranging in price from £4 to £1,200, including luxury bohemian clothes and bags, designed by me and made on the premises by my own designer label, Maud, as well as handmade furniture.

‘My only sadness is that Ronnie Barker isn’t still around to join us all at the opening.’

Much-loved: The 1976 sketch saw Corbett, behind the counter in a hardware shop, mistake Ronnie Barker's request for fork-handles and produce four candles instead

Much-loved: The 1976 sketch saw Corbett, behind the counter in a hardware shop, mistake Ronnie Barker's request for fork-handles and produce four candles instead

 

Proof Carina has beauty AND brains

Is there anything Cambridge University student Carina Tyrrell can’t do? Fresh from winning this week’s Miss England pageant,  I hear the 24-year-old medical student achieved a distinction in her pathology exams, which she sat prior to Monday’s final.

Despite criticism from the likes of Germaine Greer, who mocked Carina’s claim the competition celebrated brains and beauty and said she was ‘far too thin’, Carina can rest assured that her Cambridge college, Murray Edwards, is right behind her.

The college president, former Oxfam chief executive Dame Barbara Stocking, has written to students congratulating Carina, saying, ‘We want the outstanding young women from Murray Edwards to have the confidence to achieve their goals.’

Not to mention that Carina,  who will compete in the Miss World pageant in October, is probably England’s best hope  for winning a world championship this year.

Fresh from winning this week's Miss England pageant Cambridge University student Carina Tyrrell achieved a distinction in her pathology exams

Fresh from winning this week's Miss England pageant Cambridge University student Carina Tyrrell achieved a distinction in her pathology exams

 

It is a common lament that no one writes letters any more. But historian  Hugh Trevor-Roper, who failed to spot the fake Hitler diaries, was a master of the form. His editor Richard Davenport-Hines will be talking at Chalke Valley History Festival next Thursday about the correspondence Trevor-Roper left behind.

‘His letters make unexpected parallels and give reminders of forgotten absurdities,’ says Davenport-Hines.

‘Such as William Hague’s suggestion that Heathrow should be renamed Diana Airport.’

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Two options. Get a real job OR cut a ribbon once every six months. No contest.

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Just wondering why that wannabe royal boyfriend of hers doesn't marry her. he is the one desperately to join the firm.

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"When Andrew was asked in 2009 if he wanted the Princesses to take on some of his duties, he replied: ¿If that is the sort of thing they want to do. I could make use of them because they would take some of the burden off me." Now what burden would that be Andrew?

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She has a full-time job in the business sector, and occasionally carries out engagements in support of the Queen and the Duke of York as requested,¿ says a spokesman..............................you could not make it up . oh sorry they just did

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if yes will we see more pics of her and milla please DM :)

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I thought she was getting a job. Perhaps this was it...cutting ribbons, shaking hands and waving. Just like her dear old dad. Useless waste of public money.

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These girls get blasted for everything, yet over the years they have supported each other, the family and many charities, they are a credit to the royal family

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A monarchy rises and falls on the RESPECT and AFFECTION of its people - Those risible, self-important Yorks have neither - and if the survival of the monarchy was dependant on them, there would be a republic tomorrow! It remains no secret and gives me no pleasure to say, that the Queen's four children are deeply unpopular with the public and without the much needed, breath of fresh air provided by the three Princes William, Harry, George and indeed Kate - on the death of this beloved Queen - the monarchy would become a footnote in British history.

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It'll take her off the breadline !

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Burden. Right, Andrew. Life is so difficult.

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