EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Prince Andrew is currently in command at Buckingham Palace... and hopefully this time he won't be mistaken for an intruder

The departure of senior royals from London – Charles and Camilla head for Scotland today – means the Duke of York is in command of Buckingham Palace. 

Prince Andrew enjoys having the palace to himself, even though he must tolerate the thousands of tourists who wander around the state rooms when the Queen is away. 

Two years ago, armed police failed to recognise him as he strolled in the gardens and ordered him to lie face down. A friend gave him a St Christopher medallion inscribed: ‘I am the Duke of York.’

The Duke of York (right) is in command of Buckingham Palace as other senior royals are away from London

The Duke of York (right) is in command of Buckingham Palace as other senior royals are away from London

 

Small but perfectly formed ex-Observer editor Donald Trelford, 77, tells Oldie readers that the headmaster at his secondary school asked him in front of 500 boys at assembly: ‘What’s your name and how tall are you?’ Trelford puffed out his chest and declared: ‘Four foot and half an inch, sir.’ 

The headmaster told the assembly: ‘May I introduce Mr Trelford, the smallest boy admitted to this school since it was founded by Queen Isabella in 1344.’

 

English-born Aussie singer Olivia Newton-John, 66, has launched her own wine, Pink and Blue for Two (or PB42), to support cancer awareness and treatment, with part of the profits going to her Melbourne charity. Olivia, who survived breast cancer, became a star in the 1978 movie Grease with John Travolta.

Currently headlining at the Flamingo in Las Vegas, she has brought out a new live album, Two Strong Hearts, saying: ‘I’m happy and I think being happy keeps you looking young.’ Sound advice.

 

Disgraced Lord Sewel narrowly missed out last year on Scotland’s highest honour – the Knights of the Thistle. He passed the vetting process but lost out to another life peer, Lord Smith of Kelvin. 

Modern scandals and the long shadow of Operation Yewtree (the police investigation into historic sexual crimes) make it increasingly difficult for scrutiny panels to select candidates. Three vacancies remain in the Order of the Garter and three in the Order of Merit.

Disgraced Lord Sewel narrowly missed out last year on Scotland’s highest honour – the Knights of the Thistle. He passed the vetting process but lost out to another life peer, Lord Smith of Kelvin

Disgraced Lord Sewel narrowly missed out last year on Scotland’s highest honour – the Knights of the Thistle. He passed the vetting process but lost out to another life peer, Lord Smith of Kelvin

 

The Garrick Club’s continued refusal to accept women members has deprived it of a valuable artefact. In 2000, the bibulous literary agent Giles Gordon said he would bequeath to the club his 18th-century edition of Shakespeare – once owned by the actor David Garrick, after whom the club is named – ‘on condition that women are eligible for membership by the time I die’. The much-missed Gordon, who left us in 2003, enjoyed the company of women.

 

Voice of Racing Sir Peter O’Sullevan, who died yesterday aged 97, was, until quite recently, still driving his powerful VW Golf to race meetings, even being stopped for speeding returning from the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in Paris. 

He was 95 at the time. Required to undergo an annual eyesight test, his most recent visit uncovered a slight deterioration. The optician told him he would have to notify the DVLA. Peter told friends of his response: ‘I changed my optician.’

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