EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Did Mary Berry help open the diplomatic gates to Gibraltar for Princess Anne?

Spaniards who covet Gibraltar usually feel offended when royals come to visit. Queen Sofia was not allowed to attend Charles and Diana’s wedding in 1981 because they were due to start their honeymoon on the Rock.

Ditto the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012 following Edward and Sophie’s visit.

Due to Spanish objections, Princess Anne – patron of the Gibraltar Literary Festival since 2016 – was not allowed to attend the actual event… until now.

Her plane was diverted to Malaga due to fog, so she was allowed to travel overland instead.

But would the fact that she was accompanied in the hastily arranged minibus by the saintly Dame Mary Berry have opened the diplomatic gates?

Her plane was diverted to Malaga due to fog, so she was allowed to travel overland instead (Photo: Rock of Gibraltar)

But would the fact that she was accompanied in the hastily arranged minibus by the sainted Dame Mary Berry (pictured) have opened the diplomatic gates?

Sussex mouthpiece Omid ScobieAccording to Harry and Meghan’s latest book, they were left in the dark about the late queen’s health as her end neared. That was indeed the case, says a source.

Keeping them informed risked details leaking to the media through ‘friends’, which is exactly what the king did not want. Of course, it is a mystery why Mystic Meghan did not foresee the events.

Scooby Doo claims that when the bad news arrived, Meghan had Harry answer the phone “just before it stopped.” A great gift of second sight.

ITV’s This Morning presenter Dermot O’Leary thought his guest presenter, the Duchess of York, could reveal some secrets of festive royal shenanigans, asking: ‘Can you give us a little insight into what Christmas dinner looks like with the royal family?’

The normally turbo-tongued Fergie replied: ‘Beans on toast.’

It’s all rather awkward: she was banned from attending Christmas celebrations with the Queen and Prince Philip for almost 30 years after her 1992 divorce from Andrew. King Charles invited her for the first time last year.

ITV’s This Morning presenter Dermot O’Leary (pictured) thought his guest presenter, the Duchess of York, would reveal some secrets of festive royal shenanigans, asking: ‘Can you give us a little insight into what Christmas dinner looks like with the Royal family? ‘

Elizabeth Hurleypictured, may not be sitting in the front pew at the funeral of actor Joss Ackland, who has died aged 95.

Looking back on his less memorable celluloid thrills, Joss mused, “I do an awful lot of nonsense, but if it’s not immoral, I don’t mind.

‘I was in Mad Dogs And Englishmen, a Liz Hurley thing, which was terrible and was rightly torn to shreds.’

Michael Gove famously cut off his old friend Dominic Cummings after turning on Boris. Can they be reconciled now?

Both were seen praying during the service at St. Bartholomew the Great Church in Smithfield on Sunday evening.

“Cummings sat next to a pillar, directly behind Gove, with an empty chair between them,” my eagle-eyed altar boy whispers. Unfortunately they didn’t speak.

The former comrades were present at the confirmation of former civil servant Pamela Dow, who worked with both.

Michael Gove (pictured) famously cut off his old friend Dominic Cummings after turning on Boris. Can they be reconciled now?

“Cummings (pictured) sat next to a pillar, directly behind Gove, with an empty chair between them,” my eagle-eyed altar boy whispers. Unfortunately they didn’t speak

The return of Doctor Who marks the final conclusion BBC Time Lord Tom Baker remembers his drinking companion Francis Bacon of the Colony Room Club watching the show on the TV in the Soho trough.

“He didn’t really understand why everyone was excited about it,” Tom tells Radio Times.

‘Francis was very flirtatious. He came closer and closer and said, “Mmm? Hmmm?’ as if he were absolutely electrified.” And not a Dalek in sight.