EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Prince William surrounds himself with sycophants and needs Prince Harry to bring him down to earth, claims Princess Diana’s confidante Tina Brown

Prince William last week revealed his future plans for his role in the monarchy, saying he would take on duties with “a smaller ‘r’ in the royal family.”

But his comments to reporters accompanying him on his trip to South Africa have left royal biographer Tina Brown deeply impressed.

The former Vanity Fair editor, who had lunch with Princess Diana just weeks before her death, has accused the Prince of Wales of not showing King Charles enough respect. And she claims that William surrounds himself with sycophants.

Prince Harry, with whom he no longer speaks, was able to keep his brother’s feet on the ground, Brown argues.

“William didn’t help the mood by giving a cheeky interview at the end of his trip to South Africa for the Earthshot Prize,” Brown, 70, wrote on her Substack blog, called Fresh Hell.

Prince William revealed his future plans for his role in the monarchy last week

His comments to reporters accompanying him on his trip to South Africa have left royal biographer Tina Brown deeply impressed.

The former editor of Vanity Fair has accused the Prince of Wales of not showing King Charles enough respect

He told reporters about his plans to “do things differently” and then mentioned “impact philanthropy, collaboration, coming together and helping people.” In short, everything his father has done over the past fifty years…’

Offensively, she adds: ‘William’s comment that his plans for a caring, sharing monarchy include ‘bringing in some empathy’ made him sound like a performative pinhead. In happier years it was the irreverent Harry (or Harold, as William luridly called him) who could tease the Prince of Wales and bring him down.’

Brown, the widow of legendary newspaper editor Sir Harold Evans, is known for her controversial comments.

Last month, she called the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to step down from their royal duties in 2020 “a disaster.”

Brown added: “The problem with Meghan is that she has the worst judgment of anyone in the world. She is flawless when it comes to doing it all wrong.”

Prince Harry book sale

The Duke of Sussex’s publisher, Penguin Random House, has reason to regret its decision, which I announced in August, not to grant interviews to publicize the paperback edition of his tawdry memoir, Spare.

Because the cheaper edition of Harry’s book is in 73rd place in the official British Top 50.

The autobiography sold barely 3,000 copies in its second week of publication.

That compares with the 12,000 copies sold of Richard Osman’s latest novel or the almost 10,000 copies sold of Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat: Home To Roost.

The hardcover edition of Spare broke bookstore records and was the best-selling book in Britain last year, with more than 700,000 copies sold.

Bridgerton star’s spicy Pirelli snap

Simone Ashley plays Kate, the demure wife of Viscount Bridgerton in the hit Netflix costume drama

The black and white snap leaves little to the imagination, with just a small piece of fabric surrounding the 29-year-old’s lower body

This would certainly ruffle Lady Whistledown’s feather!

Simone Ashley, who plays Kate, the demure wife of Viscount Bridgerton in the hit Netflix costume drama, has stripped down for her racy new role as the 2025 Pirelli calendar girl.

The black and white snap leaves little to the imagination, with just a small patch of fabric around the 29-year-old’s lower body.

Simone, from Surrey, says she found it a ‘challenge’ to convey tire manufacturer Pirelli’s theme of ‘innovation and revelation’ in the photo, taken by American photographer Ethan James Green.

“I love that Ethan has the mantra of less is more and that there is beauty in subtle movements,” she muses.

Elton John’s flamboyant gesture

It was a typically flamboyant gesture from Elton John as he wooed his future husband, David Furnish.

The filmmaker has revealed that when Sir Elton invited him to dinner he ordered the entire menu from an expensive Chinese restaurant – because he didn’t know what Furnish liked.

“I got to the house and there were four giant cardboard boxes on the counter, and the table was set for two people, and I said, ‘Who else is coming? What’s all this food for?’

Furnish tells the Ruthie’s Table 4 podcast: “It was from Mr. Chow [in Knightsbridge]and Elton didn’t know what I liked – so he ordered the whole menu. I had never been to Mr. Chow’s before. I had never had high end Chinese food before. But it was a really delicious meal.’

The Norwegian royal couple wins the Guru Prize in LA

Prince Harry and Meghan, who have collected a string of dubious awards since moving to California, aren’t the only royals to receive accolades.

Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her husband, Durek Verrett, received the Global Inclusivity Award from Gurus Magazine in Los Angeles.

“To be recognized for our commitment to our community of loving souls is a great honor. I am very grateful for this prestigious recognition,” said Durek, 49, a bisexual shaman known as Hollywood’s hottest guru.

Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her husband, Durek Verrett, received the Global Inclusivity Award from Gurus Magazine in Los Angeles

The nightmare of the Bishop of Hereford in New Zealand

Nightmare for the Bishop of Hereford, Richard Jackson, Queen Camilla’s favorite preacher and a possible successor to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

As recently noted here, Jackson is leaving for New Zealand in January on a three-month sabbatical and may therefore be out of the country when a new archbishop is elected. Has he bought his plane tickets yet?

If so, can they be canceled without it looking too obvious? Let’s pray for the poor guy.

Paul O’Grady’s liquidated company

Paul O’Grady’s private company Buster Productions, which he used to channel his income, has been declared bankrupt, with the presenter’s estate set to receive £8.5 million as a result of its closure.

O’Grady, who died last year aged 67, left £15.5million in his will. The pot is expected to be split between his widower Andre Portasio, daughter Sharon and sister Sheila.