EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Queen Camilla’s first husband Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles mourns the death of the man he describes as ‘the best company in the world’ who contacted him after four of his men were killed by an IRA bomb

For decades he has scrupulously refrained from uttering a word in public about his family or any of his friends. But today Brigadier General Andrew Parker Bowles is making an exception, following the death of the man he describes as ‘the best company in the world’.

In a heartfelt tribute, Parker Bowles – first husband and loyal friend of Queen Camilla – recalls in particular the darkest hour of his life, on July 20, 1982, when, as Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Regiment, four of his men and seven horses were killed by an IRA bomb.

In the aftermath of the attack, he received a letter from Ireland that he has kept ever since. ‘Wait a second. I get it,” he says, before reading the opening paragraph. ‘Dear Andrew, It’s been a long time since we’ve had contact. I’m just sorry that it’s such a terrible event that should bring us back into contact with each other. It may be difficult for you to understand the disgust that ordinary people in this country feel for the scum who have killed, supposedly in the name of Ireland.’

The writer was his friend Jonathan Irwin, who died on Sunday at the age of 82. At the time, Irwin, a buccaneer, Old Etonian Anglo-Irish, director of Goffs, the Irish blood auctioneers and, as Parker Bowles puts it, ‘a big figure there, involved in foot racing in Ireland. He said: ‘We would like to buy horses to replace the horses that have been killed.’

Old Etonian Anglo-Irish Jonathan Irwin died on Sunday at the age of 82

It was a remarkable offer. ‘I was very moved. Things were very difficult in Ireland at the time.’

Irwin was true to his word. ‘He brought everyone together and got his board to agree to give us £50,000.’

Irwin’s statement about the aversion to ‘the common man’ in Ireland also proved correct. Parker Bowles received letter after letter from Ireland expressing his disdain for the IRA, many with money orders attached. ‘Another £40,000 came in. After receiving the checks and discussing them with Jonathan, we decided it would be better to give them to the families of the dead.”

But the new horses for the Household Cavalry – purchased by the Ministry of Defense – did come from Ireland. “Probably 95 percent of the black horses still do that,” Parker Bowles reflects.

His friend endured the loss of one of the sons from his first marriage, to Mikaela Rawlinson, daughter of the late Attorney General Lord Rawlinson, and two more from his second marriage, to Mary Ann O’Brien.

But he and Mary Ann founded the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation – “a wonderful charity,” says Parker Bowles. ‘Jonathan was charming, he was entertaining – the best company in the world. And when he believed in a cause, it wasn’t talk, it was action. He was a man of action. A real man.’

Known for his no-nonsense demand to ‘give us the money’ at Live Aid, Bob Geldof could be forgiven if he made the same plea now as his company has lost £1.6m in investment.

The confused rock star, 72, has seen the value of Bcraft Ltd fall from £20.8m to £19.2m, with the accounts putting this down to plummeting assets.

Newly released figures show the losses all stem from his investments, which fell by £12.6m to £11m.

Sloppy rock star Bob Geldof, 72, has seen his company lose £1.6million in investment

Lady Helen joins the carol group – as a shepherd!

Lady Helen Taylor was Giorgio Armani’s muse for seventeen years and grew tired of wearing only his muted designs to public events. She once noted, “There is a limit to the number of navy blue jackets and white shirts you can wear in a year.” Now freed from her contract with the Italian fashion house, the 59-year-old daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent is drawing inspiration from a more diverse range of sources.

Lady Helen Taylor, 59, wore a pink and red dress, with a yellow string around her waist, from retailer Jigsaw’s collaboration with Roksanda

This week she appeared at a Christmas carol concert in Christ Church Kensington, west London, in a colorful, draped dress not unlike that worn by a shepherd in a nativity play. Lady Helen’s dress came from the collaboration between retail chain Jigsaw and designer Roksanda. Underneath her dress she wore a sparkling silver turtleneck, also from Jigsaw, and a pair of platform boots that were definitely not found in Bethlehem.

A big day for Forte’s little girl

Hotels heiress Irene Forte has made her own name with a successful skincare brand, but her focus this week was on holy water. Her eight-month-old daughter, Alisea, was baptized at Farm Street Roman Catholic Church in Mayfair.

Hotel heiress Irene Forte baptized her eight-month-old daughter Alisea at Farm Street Roman Catholic Church in Mayfair

The godparents included Petra Palumbo, daughter of Lord (Peter) Palumbo, a property developer who was a confidante of Princess Diana. “An important day for our special Alisea, the star of the show,” says Irene, daughter of Sir Rocco Forte. Oxford-educated Irene, 34, married tech boss Felix Winckler, 38, in Sicily in 2021 in a lavish wedding attended by her close friend Princess Eugenie.

Shoplifters target royal tailor Fedro

London’s shoplifting epidemic has even reached Savile Row, where King Charles buys his suits. Fedro Gaudenzi, who makes bespoke outfits for clients including members of the royal family, says a £25,000 jumpsuit was stolen straight from the railing of his Savile Row studio by two well-dressed women last Saturday – and he is appealing for its safe return.

London’s shoplifting epidemic has even reached Savile Row (pictured), where King Charles buys his suits

The unique garment took more than 2,400 hours to make and consists of 45 meters of high-quality silk chiffon. Gaudenizi says there was no price tag on the garment. “They probably just saw the piece in the window and really liked it,” he says. “I don’t think they stole it to resell; I think they wanted to wear it or for photos on social media.” The thieves are said to have smuggled the delicate jumpsuit out of the store in a Louis Vuitton handbag

Joe Wicks became the nation’s favorite PE teacher during lockdown, but he appears to have been a pain in the ass at school. “I don’t think I was always the nicest guy as a teenager, especially to friends and stuff,” admits the 38-year-old Body Coach guru who loves burpees.

Joe Wicks became the nation’s favorite PE teacher during lockdown, but he appears to have been a pain in the ass at school

‘I could have been nicer and more polite. At school I was also quite stubborn and lazy.’

He adds, “That’s all part of growing up, and you learn from your mistakes. Now I am always kind and respectful to everyone I meet.”

Emilia reveals love secrets

Mills & Boon, eat your heart out! Silent Witness star Emilia Fox says of her boyfriend, TV producer Jonathan Stadlen, 44: ‘We go to bed and tell each other every night how much we love each other. “We’ve been together for almost three years and we’re still going strong.” Fox, 49, who was previously married to Mad Men star Jared Harris, 62, says: ‘We feel like we’re married, but we’re not married. “We choose to marry each other every day, not in an official capacity, but by choosing to be with each other. So it is a daily marriage of love.”