While Marcus Rashford’s future at Aston Villa remains uncertain after he completes his successful loan spell at the West Midlands club next month, fans can rely on Prince William tugging at the star’s heartstrings before the season’s done. These days known to be a familiar figure at the team’s training ground, where he enjoys lunches with squad members and talking tactics with manager Unai Emery, diehard Villa supporter William’s “special connection” with Rashford predates the forward’s arrival on loan from Manchester United in February.
As well as presenting Marcus with an MBE in 2021 for his free school meals campaign, the Prince’s bond with the England international was forged months earlier when he personally consoled the player following his Euro final penalty miss against victors Italy. More recently, they were spotted sharing a “big hug” and exchanging warm words prior to Villa’s clash with Paris Saint-Germain. Though among Rashford’s biggest admirers, Wills’ hopes he remains in claret and blue next season risk being dashed should La Liga giants Barcelona swoop, or if Villa (still in contention) fail to qualify for the Champions League.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Now confirmed to have left an estate of just £35,000, late singer and actress Marianne Faithfull, who died in January aged 78, frankly acknowledged she received handouts from Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards – as well as his son Marlon – in her latter cash-strapped years.
Ex-boyfriend Sir Mick Jagger notably wasn’t mentioned!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Touring the country with a one-man stage show about his life and times, cheekily entitled Nigel Havers Talking B*ll*cks, the old boy can’t help reflecting on what might have been.
Insisting he failed to take proper advantage of Hollywood interest following his role in the Oscar-winning Chariots Of Fire all those years ago (instead flying straight home after the 1982 Academy Awards for TV work in England), Nigel now ruefully concludes: “It explains why I’m touring a show called Talking B*ll*cks, rather than living in a villa in Malibu.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The decision to include a bottle of Balmoral whisky in the late Pope Francis’s royal hamper when he hosted the Queen in 2014 proved particularly canny. I’m reminded that the Pontiff was known to jokily describe scotch whisky as “the real holy water”.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Newly discovered written evidence suggesting William Shakespeare’s marriage to Anne Hathaway may have been happier than previously presumed brings back memories of Dame Judi Dench’s portrayal of the Bard’s wife in 2018 film All Is True.
Twenty-six years older than co-star Sir Kenneth Branagh (cast as Shakespeare), Judi was miffed when it was wrongly presumed she’d be playing William’s mother!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Reportedly romancing country musician Billy Ray Cyrus, Elizabeth Hurley, isn’t known to have been a fan of the American’s back catalogue previously. A keen punk in her youth, Liz has identified The Clash and The Sex Pistols as musical heroes – a far cry from Billy’s famous 1992 hit and line dancing favourite, Achy Breaky Heart…