Tag: Queen

Drive On Phil

Public outrage over Prince Philip returning to the road is ridiculous suggests Matthew Steeples

Even the normally anti-PC Jeremy Clarkson has taken up the new popular cause of demanding Prince Philip be retired from the roads.

Yes, the royal had an accident (but one in which nobody was seriously hurt) and yes, he ought to wear a seatbelt whilst on the public highway, but one cannot expect this national security risk to exactly get out his bus pass and hop on the number 19.

“What the bloody hell is a man of that age doing behind the wheel of a car?” ranted Clarkson in a column for The Sun whilst the know-nothing and self-proclaimed ‘royal expert Ingrid ‘Sewage’ Seward also weighed in. She, without a shred of evidence to support her remarks, claimed the Queen was “likely annoyed” with her husband.

The Duke of Edinburgh, it was later revealed, supposedly passed an eye test and in spite of his faculties having most amusingly been off-centre for decades, the moaning Minnies should find something more important to get upset about. Drive on Phil!

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January 20, 2019
Illuminating the Illuminati

As ‘The Guardian’ explores the power of the Illuminati, Matthew Steeples argues that the few claiming links to such are nothing but mad, old cranks

This morning, The Guardian’s Martha Gill asked: “What is the Illuminati?” in an article that jokingly suggested Googling such would put one at “great personal risk.”

Referencing the organisation’s “top bananas – such as for example the Queen – [as] ancient lizards dating from an era before man existed” without even bringing the crackpot David Icke into it, politics, culture and neuroscience expert Gill made connections instead to Beyoncé, Madonna and Katy Perry. She called the Illuminati a “very clever cover-up” and a “myth” and a group that formed because a German philosopher named Adam Weishaupt “couldn’t afford the Freemason admission fee.” Overall, she concluded: “It is a powerful and savagely guarded organisation that secretly controls the entire modern world, probably while wearing cloaks. It has done this mainly through infiltrating the media and brainwashing everybody. It could be doing it right now.”

Whilst such claims are both countered and at the same time mocked in such works as Roman Polanski’s 2010 film The Ghost Writer –where a fictional former British Prime Minister turns out to have been controlled by a very shady operation named the Hatherton Corporation – what Gill misses is that the groups that continue to claim links to the Illuminati – such as the Ordo Templi Orientis – are, in fact, actually nothing but a bunch of mad, old cranks.

Follow The Steeple Times on Twitter at @SteepleTimes and Matthew Steeples at @M_Steeples.

November 22, 2017
Moron of the Moment – Emma Dent Coad

Hectoring horror and Labour MP for Kensington Emma Dent Coad’s remarks about the royal family simply illustrate her ineptitude for high office

Prior to the election, Emma Dent Coad was just a Kensington and Chelsea councillor, but, due to the ineptitude of Lady ‘Call me Victoria’ Borwick – a Tory with more interest in ivory than representing the 69% of her constituents that chose to vote ‘remain’ in the Brexit referendum – this equally awful red head unexpectedly also became Labour’s Member of Parliament for Kensington earlier this year.

Now, aside from bizarrely being lauded by the truly ghastly hypocrite Diane Abbott at Labour’s party conference in Brighton, this firebrand Commie has gotten herself into a lot of bother with a series of pugnacious remarks about the royal family.

Speaking at a fringe event, Dent Coad – whose Twitter handle contains numerous references to followers as “comrades” – told the assembled audience of anti-monarchists:

“[Prince] Harry can’t actually fly a helicopter. He tried to pass the helicopter exam about four times and he couldn’t get through it at all so he always goes for the co-pilot. So he just sits there going ‘vroom ‘vroom.”

“Harry and William are not very bright. Just let them drift away, be playboys or whatever… Their MP thinks the system is ridiculous. We should not be funding them.”

Turning to the Duchess of Cambridge, she remarked:

“It is disgusting [that she bought jumpers that cost £150 each]… That’s a food bill for a family of four. That’s absolutely outrageous.”

Of the Duke of Edinburgh, Dent Coad went further:

“The Queen might want to step back when her (cough, cough) soulmate is gone. He’s been mucking about and [been] quite unfaithful for quite a few years.”

Of press coverage on the royals, this ranting Labour loudmouth suggested:

“[The BBC produce] sickeningly gratuitous coverage of anything royal. [They are] very heavily directed by right-wing politics and the monarchy. It is a piece of the whole propaganda machine.”

Though plainly Dent Coad thinks herself very funny, the nation did not and on Twitter, Rupert Myers, a political correspondent for GQ and The Telegraph, termed the remarks “absolutely vile stuff.” Another user, @Ferruzzicati, added: “My god you are one opportunistic, virtue signalling ingrate. A disgrace to your office. Resign woman” whilst Ned Donovan of the Daily Mail rightly concluded: “[You] are an incredibly unpleasant and spiteful person.”

They are all right: Emma Dent Coad – a woman who previously sat on the TMO in charge of Grenfell Tower (and now wishes we’d all forget that) – should simply crawl back under the stone from whence she came. She is ridiculous, rude and would best rod off.

September 27, 2017
Ross Barr-Hoyland – What’s on your mantelpiece?

A 20-question interview with British men’s knitwear designer Ross Barr-Hoyland

The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

To aim to leave the world a better place than you found it.

“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

To strive to achieve and be better than the best person you could be.

Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2017?

The wars in the Middle East and Chechnya and what the regimes there are doing to gay men are unacceptable.

Our world is full of divisiveness and prejudice and Kerry Katona evidently went through an incredibly turbulent time in her life. The press unscrupulously had no shame in reporting such and instead of judging, we should be there to offer help and support and perhaps show some empathy and understanding.

Our lives are not always fairytales and “let they who are without sin cast the first stone” is a saying that springs to mind.

Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

I don’t think there is anything in my life as such that I miss. I am working on my business – which is a dream many would wish for. It is by no means easy, but I am lucky in many, many respects.

What might you swap all your wealth for?

I wish I had great wealth to swap, but if I had immense wealth I would give it to all the causes I support in many ways from The Prince’s Trust to Style for Soldiers, Children with Cancer UK and RUComingOut. Even if I only had pennies, I would still like to give what I could as there is always someone in need of help.

Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the state of the financial system?

I am by no means an expert but I do know everyone is finding it tough with cuts happening in every sector of business. I just keep my head down and focus on what I do in fashion and the revival of British manufacturing. What I will say is that my bank has been utterly incredible in supporting me with my business venture.

What phrase or word do you most loathe?

Being told I cannot do something.

In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

Aside from supporting the charities previously mentioned, I am honoured to have been supported myself by The Prince’s Trust. I serve them in whatever capacity they as a Young Ambassador and with the brand.

More generally, we might be an island nation but no man is. I think charity should be given where it is most needed.

The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?

I am never without my phone, but I would never condone using any devices to cause harm to others.

Mobile phones do have their perks and do allow us to literally have the world at our fingertips, but I do wonder what we would be seeing if we perhaps looked at the world around us and lived in the moment a little more.

If you could fill a carriage on the Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

With every single family member and friend who has supported and there for me and my business. We would have a good old knees-up and some much needed time off.

If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

Well, I hope to never end up there, but if I did, I’d choose my mother’s Sunday roast at home surrounded by my nearest and dearest. That would be the best way to go.

What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

That depends on the type of day you are having.

A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

A martini.

Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

I have enjoyed many so it would be rude to pick one in particular – especially as the memories of some are rather hazy.

Who is the most positive person you know?

I have to pick seven perpetually positive people who keep me going daily and they are Natasha Babar-Evans, Melissa Hulme, Sandie Chapman, Stephanie Ackrill, Sarah Agar-Brenan and Craig Burton.

I would also like to single out a person whom has inspired me immensely. Her name is Gaynor and she has just started a business called Holiday Hack. Over the last year, she’s faced some of the biggest obstacles anyone could have thrown their way but she hasn’t cried and she hasn’t crumbled. She is an incredible lady and always has a smile on her face – and she can also get you savings on a holiday too; maybe even on the Orient Express.

What’s your most guilty pleasure?

Having a long sleep wrapped up in my bed covers.

If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

A phoenix and a stag.

If you were a car, what marque would you be?

Someone answered this for me at a networking event a while ago. They described me as a Range Rover.

Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

People think I’m a ‘social butterfly’ but I’m actually a ‘pub with a just a few people’ kind of guy.

What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

Pictures of my family.

Ross Barr-Hoyland established his own men’s knitwear brand, Ross Barr, in September 2015 after being sponsored by the Enterprise programme of The Prince’s Trust. He focuses on reviving the British textile manufacturing industry by manufacturing in Britain.

Follow Ross Bar on Twitter at @RossBarrUK and Instagram at @RossBarrUK.

June 11, 2017
A Georgian Gem

Grade I listed Georgian mansion in Worcestershire for sale for the first time since the 1720s

Few houses remain in the ownership of the same family for three hundred years, but an example of such, Ombersley Court at Ombersley in Worcestershire, has just been placed on the market for £3.5 million ($4.5 million, €4.1 million or درهم16.7 million).

Designed and built for the 1^st Lord Sandys by the master builder Francis Smith of Warwick between 1723 and 1730, Ombersley Court was substantially alerted by the landscape architect John Webb in 1809. Grade I listed and featuring impressive entertaining spaces, the 27,449 square foot house comes with a 13,188 square foot Grade II* listed stable complex and 39 acres of land. A further 11 acres and a three bedroom cottage are available as separate lots.

Richard Michael Oliver Hill, 7th Baron Sandys of Ombersley (1942 – 2013) accompanying the Queen on her inspection of the Yeoman of the Guard

An image of Ombersley Court before the service extension that provided kitchen and staff accommodation (right) was demolished in 1964

Of Ombersley Court, Matthew Beckett of The Country Seat blog remarks:

“With the death of Lord Sandys in 2013 the house passed to Lady Sandys but following her recent death, concerns were raised and rebutted via letters in Country Life that this wonderful house would be forced (for complicated reasons) to become a care home; a fate which would have despoiled this jewel of a house. Instead, for the first time since it was built in 1724, it has been placed on the market. This is a house created by one of the finest craftsmen of the early-Georgian period, with connections to a wider, distinct Midlands architectural tradition which epitomises all that one would hope to see in a country seat”.

“As an important house which deserves respect, one hopes that the new owner will appreciate this remarkable situation and that perhaps the best approach would simply be to buy the house and contents and perhaps another couple hundred acres to truly secure an Arcadian ideal, one which would be hard to better anywhere in the country”.

The selling agents are Savills.

May 6, 2017
Old and New – Sloanes

New series contrasting the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ begins with Sloane Rangers

Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Lady Diana Spencer used to drink at The Admiral Codrington whilst Sloanes named Perdita and Peregrine downed gin like it was water in The Australian in Milner Street.

Loud braces and yellow cords sold like hot cakes and Peter York was king of all he surveyed. Now, in a new era, this socially elite set of characters have had to evolve and though the majority of Kensington and Chelsea is now colonised by wealthy foreigners, Sloane Rangers are still be found braying in Kings Road, SW3.

December 4, 2016
Obituary – Marisa Masters (1925 – 2016)

Remembering one of London’s great ladies, Marisa Masters (more…)

April 21, 2016
A Monarch’s Mulsanne

Bentley Mulsanne used by the Queen between 2012 and 2014 offered for sale for £70,000 more than a similar car without royal heritage (more…)

April 2, 2016
The £200k Range

Land Rover to launch Range Rover for the super-rich (more…)

November 5, 2015
Tips for Royal Ascot 2015

The Tout’s tips for Royal Ascot 2015 (more…)

June 14, 2015