Nobody lives the rock star life like Sting, whose talents have earned him a fortune of £320million with a spectacular collection of properties around the world, including a seven-bedroom beach house in Malibu and a Tuscan estate with its own vineyard.
But never assume those riches have clouded the The Police singer’s vision — especially when it comes to throwing a party, like he and his wife, film producer Trudie Styler, did just before Christmas.
The setting was Lake House, a magnificent 16th-century manor house set in 800 acres of grounds in Wiltshire, which the couple bought for £7million in 1990.
Nobody lives the rock star life like Sting, whose talents have earned him a fortune of £320million with a spectacular collection of properties around the world, including a seven-bedroom beach house in Malibu and a Tuscan estate with its own vineyard
Though built on an epic scale and almost sinfully comfortable after the renovation — which once led Trudie, 68, to consider they could warm an “entire hamlet” with the heating system they installed — the couple decided to throw the party to be held in a marquee on the site, which was redesigned shortly after acquiring the mansion by Arabella Lennox-Boyd, the doyenne of landscape design.
Perhaps few would have spotted anything awkward about the marquee—but Sting, I’m told, did. During the inspection before the arrival of the guests, he found an aesthetic defect. “It was the guy lines that held the tent up,” my Wiltshire mole tells me. “He said they were too visible – and ugly.” Since time was short, a quick solution was needed. The answer was to go to a nearby nursery and make a last minute purchase – lots of Christmas trees. “The marquee ended up having about 20 or 30 Christmas trees just to hide the guy lines,” I’m told.
Since time was short, a quick solution was needed. The answer was to go to a nearby nursery and make a last minute purchase – lots of Christmas trees. “The marquee ended up having about 20 or 30 Christmas trees just to hide the guy lines,” I’m told
Only one problem remained: the quick purchase had been exaggerated. “They had bought about 50 trees,” my source claims. “The ones that didn’t need them were returned to the nursery.”
This earned a bonus for locals who waited until the last moment to buy a tree. ‘The nursery gave them away. A lot of people ended up getting free Christmas trees.’ A bit of recycling that Sting, 71, and Styler, who founded the Rainforest Foundation in 1989, could only agree on.
When I ask Sting how his party went, he simply says, ‘Merry Christmas everyone.’
The setting was Lake House, a magnificent 16th-century manor house set in 800 acres of grounds in Wiltshire, which the couple bought for £7million in 1990
Elizabeth makes the ferry Happy New Year!
Isaac Ferry played matchmaker when he introduced his father, Roxy Music legend Bryan, 77, to his girlfriend Amanda Sheppard, 39. The party planner became Bryan’s second wife.
Now DJ Isaac, 37, has found his own wife. I heard he’s engaged to an American woman, Elizabeth Quartararo, with whom he lives in Mexico.
“I’m the happiest person in the world and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with my beloved Elizabeth,” he says. ‘We look forward to celebrating with all of our friends in the near future.’
Elizabeth studied at the private American University in London.
Now DJ Isaac, 37, has found his own wife. I heard he’s engaged to an American woman, Elizabeth Quartararo, with whom he lives in Mexico
A spell cast on His Majesty’s Lust seems to have worked wonders for Boris Becker’s finances. His company, BB Private Office, accounts for a pre-tax profit of £440,000 for the year to March. The balance sheet shows retained earnings of £280,000. This is only the second year the company has been in the black. But the money won’t benefit Becker as it will likely be used to pay off his creditors. The tennis legend, 55, was released from HMP Huntercombe before Christmas and deported to Germany after serving eight months in prison for concealing assets.
King Karl mourns the loss of his first cousin, Margrave Maximilian von Baden, who died yesterday at the age of 89. The Margrave was a son of Prince Philip’s sister Theodora of Greece and Denmark. Relations with our royal family are so close that the Margrave’s son and heir, Bernhard, was one of just 30 mourners at Prince Philip’s funeral, held in Windsor last year amid tight Covid restrictions.
Don’t look at those leftover uncooked sprouts with disgust: pop star Ellie Goulding says the festive vegetable is highly maligned.
“My brother, the chef, said stop cooking Brussels sprouts and giving it a bad name,” she advises. “Blanch in boiling water.
“Then soak them in ice-cold water for a few minutes. Then sauté in butter or oil with garlic and onions.’ Delicious!
Olivia is squeamish about hot scenes
Some actresses might be flattered to be cast as a woman with a much younger lover, but Olivia Colman has revealed that she has been trying to recreate her racy scenes from the upcoming film Empire Of Light, directed by Oscar-winning Sir Sam Mendes remove.
“I always wanted Sam to take out the sex scenes because I was so embarrassed,” says the 48-year-old actress – who stars alongside Michael Ward, 25, best known for his role on crime drama Top Boy” is known.
‘I said, ‘Why can’t they kiss, cut, and then pretend it already happened?’
Colman plays a cinema manager who forms a relationship with ticket salesman Ward in the romantic drama set in Margate, Kent in the 1980s.
“Michael was a lot more mature than me and helped me manage my nerves,” she adds.
Colman plays a cinema manager who forms a relationship with ticket salesman Ward in the romantic drama set in Margate, Kent in the 1980s
Booming-voiced Brian Blessed has a surprising passion. “My greatest love is silence,” explains the 86-year-old actor. “I stay up late. I like the silence I can get at midnight. I take the dogs out in the dark and sit on the lawn and the birds are quiet except for the occasional chirp.”
Tracey Emin, known for her unmade bed, is surrounded by unwrapped presents. “Christmas has come and gone. . . I still haven’t opened my presents,” the artist admits.
“I will at some point . . . The longest I’ve ever needed was July. I forced myself to open them before my birthday.” Emin, 59, adds: “I have a massive problem opening things. It’s mental and physical. Related to my childhood.
“It’s all part of my OCD. It drives me crazy and everyone else.’