Every picture tells a story and model and actress Poppy Delevingne appears to be beaming with happiness as they walk hand in hand with what looks a lot like a new friend.
He is Prince Constantine Alexios of Greece and Denmark, who also happens to be Prince William’s godson.
As my exclusive photos show, Poppy – who is still married to her husband of eight years, James Cook – was spotted out walking with Constantine in west London, close to where she lives.
Their public display of love didn’t stop there, as an eyewitness tells me: “They were standing in the middle of a bookstore kissing and hugging — they certainly weren’t afraid to be seen together.”
Despite the 12-year age difference between Poppy, 36, and 24-year-old Constantine – known to his pals as Tino – they have reportedly been enjoying each other’s company for some time.
RICHARD EDEN: Poppy Delevingne appears to be beaming with happiness as she walks hand in hand with what looks a lot like a new boyfriend
Rumors about the state of Poppy’s marriage began to circulate since James, 43, resigned last month as director of her company Poppy Delevingne Limited, the company that files the accounts for her “photographic activities”.
Celebrity dating app Raya added a new account in November with pictures that appeared to be of James, but he never confirmed if it was his account or if someone had opened a parody account instead.
Poppy and James, who works for his family’s aerospace company, tied the knot at a church ceremony in Knightsbridge in 2014, with top model sisters Cara, 30, and Chloe, 37, among their many bridesmaids.
While the couple is yet to publicly address their split, Poppy and James reportedly called it quits early last year.
Meanwhile, Tino, son of Crown Prince and Princess Pavlos, is often regarded as one of the most eligible royal bachelors in Europe. He is the grandson of the late Greek King Constantine II, who was a cousin of King Charles and one of Prince William’s five godparents. He died last month at the age of 82.
Delevingne officials could not be reached for comment.
RICHARD EDEN: He is Prince Constantine Alexios of Greece and Denmark, who also happens to be Prince William’s godson
A right (and left) goodbye for Johnson
He began his epic, nearly 70-year career as a man of the left before turning devastatingly on them in the 1970s, denouncing unions as “gangsters”.
But both wings of the political spectrum were represented this week in London at the funeral of Paul Johnson, author and fearless columnist, who died last month aged 94.
Tony Blair, accompanied by his wife Cherie, sat in the same row as Boris Johnson – no relative of Paul – and Michael Gove. Elsewhere were historian Lord Roberts of Belgravia, Lord Powell of Bayswater – Lady Thatcher’s foreign policy adviser – and even Alan Yentob, former creative director of the BBC.
But there was no sign of John Major or Neil Kinnock. Maybe not too surprising. “There was practically nothing there,” Johnson wrote, valuing Major as Prime Minister before adding to Kinnock that “almost any Tory” would have “beaten that windbag”.
Jimmy Hill’s widow, author Bryony, recalls the time the big-chinned footballer-turned-pundit met sex symbol Raquel Welch: “Jimmy was helping promote one of her films in the 1970s and took her to see Chelsea.” (FC) play the way they said keep an eye on (player) Peter Osgood.’ Bryony adds, “Jimmy then arranged a press conference for Raquel, which went so well that she uttered the immortal words, ‘How would you like to treat me in Europe, James?’ Priceless.”
Lord, who would be an incomparable 007
With the name of the actor set to play the next James Bond still a closely guarded secret, it seems Lord Ashcroft is trying to throw his hat into the spy ring.
RICHARD EDEN: The former Tory party treasurer has even bothered to put his face on the body of outgoing 007 Daniel Craig
The former Tory party treasurer has even bothered to put his face on the body of outgoing 007 Daniel Craig – and filmed a short video demonstrating his suitability for the role with a selection of footage of Bond running around , adjusting his watch and throwing people off airplanes.
“There is speculation about who the next James Bond will be, so I submitted my application,” says the 76-year-old.
Unfortunately for Ashcroft, just last year, 007 supremo Barbara Broccoli revealed that she thought producers were a long way from knowing who would take on the mantle of super spy. “The thing is, it’s going to take a couple of years. And if we cast Bond, it’s a 10-12 year commitment,” she said.
The intelligent set talks about..
Maddie Mills and her big screen debut
TV producer Simon Mills and his ex-wife Yasmin will no doubt swell with pride after daughter Maddie took her first steps in the film industry.
The 23-year-old made her screen debut alongside Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels star Nick Moran, 53, in the short Bad Vibrations which premiered this week at the Everyman Screen on the Green cinema in north London.
“So proud that my Maddie can hold her own against an actor as experienced and established as Nick Moran,” said Yasmin, a public figure who now works as an eco-events organiser.
“Director Ben Edwards saw her potential some time ago and got her small roles in other films.”
In Bad Vibrations, Maddie (pictured) plays the character of Singer, a beguiling young woman with a dark secret.
In Bad Vibrations, Maddie Mills (pictured) plays Singer, a beguiling young woman with a dark secret
Sir Brian May understands that in some people’s eyes Queen will never be fully accepted – following the death of frontman Freddie Mercury in 1991. “I think when people see Queen on a record label they still want it to be Freddie sings. It could be Jesus, but they still want Freddie. And I don’t blame people for that,” says the 75-year-old guitarist.
(Very) modern manners
The Freuds hardly had the most conventional upbringing, but I was still quite surprised to discover that one of their father’s most treasured paintings by Esther Freud is of a man in his birthday suit.
Currently in Australia, Esther was visiting an art gallery where she was delighted to discover that they had one of her father Lucian’s paintings in the storeroom, and even more so when she discovered that it was one of her favorite paintings.
“A friend called ahead of time to see if one of my father’s paintings was on display,” she says. There weren’t any, but they couriered this one over from the warehouse. It was in good company with a Picasso and a Bacon.’
I’m glad they didn’t drop it, it would have been a Freudian slip.
RICHARD EDEN: Quite surprised to discover that one of Esther Freud’s most valuable paintings shows a man in his birthday suit of her father
Anthea Turner is certainly the forgiving kind as she doesn’t seem to have any regrets marrying Grant Bovey who later cheated on her.
“I’m a half-full woman and I always think about all the good things that have come out of our marriage,” the former Blue Peter presenter, 62, tells me at a red carpet event in London.
“People who walk around with a lot of regret and blame never really get ahead. I’m moving on, I’m not a natural resident, and I think it’s a female sense of survival,” she adds inspirationally.
Anthea, whose first husband was former DJ Peter Powell, is hoping for happiness a third time when she finally marries socialite Mark Armstrong.
According to beauty entrepreneur Trinny Woodall, aging is not the end of the world.
The 59-year-old – who is romantically involved with art collector Charles Saatchi – is thankful that failing eyesight goes hand in hand with failing facial features.
“When I put my glasses on, I feel like nobody should ever have their eyesight corrected completely,” she says. “God is kind, he has given us a slightly fading vision over the years.”
Sitwell pays a last-minute tribute to Westwood
RICHARD EDEN: Martha Sitwell has managed to ensure that all eyes are on her
With such a range of weird and wonderful outfits seen at Dame Vivienne Westwood’s star-studded memorial service this week, standing out from the crowd has never been easy.
But Martha Sitwell managed to ensure all eyes were on her – by showing up in an ashtray-inspired Victoria Grant fascinator.
Following Dame Vivienne’s spectacular farewell, Martha, 42, the 42-year-old former face of Royal Ascot and seemingly new face of Rothmans Royals, says she now feels “revived to cut the c**p, be present and be out in the world.” to rescue ‘.