It's generally one of the quietest times of the year with
just the Sydney Festival providing some light relief but last week was fairly
eventful for the normally deserted Paddington and Double Bay.
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| Najib Razak & Rosmar Mansor |
The Shuttle became embroiled in a minor fracas in Paddington
mid-week as we motored through the back streets and emerged onto William
Street, the tiny thoroughfare of smart boutiques (Gail shopped there for
chocolates for Oprah Winfrey when they were in town) to find the street blocked by a fierce looking black limousine- the four wheeled drive
variety now so beloved of today's celebrities. With two sunglass wearing black
suited gentleman blocking the traffic.
A full five minutes past before these self-appointed traffic
wardens graciously allowed the mounting traffic to pass, with a furious waving
of the hands as we inched our way past the shop and peered in to see who it was
that may have commanded such pomp and ceremony
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| King of Tonga |
But the plot thickens.
A report arrives that a similar vehicle was seen idling
outside an upmarket boutique in Double Bay the same afternoon. A well-known
paparazzi reports that as he began to take photographs of an "Asian looking" lady
who emerged from the shop and headed for the limo, he was suddenly confronted
by a pistol packing minder telling him to buzz off.
Co-incidentally word spread through the Bay that the
daughter of the Tongan rulers His Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV and Her
Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mataaled was on a shopping spree in Double Bay that day as well. Such excitement!
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| Queen Margrethe |
Meanwhile the crowned heads of Europe gave e their collective tiaras an outing at a grand party at Christiansborg Palace Chapelin Copenhagen
to celebrate Queen Margrethe II of Denmark's 40 years on the throne.
Naturally
the popular former Tasmanian Crown Princess Mary was featured along with a
variety of dethroned and serving royal heads such Pavlos & Mary-Chantal of
Greece (they have no last name-so chic!) Queen Silvia and King Gustav of Sweden
and Queen Sonja of Norway.
There is a Shuttle connection to Queen Margretthe. In her 20s she shared a flat in London with Jean Onions, the sister of Shuttle
contributor Bill Ranken.
And we have an exciting exclusive on the British Royal Family.
According to one report HM the Queen will announce her abdication at her Jubilee
celebrations later this year and handover to Prince William. No King Charles or
Queen Camilla-they are to by-passed for the younger and more glamorous Wills and
Kate.
The scoop comes to us courtesy of the newsofthewoldonline.
Sadly we note this must read glossy website no longer appears to feature our favourite minor German aristocrat Frederic Prinz von Anhalt as a show biz writer.
Married to the ailing Zsa Zsa Gabor, perhaps he has other things on his mind.
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And here is a snap that young Jack Vidgen sent us from the red carpet at last week's G'Day Ball in LA. Tonight he sings at the New York G'Day Ball.. he sent the following message :
