EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Woke lasers plan misses the target at Prince Harry's Games
The Duke of Sussex’s friend, Dr Jane Goodall, predicted in 2020 that Harry would stop shooting ‘because Meghan doesn’t like hunting, so I suspect that is over for him’.
He hasn’t been seen with a gun since.
Now, shooting appears to be over for contestants at his Invictus Games as well.
I hear that, in a ‘woke’ move, organisers of the tournament in Canada next month have replaced rifles with lasers in the biathlon, which combines Nordic skiing with target shooting.
However, the move appears to have backfired, with participants claiming that Harry, founding patron of Invictus, and his colleagues have failed to realise that the lasers don’t always work in the snow.
The competition will be held at Whistler ski resort.
US army veteran Christopher Bryde says: ‘We had a couple of issues with the cold and some of the [laser] guns just not working. Also, snow seemed to obstruct some of the targets.’
Bryde, who lost both legs below the knee after he was wounded by a bomb in Afghanistan, explains to Fieldsports Channel: ‘For example, I shot perfectly for five laps and then in one lap I only hit one target. We checked out the gun and there was a bit of snow covering the laser thing [lens].’
The Duke of Sussex ’s friend, Dr Jane Goodall (pictured), predicted in 2020 that Harry would stop shooting
Prince Harry (pictured with Meghan Markle) created the Invictus Games for injured and sick service personnel in 2014
Harry created the Invictus Games for injured and sick service personnel in 2014 and this will be the first tournament to feature winter sports.
He and Meghan visited Whistler last February to see how preparations for the nine-day tournament were going.
A spokesman for the Invictus Foundation tells me: ‘The principal reason for the lasers is inclusivity. [They] can be used by a wide range of those with disabilities.’
On the issue of snow blocking the lasers, the spokesman insists: ‘That wouldn’t be the case, as there would be officials on site ensuring readiness for the rifles.’
Now pop singer Rita’s worth £5 million m-Ora
She was replaced as a panellist on ITV’s The Masked Singer show by Maya Jama, and her pop career seems a bit quiet, but Rita Ora still hits the big notes when it comes to making money.
I hear the Londoner, 34, who married New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi, 49, in 2022, increased her fortune by £5million last year, on the back of music sales, television and acting work and profit on a property investment.
Newly filed accounts for her three companies, Rora Properties, Ora Multi-services and Ora Live, disclose that she had total assets of £27million in the year to last April, before bills.
The Londoner, 34, who married New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi, 49, in 2022, increased her fortune by £5million last year, on the back of music sales, television and acting work and profit on a property investment
Has Suki tied the knot with Robert?
Suki Waterhouse, who is rumoured to have wed her fiance, Twilight star Robert Pattinson, in the Caribbean, has shared some holiday snaps.
In this one, the model, pop singer and actress, who won praise for her performance as a 1970s rock star in hit Prime Video drama Daisy Jones & The Six, poses on the beach in a bikini top and shorts.
A source claimed to have seen Suki, 33, exchanging vows with fellow Londoner Pattinson, 38, with just close friends and family present, including their ten-month-old daughter.
The insider said: ‘Robert Pattinson and Suki Waterhouse got married on New Year’s Eve at the Caribbean resort I work at. Their baby was a gorgeous little bridesmaid.’
Suki Waterhouse, who is rumoured to have wed her fiance, Twilight star Robert Pattinson, in the Caribbean, has shared some holiday snaps
Clapton’s softer side
Swinging Sixties icon Pattie Boyd, who was married to Beatles star George Harrison before being pursued by his close friend Eric Clapton in the 1970s, auctioned off a hoard of love letters from both men, as well as some of her private possessions at Christie’s in London last year.
Now, Pattie, 80, claims she did guitarist Clapton, 79, a favour by making his letters public. ‘I don’t know whether Eric is upset that I sold the letters.
‘I’m not really too sure, but if he is, he shouldn’t be. I’m allowing everyone to see what a creative man he is, what a beautiful writer – his handwriting is exquisite – so I am showing another part of him. Not just the guitar player and songwriter, but a romantic.’
Pattie, 80, claims she did guitarist Clapton, 79, a favour by making his letters public. The two are pictured posing at a party at the Cherokee Studios
Pete Doherty's single inspiration
Clean-living (currently) rocker Pete Doherty took inspiration from a fellow chronicler of life’s vicissitudes for his new single, Felt Better Alive.
He says, ‘“Dredging the mouth of the Humber” is a line from Tony Hancock about coagulated sprinkled sugar collecting in the bottom of a bowl of cornflakes.’
The Libertine imbibed East Cheam’s finest from birth – his father Peter Doherty Snr ran a branch of the Tony Hancock fan club.
Clean-living (currently) rocker Pete Doherty took inspiration from a fellow chronicler of life’s vicissitudes for his new single, Felt Better Alive
Lord Swire backs Traitors eligible bachelor
Watching BBC hit Traitors with her husband, former Foreign Office minister Lord Swire, Tory diarist Sasha Swire says they are rooting for eligible bachelor contestant Alexander Dragonetti.
Sasha, whose 2020 book on life in Tory inner circles caused a stir, says of the ex diplomat: ‘Little known fact of the day: hottie Alexander Dragonetti was my husband’s Private Secretary... he taught him all his skills!’
Former Foreign Office minister Lord Swire and Tory diarist Sasha Swire says they are rooting for eligible bachelor contestant Alexander Dragonetti
£10,000 a seat for Farage talk
Reform UK style themselves as the party of the disenfranchised working classes, but they enjoy mixing with billionaires.
I hear that next week its leader, Nigel Farage, and treasurer, property tycoon Nick Candy, are hosting a fundraising dinner at Oswald’s, Robin Birley’s Mayfair private members’ club where the super-rich mix with royals and Hollywood stars.
Tickets are £10,000 for "general seating" or £25,000 for "VIP seating". An advert sent to members says: ‘Join us as Nigel Farage presents his vision for the country.’
Who needs the £100million Elon Musk was said to be planning to donate before deciding Farage ‘Doesn’t have what it takes’ to lead the party?
Nigel Farage during a meeting with Elon Musk at Mar-A-Lago
Terence Stamp dressing up again
At the age of 86, Terence Stamp is preparing to wear women’s clothes again for a sequel to The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert.
‘We are discussing it quite a bit at the moment,’ confirms Guy Pearce, his co-star in the 1994 Australian road comedy about two drag queens, played by Pearce and Hugo Weaving, and a transgender woman, played by Stamp.
Speaking at a screening of his classic film Memento at the Barbican in London, Pearce adds: ‘We are going back and forth with ideas. Terence is in the mix, obviously. It would be great to do if it felt credible.’
