Blessed with poise and presence, she won accolades and adoration alike for her portrayal of Samantha ‘Sam’ Stewart in Foyle’s War, appearing in every episode of Anthony Horowitz’s award-winning ITV series, only for her stellar career to falter as her turbulent marriage unravelled.
But after divorcing her husband, raffish grandee Lorne Stormonth Darling, and doing an 18-month stint as a washer-upper – in her words, ‘a lesson in humility’ – Honeysuckle Weeks triumphantly resurfaced last year, shedding inhibitions, and clothing, on stage in a musical version of Calendar Girls.
Suitably renewed, the effervescent 45-year-old actress is now evidently once more ready for battle… a very personal battle, it would seem. She’s taken to social media to name the woman who, she claims, was her husband’s mistress.
This is made all the more startling by what follows, for the woman in question – asserts Weeks – is none other than Daphne Hall, niece of legendary Texan model Jerry Hall and daughter of Jerry’s late, equally glamorous sister, Rosy Hall, who, as a 19-year-old, was one of the original cheerleaders with the Dallas Cowboys.
After divorcing her husband, Lorne Stormonth Darling, and doing an 18-month stint as a washer-upper, Honeysuckle Weeks triumphantly resurfaced last year
Weeks claims that Daphne Hall (pictured), niece of legendary Texan model Jerry Hall, was her husband’s mistress
Weeks, who married Stormonth Darling in 2007, recalls how she was once invited to a barbecue by Jerry, only for the invitation to be rescinded. ‘Her niece Daphne forbade me going,’ she claims, adding bluntly: ‘Daphne was my husband’s mistress.’
It’s easy to see why Daphne might turn a man’s head. She has the same long-limbed beauty as her mother and aunt, and is not hide-bound by convention. The father of her children, from whom she is now estranged, is Roc Sandford, who divides his time between London and his own private Hebridean island, Gometra.
Son of Old Etonian film-maker Jeremy Sandford whose final property was a Jacobean pile in Herefordshire where naked meditation and Dervish dances were encouraged, Roc is an ardent eco-warrior. So are two of his children by Daphne: his son Lachlan Blaze, known as ‘Lazer’, and his daughter Isla Bluebell, known as ‘Blue’ though sometimes described as the British Greta Thunberg.
Their campaigns have included a 2021 attempt to thwart the building of the high-speed rail, HS2, by living 15ft below ground in a tunnel they’d dug close to London’s Euston station, where for weeks they resisted eviction by the contractors’ bailiffs.
By then, though they couldn’t have known it, their mother’s – alleged – lover, Stormonth-Darling, only had two years left to live.
Pictured: Cindy Hall, Jerry Hall and Rosie Hall
Honeysuckle had marked her 2019 divorce from Lorne by posting a striking image on social media – a sign bearing the initials L&H, alongside pink hearts burning on a bonfire, with the caption: ‘Bye bye marriage’.
Stormonth Darling died last year, aged 60. His father, Robin, had been eminent chairman of City stockbroking firm and living at the other end of the spectrum from life on Gometra, where Daphne and Roc had brought up Lazer and Blue without cars, electricity or hot water.
On the other hand, the Stormonth Darlings do own Balvarran, a 2,500-acre estate in Perthshire. Perhaps Daphne and her children hoped that it might become a New Age haven of the sort that Blue and Lazer’s grandfather established in Herefordshire, with some tactical training for eco-warriors thrown in for good measure.
Daphne could not be contacted for comment. But she’s certainly on the move: her house in north-west London – bought for £715,000 in 2010, by what appears to be a family trust, whose members include her aunt Jerry – is up for sale.
Neighbours say it’s been empty for weeks. Another property in the same street is on the market for £1.7million – enough to pay for some new tunnelling equipment, in case Honeysuckle lets fly with something stronger than an online post…
Prince’s gift to jet set island
Prince William is clearly determined to maintain royal links to Mustique, the playground of the rich and famous in the West Indies.
I hear that the heir to the throne has donated £10,000 for charitable causes on the tiny private island which has been beloved by the jet-set since Lord Glenconner bought it in the 1960s and gave Princess Margaret a ten-acre plot as a wedding present.
Newly published records show that William made the generous donation through his Broad Cairn Foundation, via The UK Friends of Mustique Charitable Trust, which is based in Tetbury, near King Charles’s Gloucestershire home, Highgrove.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have enjoyed several holidays on Mustique
The Prince and Princess of Wales have enjoyed several holidays on Mustique, which is home to rock stars Sir Mick Jagger and Bryan Adams, as well as U.S. fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger.
William and Catherine have stayed at the Villa Hibiscus, owned by the princess’s family friends John and Belle Robinson, now separated, owners of the Jigsaw fashion chain. They have also stayed at the Villa Aurora, owned by Mark Cecil, a hedge fund millionaire, who is a friend of Catherine’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton.
In 2015, Catherine and William stayed at the Villa Rocina, owned by Venezuelan millionairess Violera Alvarez, who attended their wedding and is a close friend of the Middletons.
Princess Margaret owned Les Jolies Eaux, a villa on Mustique, for many years before giving to her only son, David, the 2nd Earl of Snowdon, who later sold it.
The closure of Princess Diana’s beloved restaurant
Here’s some news that would have saddened Princess Diana and left my esteemed predecessor Nigel Dempster with nowhere for lunch: Launceston Place is to close.
Diana was a regular at the discreet Kensington restaurant where the 1st Earl of Snowdon, who lived nearby, would entertain his lady friends.
‘After thorough deliberation, and following the departure of Chef Patron Ben Murphy, D&D London has made the decision to close Launceston Place in Kensington at the end of this month,’ a spokesman for its owners confirms. ‘We will be reviewing our options for the business moving forwards.’
Murphy, who was the 2022 National Chef of the Year, says it’s ‘time for a new chapter’ after seven years at the restaurant near Kensington Palace.
Launceston Place, which was known for its classic British cooking, named a dish after its most celebrated patron, the Souffle Diana. When Elizabeth Debicki played Diana in Netflix hit The Crown, she filmed scenes outside the restaurant.
Coo dares wins… it’s Granny Anth!
Television adventurer Ant Middleton was criticised as sexist and ageist for calling Anthea Turner ‘grandma’ when she was on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Now, I can disclose that Anthea, 64, is to become a grandmother, as her stepdaughter is expecting a baby in February.
‘Claudia’s having a little boy, and I couldn’t be prouder,’ confirms the former Blue Peter presenter.
‘We’re all very excited. I don’t know what I’ll be called. ‘Granny Anth’ maybe…’
Claudia is Anthea’s stepdaughter by ex-husband, Grant Bovey. However, she has remained close to Claudia and her two sisters.
Alarm in the Cotswolds this week after a chimney caught fire at The Bell in Charlbury, owned by Daylesford Organic founder Carole Bamford.
Fire crews removed a ventilation fan found inside the chimney.
Lady Bamford is married to billionaire JCB owner Lord Bamford.
Rival pub The Bull – which is frequented by the ‘Chipping Norton set’ – also had a chimney fire last week.
It’s time to make Petula a Dame, says pal Bourne
As she prepares to celebrate her 92nd birthday, Petula Clark should be looking forward to receiving a damehood, too, says celebrated choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne.
Petula Clark’s remarkable career began with her entertaining troops as a child during World War II and saw her sell more than 68 million records
The singer and actress’s remarkable career began with her entertaining troops as a child during World War II and saw her sell more than 68 million records – including her classic, Downtown.
‘I worked with her when she was 91 on Mary Poppins and she was doing eight shows a week, and has been performing for more than 80 years,’ Bourne says.
‘Why she is not a Dame, I do not know. She’s brilliant.’
Bad news for the Labour Party’s sugar daddy Lord Alli and his pal Baroness (Valerie) Amos. She was being promoted as a potential British ambassador to Washington.
However, I hear that the acrimonious row over Labour aides campaigning in the US presidential election has complicated the appointment of a new ambassador.
‘The sudden political pong over Anglo-American relations could make a party appointment impossible,’ a Whitehall source tells me. ‘If so, the job may revert – as is the custom – to a professional diplomat.’
Sir Humphrey may be about to win again.
Don’t stop me now… Queen star’s jig with his daughters
Was this an audition, a rehearsal – or a performance?
Whichever it was, Queen legend Roger Taylor, 75, did his best to keep pace with daughters, Tigerlily, Lola and Rory.
‘Can-canning around Soho with these freaks last night,’ Tigerlily, 30, a model, wrote next to a video, which she shared online
‘Can-canning around Soho with these freaks last night,’ Tigerlily, 30, a model, wrote next to a video, which she shared online.
The remark was taken in good heart by her sister Lola, 24, an actress, and her half-sister Rory, 38, a GP, one of the drummer’s two children by his first wife, Dominique.
Altogether now…’You got mud on yo’ face/ You big disgrace/ Kickin’ your can all over the place/ Singin’/We will we will rock you/ We will we will rock you..