Queen Elizabeth has asked market researchers Mori to set up a series of "focus groups" to quiz people about their attitudes to the royals, Buckingham Palace said yesterday. The work was commissioned after the death of Princess Diana when the royal family was criticised for appearing remote and unresponsive.
The Prince of Wales might take his mother's place in formally conferring a knighthood on Arthur C Clarke during his visit to Sri Lanka next month. Prince Charles is to participate in a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of Sri Lankan independence.
The Duchess of York's half-sister Alice Ferguson has been signed up by top modelling agency Models One after she was spotted at a charity concert with her sister.
BBC family entertainment flagship Noel's House Party will return live this Saturday after its mysterious disappearance from the schedules last weekend, BBC TV and Noel Edmonds said last night.
Both the BBC and Edmonds' spokesman were still refusing to comment last night on reports that the star walked out over a row about budgets and lowering production standards.