Petra Ecclestone’s children were never going to live an ordinary life. They moved between multi-million-pound mansions located in Los Angeles, Monaco, and Chelsea.
I can reveal their education is also rather unusual, with the 32-year-old socialite and her fiancé, Sam Palmer, 38, choosing to home school their kids — because the curriculum includes too much ‘woke stupidity’!
Petra welcomed her youngest child Minnie with Sam in April 2013. She shares nine-year old Lavinia with Sam, and six-year-old twins James and Andrew with James Stunt.
‘We home school,’ Palmer reveals, adding: ‘We have teachers. Sport coaches. Although I was initially against it, I now love it. We get to spend more quality time together as a family.
Petra Ecclestone with Sam Palmer, her fiancé, enjoying a family day at Disney World in California
The 32-year-old socialite and her fiancé, Sam Palmer, 38, have chosen to home school their children
‘We get to choose what’s being taught to our kids. And it will certainly not include woke stupidity like I’ve seen in some schools’.
Palmer, who runs a high-end domestic staffing agency, was perhaps referring to lessons such as those at London private school St Dunstan’s College, which teaches children about ‘white privilege’, including discussions on the public’s treatment of Meghan Markle, why James Bond has always been played by a white man and why all British Prime Ministers so far have been white.
Bernie Ecclestone’s youngest daughter, who has a net worth of more than £200 million, does not think her children are losing out by not being at a normal school.
Petra claims that homeschooling allows her to choose the curriculum her children are learning and will not include woke stupidity.
Palmer adds that while the couple were ‘worried’ about their children missing the social aspect, ‘they have their friends over nearly every day.
‘There are four of them anyway so they are never alone, and also go to sports clubs.’
The lucky tutors will get to spend part of their time in the family’s £170 million Georgian-style Chelsea home, which boasts eight bedrooms and 12 bathrooms.
However, the Ecclestone family is currently residing in Los Angeles, where the children have been documented riding ponies, and taking trips to Disneyland between classes.
Ah, to be a multimillionaire’s child!
Oscar-winner Emerald Shares bin pizza Dinner!
Cliveden Literary Festival 2021: Emerald Fennell, English actress and filmmaker, poses with her writer friend.
Some may like to imagine that an Oscar-winner and Netflix star would dine on oysters and caviar.
That’s certainly not the case for Emerald Fennell, who played the Duchess of Cornwall in The Crown.
The 35-year-old admits that when she was writing and directing BBC show Killing Eve, she was so busy that she had to eat a less than appetising meal when she got home — out of the rubbish.
‘One of my colleagues asked me if I was OK, and I said: “I’m fine but I just ate some pizza out of the bin.” I got home late, I didn’t have anything in the house, so I ate bin pizza,’ she tells me at Cliveden Literary Festival.
Hopefully Fennell, who has been juggling childcare with writing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, has remembered to stock the fridge this time!
Emin’s cat beds are a lot cleaner.
Tracey Emin’s ‘My Bed’ 1990s artwork became one of the decade’s most-discussed exhibits — and she’s now made a miniature version for her cat.
She says Teacup, her kitten, is ‘a chip off the old block’ but, thankfully, the 58-year-old artist has created this one, top right, minus the empty vodka bottles, cigarette packets and stained sheets which came with the original.
Tracey’s 1999 work was nominated for the Turner Prize, and sold for £2.5 million in 2014.
Perhaps Teacup’s creation will do similarly well — and keep her in catnip for years to come?
Ed is unable to spend quality time with his daughter.
Ed Sheeran has said he has been able to spend more quality time with his daughter while self-isolating due to Covid
Ed Sheeran has a silver lining. He is self-isolating with Cherry Seaborn and has Covid.
I can tell you that he has been spending time with Lyra Antarctica, his 1-year-old daughter, who has also tested positively.
Ed says: ‘I’m self-isolating with my daughter. Since we are both positive, I have been with her alone. I am now going to spend ten days alone with her.’
However, the pop star is taking the situation in his stride: ‘Sometimes I am away and spend just two days a week with her, so being able to be with her for ten straight days is great.
‘I just spoke to Cherry and told her to relax, take long baths! Our fridge is full and we are just eating all the time.’
Earl Spencer, the brother of Princess Diana, has welcomed a new member to his family. The 57-year old, who owns Althorp, a stately home in Northamptonshire and is a proud owner of a black and tan cocker spaniel named Joey, seems to be obsessed with his new puppy.
He says the pooch is keen on slippers: ‘New puppy pretty pleased with itself for retrieving a third slipper for his growing collection.’
Pal and TV presenter Alastair Stewart quipped: ‘A pair and a spare?’
Double Michelin-starred chef Claude Bosi, who runs Bibendum restaurant in Kensington, reveals he’s stepping back after sadly learning that his 42-year-old wife, Lucy, has breast cancer.
‘It was the biggest shock of my life — the first time in 20-something years I didn’t give a f*** about the restaurant,’ he says of the diagnosis.
Bosi, 49, adds he’s been working less: ‘I did four services last week. I would never give up on what I’m doing, but you realise what is important in life.’
Baddiel is ready and willing to go to war against Germany
David Baddiel at the Cliveden Literary Festival, where he had been promoting his book Jews Don’t Count
David Baddiel might be getting ready for a legal battle with the German government.
The 57-year-old comedian’s grandfather, Ernst Fabian, owned a successful brick factory in East Prussia, which was occupied by Germany. It was confiscated and destroyed by the Nazis.
‘They were a very rich family at the time, they had servants, a thriving business in 1933,’ Baddiel tells me.
‘I actually wrote to Russia about it and they told me to f*** off, and that’s fair enough because it was in Germany at the time. It’s a weird situation.’
Promoting his book, Jews Don’t Count, at Cliveden Literary Festival, he tells me: ‘I’m putting it out there, if any lawyers are interested in taking this on they should get in contact.’
Like mother and son! Carrie Johnson is known for her love of posh frocks from labels such as Ghost and The Vampire’s Wife.
It seems that Wilfred, who was one in April, is following her lead.
The Prime Minister’s wife says he wears ‘head to toe’ clothes from luxury brand Fred & Noah, and has posted a photograph of him in one of the firm’s £25 jackets.
She says: ‘He particularly loves his police car jumper.’
The price may seem steep for something a toddler will grow out of in weeks — but with an endorsement from Carrie, we wonder if the Essex-based brand will sell out?
Heartbreak as newlywed Tory donor dies suddenly
Vivek Chhadha, then Prime Minister Theresa May, February 2018,
Tragedy has struck one of London’s most wealthy and glamorous young couples.
Multi-millionaire property tycoon Vivek Chadha, 33, collapsed and died on Saturday in Central London after a night of partying at exclusive members’ club Annabel’s.
Mr Chadha was a regular guest to Tory Party functions, and he had the pleasure of rubbing shoulders with Theresa May as well as David Cameron.
He had only married his widow Stuttee (29), earlier in the summer.
Stuttee sobbed: ‘I’m in shock and still trying to make sense of it. We got married only eight weeks ago. Now I’m having to deal with the loss of the love of my life. I’m stunned and heartbroken.’
Anyone seeking to secure a much-coveted spot at one of the Queen’s annual garden parties is in luck. The monarch is looking for a housekeeper who can travel throughout the year to organize social functions.
Based at Windsor Castle, they will also be expected to visit ‘other royal residences’.
Some of the housekeeper’s responsibilities include ‘co-ordinating teams and managing the delivery of various functions throughout the year’.