The King and I
It was midsummer madness as I tried to beat the heat from Cannes to Ascot – and got my first photos of King Charles III
The week started on a virtuous note with Tamara Beckwith and Davina McCall leading the runners at the Lady Garden Foundation family challenge in Battersea Park. Impressive stuff, but I left the workout to the ladies.
Paps On a Hot Tin Roof
Next day had the press corps flitting from rooftop to rooftop in the blazing sun. On the South Bank Jodie Comer rocked an all-black jumpsuit and shades to promote 28 Years Later with director Danny Boyle and her co-stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes and newcomer Alfie Williams. Then on to the Corinthia where Scarlet Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey and Rupert Friend competed with the London skyline at the photocall for Jurassic World Rebirth.
The lights came down and the glam got amped up to 11 for the Temily launch dinner at The Dover, where Vanessa Kingori, Eve, Amy Jackson Westwick, Chantal Monaghan and Jak Bueno were dressed to impress.
Mykonos and Michelin Stars
It was great to see my old friend Christina Hendricks on Tuesday at Raffles at the OWO on Whitehall leading a host of new faces celebrating season 2 of Apple TV+ show The Buccaneers.
At Quaglino’s the Michelin stars were out as some of London’s top food names - including Angela Hartnett, Jay Rayner and Pierre Koffman - set professional rivalry aside to pay tribute to food critic Richard Vines, who died in April.
Mykonos lived up to its reputation as a party island when Zimmerman celebrated summer with Olivia Wilde and Emma Roberts bringing Greek goddess drama with their gowns and Lady Kitty Spencer looking fresh as the – very welcome – sea breeze.
All Diamonds, No Rhinestones
Chioma Nnadi and Adwoa Aboah were as flawless as the DeBeers diamonds as hosts of the Vogue 25. Adwoa was joined by her sister Kesewa, and her old west London pals Lily Allen and Mikita Oliver.
Rachel Chinouriri’s set for the assembled Vogue women was scheduled but over in Cannes Mark Ronson and Anderson .Paak delivered an impromptu collab to the crowd at Spotify Beach during Cannes Lions. Mark spotted the rapper in the crowd, got him on the mic for a few tracks and ended up promising him half his fee.
Maybe I should conduct negotiations via rap in future!
A Right Royal Day at the Races
Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot was a scorcher, especially for those in morning suits, like Chesney Hawkes and I although champagne and finger sandwiches brought some refined respite. Somehow Jerry Hall and Gabriel Jagger with his wife Anouk Winzenried all looked cool as the cucumbers in the sandwiches in their trouser suits. There was some seriously flamboyant headwear on display, including photographers’ favourite, Georgia Toffolo in eye-catching feathers, and Amanda Eliasch in a veiled straw top hat.
I’d just been telling Amanda how I hadn’t photographed Charles since he became King when I got rushed into the Royal Enclosure to photograph some young designers from the King’s Trust. Next thing I know, the King and Queen were walking towards me. I’ve known the Queen for years, thanks to her children Tom and Laura, and I managed to capture her smiling into the lens, although King Charles followed protocol and swerved at the last minute when he spotted my camera. Still, I got my shot – a historic week for me.
Till next time,
Dave
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