Beatrice exits Outward Bound Trust amid Fergie email fallout as culture notes flow

Princess Beatrice's duties at the Outward Bound Trust have ended, six years after she became a trustee amid the fallout from her mother Sarah Ferguson's leaked email scandal. The charity, which Prince Philip supported for 65 years, emphasizes resilience and character-building through rugged outdoor challenges.

The departure comes after Beatrice's father, Prince Andrew, stepped back from several charities following his Newsnight interview about his connections with Jeffrey Epstein. Outward Bound's former patron was Philip, who led the charity for decades; Beatrice's role featured alongside Andrew's ties. A spokeswoman for Outward Bound's marketing team, Shelly Phillips, said Beatrice's contribution had been greatly valued. It is understood a new role for the princess will be announced in due course.

The 2011 email to Epstein, in which Fergie called Epstein a steadfast, generous and supreme friend and apologised for public criticisms of him, has been a turning point in how the royal family handles philanthropic associations. Since then, eight charities publicly cut ties with Fergie. The charity that Philip helped build, and that Beatrice helped lead, traces its ethos to Gordonstoun's Kurt Hahn, who shaped its approach to personal challenge, resilience and self-belief in young people.

Shelly Phillips noted that Beatrice's time as a trustee had been meaningful, and said the door remains open for the princess to pursue future charitable work. "A new role will be announced in due course," Phillips added. The broader royal narrative around Beatrice and her sister Eugenie remains one of closely guarded family support, even as public revelations continue to surface.

Beyond the royal circle, a wave of culture and entertainment notes filled the weekend. Claudia Winkleman drew attention on Strictly Come Dancing's launch show for something other than hair, make-up or sequins: a bracelet stack worth about £20,000. The gold Cartier Love bracelets on her left wrist are among a daring display that accompanied her presenting duties, for which she is paid around £450,000 by the BBC in a typical year. And accounts for her company, Little Owl Productions, show cash reserves rising to about £2.1 million with total equity of £1.6 million after tax and creditor payments.

In another high-society note, Britain's snootiest sports enclave, the Hurlingham Club, has deployed a corps of "Blue Coats" to reinforce manners among its members. The club's chief executive explained that the conduct monitors help ensure rules are followed and that repeat offenders may face sanctions up to suspension or expulsion, underscoring the ongoing push to maintain decorum at exclusive venues.

Meanwhile, the world of racing is saying farewell to an era as trainer Henry Candy sells his Kingston Warren stables for around £20 million. The 80-year-old confirmed the sale and said the buyers intend to revive a shooting estate, while Candy may stay on for up to three years. The implications ripple through a family known for flair in the sport, with Candy’s son continuing in the business but facing its own challenges after earlier ventures struggled financially.

Other culture figures moved between aspiration and reality. Gwyneth Paltrow, turning 53, urged hosts to embrace simpler table settings rather than overthinking décor, arguing that arrangements should feel garden-picked and unstudied. Her comments came as she discussed her Goop lifestyle brand and her life in Italy with husband Brad Falchuk.

In the restaurant world, Marco Pierre White’s son Luciano appears to be navigating turbulent times as his Woking venue, Luciano's, fell into liquidation with significant debts. The elder Marco Pierre White remains a towering figure in British cuisine, having earned three Michelin stars at a remarkable age and maintaining influence across his restaurants, including Dorchester and Exeter, with Lucian’s facing an uncertain path.

In more personal diplomacy, Archie Hood, King Charles’s lord-in-waiting’s heir, is engaged to Clara Deslais, a lawyer with a finance firm. Archie, who studied at Stowe School and now works for Government Tomorrow Forum, helps to illustrate how younger generations are carrying on international relations in more subtle ways as the Royal and business worlds intersect.

Wynne Evans, the singer and Grange Park Opera trustee, continues to align with the arts community after being dropped from a Strictly Live tour for a crude remark and losing a GoCompare association. Grange Park Opera, however, remains steadfast in supporting him as a performer.

Back in the United States, Graydon Carter, former Vanity Fair editor, has signaled that he may move to London or France as Air Mail is sold to the subscription newsletter group Puck, a development that could shift media power across the Atlantic.

In political-cultural crosscurrents, Lord Hood, father of Archie Hood, found himself in a light-hearted moment at Sins And Sensibility, a poetry collection launch by Rory Knight Bruce. The public chatter suggested autobiographical twists in the poems, while the room also reflected on the pasts of public figures connected to high society.

As cultural circles keep turning, the mix of royal relationships, celebrity business ventures and public tastemaking continues to shape a landscape where philanthropy, media, hospitality and the arts intersect in high-profile ways.