Dapper Prince Charles has often appeared on 'best-dressed' lists over the years, but even his admirers were surprised when he launched a fashion line last year.
That 18-piece luxury capsule collection could, though, represent just the start of his sartorial ambitions as, I can reveal, he's recruited one of the fashion world's biggest figures to work for him.
He's appointed Federico Marchetti, who created online fashion giant Yoox, which became the largest e-commerce fashion company in the world after buying Net-A-Porter in 2015.
Marchetti, 52, will be a director of the heir to the throne's company A. G. Carrick, which has sold everything from £60 stuffed corgi toys to £65 cushions emblazoned with the motto God Save The Queen via his Highgrove shops and websites.
He's appointed Federico Marchetti, who created online fashion giant Yoox, which became the largest e-commerce fashion company in the world after buying Net-A-Porter in 2015
'Federico's guidance will be invaluable,' a courtier tells me. 'His record speaks for itself and he will help increase revenue at the company and make it more professional.'
Fellow directors at A. G. Carrick include Michael Fawcett, Charles's controversial former valet, who has resigned temporarily as chief executive of his charity empire, the Prince's Foundation, while an investigation is carried out into the 'cash for favours' scandal.
A. G. Carrick, which is named after the pseudonym the Prince uses to sign his watercolours, had a turnover of £4.6 million last year.
The first royal fashion collaboration was unveiled at Dumfries House, the 18th-century Palladian stately home in Ayrshire, Scotland, he saved for the nation. On the project, Charles partnered with the Yoox Net-a-Porter group, which Marchetti ran before handing it over to a new boss this year.
Of his own sense of style, Charles has said: 'I am rather like a stopped clock in terms of fashion. I seem to come into vogue about once every 25 years or so.'
'Federico's guidance will be invaluable,' a courtier tells me. 'His record speaks for itself and he will help increase revenue at the company and make it more professional'
Boris Johnson's climate change spokesman, Allegra Stratton, caused much hot air among critics when she admitted driving an environmentally unfriendly diesel VW Golf.
Now, the former BBC journalist has finally acquired a £76,000 electric car free of charge, courtesy of Jaguar Land Rover which is sponsoring the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow this November.
It's providing a fleet of electric Jags to transport delegates and government officials. Stratton will, however, have to return the car at the end of the two-week-long jamboree.
Earlier this summer, Stratton, who's paid up to £130,000 per year, claimed she 'didn't fancy' getting an electric car just yet and her 'third-hand' diesel suited her better, as she was worried about charging times.
Perhaps this will be the jolt she needs to convince her to splash out?
Hirst's girl Sophie gives us something to ink aboutAs Damien Hirst's girlfriend, Sophie Cannell might be expected to have a passing interest in art, but the former ballerina seems to be far more interested in body art.
The 27-year-old, who lives with the world's richest artist in a £36 million home in Regent's Park, London, has had a tattoo inked down the length of her spine by Ken Carlos. The words appear to read: 'Leave the world and come back to you.'
She has a feather design on her inner arm, italic text on her ribcage and a
