EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Harry’s wedding snapper criticises fashion industry

Prince Harry and Meghan caused outrage when they accused unnamed members of the Royal Family of racism in their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021.

Now, their wedding photographer has made his own accusations of racial prejudice against unnamed figures in the beauty industry.

Alexi Lubomirski, who is white, claims that one senior magazine editor told him: ‘Black girls don’t carry high fashion.’

He says the Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o first alerted him to the insidious issue of racism in showbusiness when he photographed her.

‘She said to me, “I really love these pictures. Can you make sure, when they’re retouching the photos, they don’t lighten my skin?”

‘I said, “Yeah, of course”. But I began to look at past shoots I’d done with darker-skinned models and I noticed that there was a definite difference between the images I’d submitted to magazines compared to the images that came out.

‘When I looked through my archives, I also noticed how rarely I’d been allowed to shoot different types of beauty, rather than just Caucasian girls.’ 

Lubomirski, 50, who also took the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s official engagement photos, is descended from Polish aristocracy. He says he was told that women of colour don’t sell magazines.

‘I would ask these editors-in-chiefs, and I’d say, “Why don’t you let me photograph dark-skinned girls on covers?”. And they’d say, “It comes down to economics, Alexi. We know that if we put a dark-skinned girl on the cover, we’re going to sell 40 per cent less copies.”

‘And I said, “Why do you think that is?” They said, “Well, probably because we don’t put them on the cover that much”, and I said, “Right, exactly.”

‘Then one editor-in-chief told me, “Listen, Alexi, the fact is, dark-skinned girls and other ethnicity can’t carry high fashion”.’

Alexi, who lives in New York with his wife and two sons, was recounting the story behind his decision to create his 2016 photobook, Diversity, featuring photos of mixed ethnicities.

He says: ‘I did end up losing a bunch of magazine jobs, because nobody wanted to have that conversation.

‘They didn’t want to be made to feel guilty about the fact that they were just putting Caucasian girls on the cover.’

Angela Rayner’s message to PM at G7 after run-in with Larry the Cat

While Sir Keir Starmer must grapple with the terrifying new war in the Middle East, the Prime Minister has not taken his eye off dangers closer to home.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner debriefed the Labour leader after television footage was broadcast last week showing her chauffeur narrowly avoiding mowing down Larry the Cat, No 10’s resident moggy, while driving Rayner from Downing Street.

‘Angela had a close encounter,’ Sir Keir admits in an interview with Peter Cardwell for the former special adviser’s forthcoming book, Political Animals, about the secret lives of the dogs and cats of Westminster and Washington.

‘I was at the G7 in Canada and Angela actually sent me the clip with a message saying, “All under control here, boss!”’

Lady Violet settles down to married life

As one of society’s most spirited partygoers, Lady Violet Manners was never likely to be a shy and retiring bride.

And the Duke of Rutland’s eldest daughter, 31, who exchanged vows with Bill Garnock, 34, a Scottish viscount, at the weekend, joined the band on stage at her wedding reception party.

She could be found dancing wildly with her pal Rosanna Falconer on stage next to a set of bongo drums.

The raucous bash was held in the cellar at Lady Violet’s ancestral home, Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire. She made a more demure appearance earlier on in the day in her Phillipa Lepley gown and the Rutland tiara.

Andy Murray bans audience’s phones 

What does Sir Andy Murray have to hide?

The tennis star is giving a talk at Wimbledon Theatre this weekend with one surprising condition imposed on members of the audience – their mobile phones must be put under lock and key during the performance.

‘Given the exclusive and intimate nature of this event, the show will be a phoneless experience and all mobiles will be placed in lockable Yondr pouches,’ ticket holders are told.

Promoters promise that the former World No 1 and double Olympic gold medal winner will ‘recount intimate and untold moments’ from his illustrious career in the ‘unforgettable live experience’, for which tickets cost between £45 and £78.

Served up in his usual upbeat and fizzing style, no doubt.

Cate Blanchett reveals bedroom secrets 

After nearly 30 years of marriage, pillow talk appears to have lost its appeal for Cate Blanchett’s husband, Andrew Upton. 

The Oscar-winning actress, 56, admits that playwright Upton, 59, turns over in bed when she tries to engage in luvvie chat about how to approach a particular part.

‘The night before I start [a new role], I always poke my husband awake at about 3.30 to 4am and say, “What’s my process? Can you remind me what my process is?”’

Speaking at an event at the National Portrait Gallery in London, the Australian star of The Aviator and The Talented Mr Ripley explains: ‘After 28 years, he says, “You’ll be fine!”

‘He no longer converses with me about it.’

Marianne Faithfull’s swansong with her grandson

Five months since her death aged 78, Marianne Faithfull’s last musical collaboration – touchingly with grandson Oscar Dunbar – has been released.

Looking back on writing and recording ballad Love Is with his grandmother, musician and actor Oscar, 31, says: ‘As a family we’re all still grieving.

‘We miss her every day. But she wanted this music to come out, and I’m happy people get to hear it.’

Brian Cox says Elgin Marbles would’ve been returned to Greece had they been kept in Scotland 

Succession star Brian Cox claims the Elgin Marbles would have been returned to Greece decades ago if they were exhibited in his native Scotland. 

‘If Lord Elgin decided he wanted to put those marbles in Edinburgh at the museums, they would have been back years ago,’ the actor, 79, says. ‘It is theft.’