TALK OF THE TOWN: Now royal wingman Tom ‘Skippy’ Inskip snubs Harry over Meghan the ‘hijacker’
Most people would fall over themselves to name a prince as godfather to their precious first-born. But ahead of the imminent birth of his child, Tom ‘Skippy’ Inskip has rejected the opportunity of asking his childhood pal Harry to do the honours – and insiders are speculating it is because he and wife Lara are still smarting over the ‘hijacking’ of their 2017 wedding.
The two men used to be inseparable, with Skippy known as Harry’s wingman thanks to their wild holidays together.
Harry was an usher at Skippy’s wedding to literary agent Lara in Jamaica but the couple now believe that Meghan’s presence – one of her first appearances with the Prince – unfairly took the spotlight off them.
Tom Inskip, pictured with his wife Lara at the Royal Wedding has not asked Prince Harry to become the godfather of their first child
Friends claim ‘Skippy’ and the Prince are no longer ‘inseparable’ because of the influence of Meghan. Inskip, pictured here with Harry at the wedding of James Meade and Lady Laura Marsham in 2013, was described as the Prince’s ‘wingman’
To make matters worse, Meghan and Harry are love-bombing another of their old circle – Charlie van Straubenzee and wife Daisy – ahead of the birth of their first child
A source says: ‘Although they said they didn’t mind at the time, Lara and Skippy are now telling friends they are furious with Meghan and Harry because, on reflection, they believe their wedding was hijacked by their presence and their demands, including asking for guests not to use their mobile phones. It would have been fine were it not for the fact that they were then left off the list for the Royal Wedding evening reception a year later.
‘Some friends hoped that the birth of his first child would have been an opportunity for Skippy to extend an olive branch to Harry. But instead of asking him to be a godfather, he has decided to keep the door closed.’
To make matters worse, Meghan and Harry are love-bombing another of their old circle – Charlie van Straubenzee and wife Daisy – ahead of the birth of their first child.
Another source adds: ‘Meghan has reportedly been sending Daisy some of Archie’s old baby clothes and has made it clear she or Harry would love to be called up for godparent duties. Lara and Tom can’t work out why another couple are feeling the love and they aren’t. Skippy bent over backwards for Harry.’
Breaking news… I’m on maternity leave for a few months from next week. Meanwhile, a ‘shout-out’ to all the Diary’s mischievous moles and readers (especially my dad, Nigel, who is currently unwell but, working for a rival Sunday newspaper, remains my toughest critic).
The column is left in the trusty hands of my brilliant team, Sophie Cockerham and Joanna Bell, while Alistair Foster takes over my seat next month. Keep those scoops coming…