EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Stella McCartney goes to China for solar power

EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Eco-activist Stella McCartney and husband Alasdhair Willis go to China for solar power at their Worcestershire farm

Few strive to protect the planet with the zeal of Stella McCartney, whose fashion label stresses that it does all it can ‘to create the most beautiful, desirable products with the least impact on our environment’.

But have Stella and her husband, fellow designer Alasdhair Willis, missed a trick in their bid to reduce their carbon footprint at their country residence?

The question is prompted by their application for ‘change of use’ for one of their fields at their farmhouse in Worcestershire, from agriculture to eco-power.

Stella, 51, and Alasdhair, 52, have earmarked it as a site for 380 solar panels, to help them ‘continue to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels’. It’s a process which the couple have already begun by installing ‘air source heat pumps’.

Stella McCartney and her husband Alasdhair Willis pictured together attending Milan Men’s Fashion Week

Ms McCartney, who is a keen environmental campaigner, poses with a sign that says SOS at Milan Men’s Fashion Week

These, in tandem with the solar panels, underpin the ‘transition to a low-carbon future and mitigating the impact of climate change’.

The application reveals they’ve opted for panels made by Chinese firm Trina Solar, a decision some may find puzzling. The company’s founder and chairman is Gao Jifan, who amassed a £6 billion fortune while snuggling up to his country’s totalitarian regime.

Perhaps Stella and Alasdhair — who also own a £10 million townhouse in West London — were unaware that Britain’s leading manufacturer of solar panels, GB-Sol, is based less than 90 miles from their farmhouse.

Located just north of Cardiff, GB-Sol minimises its carbon footprint and packaging, uses suppliers who are ‘as local as possible’, and has been rated top solar supplier by Ethical Consumer magazine ‘for many years’.

Isn’t that a stellar effort, Stella?

The couple have opted to install solar panels at their home in Worcestershire from a Chinese firm (file photo)

Lady Lola’s happy new beginnings

The year’s started brightly for Lady Lola Crichton-Stuart, who has overcome a series of tragedies.

I hear that she’s going out with Dutch model Parker van Noord, 24, an ambassador for the Jean Paul Gaultier label.

Sharing a photograph of her kissing him at a party, Lady Lola, 23, tells her admirers: ‘Happy new year from me and mine.’

Parker is the son of the late celebrated male model Andre van Noord. Lady Lola’s father, the Marquess of Bute, better known as motor racing driver Johnny Dumfries, died in 2021.

Lola’s boyfriend Kai Schachter-Rich had taken his own life in 2019.

Lady Lola Crichton-Stuart shared a photo of herself kissing Dutch model Parker van Noord (pictured)

The 23-year-old added a caption of ‘Happy new year from me and mine’ 

Pop star Paloma Faith is used to being welcomed into the most exclusive venues, but she was turned away from The Ivy Kensington Brasserie the other day. 

The singer, 41, arrived carrying a cute little dog she was looking after for a pal. 

A member of staff had to explain that they only allow guide dogs and certified emotional support dogs. 

He may be on the throne, but King Charles’s charity is forging ahead with a major property development in Bahrain, the Gulf state criticised by human rights campaigners for its violent response to pro-democracy protests. 

The Prince’s Foundation is looking for an urban design assistant on its new town project in Bahrain. 

The project’s senior design manager, Leslie Ohomele, is an intriguing figure who waded into the Lady Susan Hussey ‘race row’ on social media.

We can ski you, Heidi!

Even on the slopes, Heidi Klum is determined to turn heads.

The German supermodel, 49, couldn’t be missed in a brightly coloured ski jumpsuit at Aspen, Colorado.

She was enjoying a holiday with her husband, musician Tom Kaulitz, 33, and his twin brother Bill, who are both founding members of German pop band Tokio Hotel.

Heidi was previously married to British singer Seal, with whom she has three children.

She also has a daughter, Leni, a model, with her ex-boyfriend Flavio Briatore, the 72-year-old Italian businessman.

German supermodel Heidi Klum (left), 49, couldn’t be missed in a brightly coloured ski jumpsuit at Aspen, Colorado (right)

Lord Camoys, who has died aged 82, is the banker who became the first Roman Catholic Lord Chamberlain, head of the Royal Household, since the Reformation.

He was also touched by tragedy as a father figure to Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal. ‘Dippy’ met Devyani Rana at a party at Camoys’s ancestral home, Stonor Park. 

Dipendra was so entranced by her that when his family made it clear they did not approve of Devyani as his bride, he massacred eight of them, including the King and Queen, before turning the gun on himself in 2001.

A piece of cake for Flo

Best known for starring in Little Women, Florence Pugh appears to have a big appetite.

The Oxford restaurateur’s daughter tucked into a huge piece of cake at her 27th birthday party at the Standard hotel in Kings Cross, London.

The star was delighted that pals, including the Bridgerton actress Simone Ashley, attended so soon after the New Year’s celebrations.

‘No one wants to do anything but splodge and nurse their hangover,’ she told them.

‘I’m so unbelievably grateful to all of you who came.’

Actress Florence Pugh tucked into a huge cake as she celebrated her 27th birthday in London

Claire Foy played a young Queen Elizabeth opposite Matt Smith’s Prince Philip in The Crown. 

But she’s unhappy with his character, Prince Daemon Targaryen, in the Game Of Thrones prequel House Of The Dragon. 

‘I’ve watched all of [it],’ Foy says. 

‘It took a huge amount of commitment, which waned towards the end. I was a very committed friend [of his character] but I disagreed with him in many scenes. I then had to tell [Smith] that I found them disgusting to watch.’

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