News about David Mellor

As the police announce that the bomb jacket she was forced to wear by the crooks was fake, the British millionaire who was kidnapped in Ecuador is pictured in Lake Como with his Colombian girlfriend last year. When he was kidnapped a week ago, former British Consul Colin Armstrong OBE was arrested by 15 men dressed in fake police uniforms, as well as his 'romantic partner,' Katherine Paolo Santos. Despite the fact that the 78-year-old has been released safely, Ms Santos is said to have been questioned by police about her possible complicity in the kidnapping of the millionaire. Mr Armstrong and Ms Santos are photographed at Lake Como, Italy, in July last year, at the opulent 'historical and romantic' Villa d'Este. With Mr Armstrong dressed in black and white shorts, the pair are captured smiling and joking together light-heartedly in the photographs. His glamorous girlfriend is seen wearing a purple bikini and gold earrings while sipping what seems to be a cocktail by the pool. The two couples are seen taking it in turns to photograph each other before dragging off with matching blue towels and holding hands as they walked. The Villa D'Este is a five-star luxury hotel overlooking Lake Como, boasting a pool, tennis court, and world-famous Italian Renaissance gardens. Inset: Mr Armstrong after he was released

It's just a week ago that former British Consul Colin Armstrong OBE was snatched by 15 guys dressed in fake police uniforms at the start of a terrifying and somewhat bizarre kidnapping ordeal. The millionaire businessman, formerly known as 'Our Man in Guayaquil,' was kidnapped last Saturday, as well as Katherine Paolo Santos, a Colombian model and pole dancer, who later described him as his 'romantic partner', who was bundled into his own black BMW at gunpoint.'

The Mail on Sunday learned that Dr. Ittai Gradel, a Roman antiquities specialist, sparked the alarm after finding artefacts for sale that had not appeared in a museum catalog nearly a century ago. His remarks came after Peter John Higgs (pictured) was fired from the museum last month, after jewellery, gemstones, and precious metals dating back more than 3,000 years were removed from the archives. "I alerted the British Museum on February 28, 2021," the Danish academic said yesterday. "I was - shall we say - not happy with their reaction or lack of reaction that I had.' He suggested that the perpetrator may have also obtained 'unregistered items' from the museum collection, but that they had to eBay two items that had not been published in the British Museum catalog since 1926.

The 150th anniversary of Rachmaninov's birth at the start of April suggests that his reputation as a composer has never been better than ever, particularly considering his arrival in the West at the end of 1917. Rachmaninov's remarkable melodic contributions, as well as his ability to write piano concertos of spellbinding tenacity and charisma, should have protected his name in perpetuity. But it wasn't like that. Rachmaninov (above) only made six pieces during his 24 years in the West. Partly because of the pressures of his career as a prominent recitalist, but mainly because his music was so stifled at the reception that critics who regarded him as a glib and superficial tunesmith from a previous era. Grove's Dictionary is now considered the most authoritative of all commentaries on music and musicians. Nevertheless, the 1954 edition rejected Rachmaninov, calling his work'monotonous in appearance' and "consisting mainly of artificial and gushing tunes." His popularity, according to the newspaper, is not likely to last long.'

British Petroleum has endorsed the Royal Opera for 33 years. However, all this came only a few days ago, when a number of BP initiatives were cancelled. Initiatives that had helped bring this most costly of art forms to people who otherwise could not afford to go anywhere near it. It's a triumph for the woke warriors - those people who want to burn down but have no intention to building up. And it's a sad tale, particularly because opera is also under fire from the Arts Council, which is supposed to protect and promote it.

The Christmas card also includes a portrait of King and Queen Consort pictured at the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering on September 3rd, just five days before the King died on September 8th. The monarch, 74, appears in the photo, with Camilla, 75, wearing a green suit and matching hat with a pheasant motif and pearl earrings. Pictured from the left: In Wrexham last week, the King and Queen Consort were captured on film. The couple's official Christmas card)

Following the fallout from their incendiary Netflix series, a coalition of political figures, senior military figures, and respected scholars urged the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to hold off next year's Coronation. One former Cabinet Minister said the couple'categorically should not be' at Westminster Abbey when Charles is crowned on May 6 amid a slew of highly regarded voices calling on Harry and Meghan to remain at home. The intervention comes just days after Harry's allegations of 'unconscious bias' regarding race in the Royal Family; an inflammatory description of the late Queen's beloved Commonwealth as 'Empire 2.0'; and Meghan's ostentatious parody of a curtsey. Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith told The Mail on Sunday: 'If they dislike the Royal Family so much why would they attend the Coronation?' David Mellor, a Tory veteran, echoed the sentiment, adding: "They shouldn't come to the Coronation." They should not have arrived, and they certainly didn't have to come.' They make money by selling their families down the river. The British people do not want them there, and I believe it should be made clear that they are not interested.' People'would be perfectly entitled to boo if the couple didn't turn up,' he said, adding: "They are a sad pair and there is no reason for them to boo."

When he arrived at the head office for the engagement in Yorkshire this morning, the monarch was beaming. Morrisons Farming, Community, Sustainability, and Apprenticeship courses were among the participants. As he arrived, he chatted with people who worked at supermarkets around the region, saying: 'Thank you for your wonderful efforts.' 'I hope they let you off at Christmas.' (Inset and main)

David Mellor (inset), the Treasury Secretary and Secretary of State for National Heritage, said the ex-PM would not have been party to 'what he would have considered...as a treasonous discussion.' The former MP expressed fear that people would'believe every word' of the dramatic display, which might damage the King's image. Imelda Staunton of The Crown, pictured left. Right, Jonny Lee Miller as John Major

After the Queen died, an orchestra that has earned more than £1 million in public funds declined to perform the National Anthem because it said it embodies the 'racist' British Empire. The Chineke! During the grueling period, the orchestra performed at the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland, but Chi-chi Nwanoku, the orchestra's artistic director, banned God Save The King from performing. MPs and musicians have chastised Ms Nwanoku's acceptance of awards including a CBE.

Glasgow Rangers, Manchester City, and Chelsea all applied for the national anthem ahead of their Champions League home games on Saturday. No, Uefa, Europe's governing body, said no. Despite the ban, fans may well choose God Save the King.