Breaking custom, queen plans to attend Margaret Thatcher’s funeral
By Bill Zwecker April 11, 2013 11:10PM
Margaret Thatcher - 80th Birthday Party
Updated: April 12, 2013 8:21AM
Apparently there is a bit of consternation inside royal circles in London about Queen Elizabeth II’s decision to attend the funeral Wednesday of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, a divisive figure in the country’s contemporary political history.
A good Buckingham Palace insider told this column the decision was surprising, “especially since the relationship between Baroness Thatcher and Her Majesty was often considered a bit strained during long stretches of the time she served as prime minister.” The queen was persuaded, my source said, by the important role Thatcher played in the country’s history, including being both the first woman to hold the position and the longest-serving British prime minister in the 20th century. Not only has Upton never been to either the Miami club or New York restaurant where she supposed was spotted getting amorous with Combs, her publicist insisted, “She was on vacation with her family. She and Diddy don’t know each other at all. They met in passing a year ago.”
TALK ABOUT SAFE! Without question, Justin Timberlake was a huge hit at the White House —performing with all those music legends for the “In Performance: Memphis Soul” show airing Tuesday on WTTW-Channel 11. J.T. also was likely the best protected artist at the party. Remember this was held at the White House, likely the safest spot in the world. But beyond the phalanx of Secret Service agents and other guards, showbiz411.com reports Timberlake not only had three bodyguards watching out for him but also was the musician allowed the most guests at the fete, including his wife, Jessica Biel; his mother; his stepfather, and his publicist.
“I’ll try anything. Except I won’t do Botox again, because I looked crazy. I looked like Joan Rivers!”
As of Thursday night, Ms. Rivers hadn’t responded to Paltrow’s comment, but you know it will likely be a very funny zinger when it does come.
deadline.com, Steinfeld will team up with another group of seasoned performers — to say the least! Those include Meryl Streep, Hilary Swank, James Spader, John Lithgow and Tim Blake Nelson.
CASTING SLAMMED: Director Lee Daniels’ “The Butler” — based on the life of longtime White House chief usher (butler) Eugene Allen in service to some seven presidents — won’t be out until October, but it’s already catching flak for the stars cast in the film.Navy veteran
Larry Reyes has launched the “Boycott Hanoi Jane Playing Nancy Reagan” Facebook page, claiming, “The moviemakers are free to choose, but it seems like [the casting of Jane Fonda ] was their way of giving people like me the middle finger.” Fonda couldn’t care less and told the Hollywood Reporter that Reyes and his supporters should “get a life,” adding she thinks the “hoopla” will simply “cause more people to see the movie.”
An added concern of conservatives: The script was penned by Danny Strong, who also wrote HBO’s “Game Change,” which some thought was unfair to Sarah Palin.
JUST DINNER? A few Hollywood gossipmongers have been trying to goose rumors of a romance between Academy Awards host and “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane and Oscar winner Charlize Theron.
It started when the two were seen looking cozy at post-Oscar parties. Then the paparazzi caught the two exiting a popular Hollywood restaurant the other night, stifling giggles. I’ve learned the reason for the hilarity was due to the duo immediately realizing their dinner date would further fuel the romance tales. In fact, a very solid Theron insider tells me the actress and MacFarlane are “really just great, good friends,” who also happen to be working together on “A Million Ways to Die in the West,” the film MacFarlane both is directing and starring in with Theron.
