The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were so protective of their children’s ‘privacy’ that they refused even to name the godparents of their son, Prince Archie.

So it’s fascinating to discover that Archie and his sister, Princess Lilibet, have been the subject of a very glamorous shoot by one of Meghan’s favourite photographers.

I hear that New York-based Jake Rosenberg flew to California earlier this month where he took a series of pictures of Meghan on her own, cooking, and her with the children.

The photo-shoot, at Prince Harry and Meghan’s mansion in Montecito, coincided with the launch of Meghan’s lifestyle and cookery brand, American Riviera Orchard.

The venture was unveiled last week, in a glitzy Instagram video, in which Meghan could be seen busying herself in a rustic-looking kitchen. The video was posted a day after I contacted Meghan’s office for comment on her plans. American Riviera Orchard will focus on home, garden, food and lifestyle wares.

Archie and his sister, Princess Lilibet, have been the subject of a very glamorous shoot by one of Meghan's favourite photographers (Pictured: The family in 2021)
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Archie and his sister, Princess Lilibet, have been the subject of a very glamorous shoot by one of Meghan’s favourite photographers (Pictured: The family in 2021)

This official christening photograph released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shows the the pair with their son, Archie
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This official christening photograph released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shows the the pair with their son, Archie

The photo-shoot coincided with the launch of Meghan's lifestyle and cookery brand, American Riviera Orchard, and was shot by New York-based Jake Rosenberg (pictured) who has worked with Meghan before
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The photo-shoot coincided with the launch of Meghan’s lifestyle and cookery brand, American Riviera Orchard, and was shot by New York-based Jake Rosenberg (pictured) who has worked with Meghan before

Rosenberg, who is originally from Toronto in Canada, where Meghan spent six years while filming the television legal drama Suits, has photographed the Duchess many times. On his website, he says ‘his lens has captured the radiance of talent such as Meghan Markle, Oprah Winfrey, Priyanka Chopra, Cindy Crawford, David Beckham, and Michael B. Jordan, unveiling their authentic personas through his vibrant imagery’.

There have been very few photographs of Archie, who turns five in May, and Lily, two, issued by their parents. They did. however, feature in Netflix’s tawdry documentary series about the couple.

A friend of Meghan confirms that the photo-shoot took place but insists they were ‘portraits for the family’. The pal tells me: ‘I would not connect those to the business.’

Rosenberg could not be reached for comment.

King’s godchild parties with her Argentinian pal

Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark, King Charles’s goddaughter, surprised friends and family when she split up with Peregrine Pearson, Viscount Cowdray’s son and heir, last year.

He has since moved on to a new relationship with Game Of Thrones star Sophie Turner, currently in a divorce battle with American pop singer Joe Jonas.

Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark has been seen out with Argentinian businessman Martin Pacanowski after splitting up from Peregrine Pearson, Viscount Cowdray's son and heir, last year
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Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark has been seen out with Argentinian businessman Martin Pacanowski after splitting up from Peregrine Pearson, Viscount Cowdray’s son and heir, last year

Meanwhile, it appears that Olympia, 27, isn’t short of male admirers.

At a London party this week, she was accompanied by Argentinian businessman Martin Pacanowski.

The pair were photographed arm-in-arm together on the red carpet.

‘Martin and Olympia have known each other a very long time and get on extremely well,’ a pal tells me.

She was the queen of the Brits, scooping a record six awards at this year’s ceremony, but pop star Raye is clearly keen to keep her feet on the ground. 

Figures for the performing arts business she uses to channel her earnings reveal that the 26-year-old singer enjoyed a relatively modest £50,000 pay packet last year. 

Accounts for Hello Rat Ltd report that in the 12 months to the end of last March, a dividend of £50,000 was paid to Raye, real name Rachel Keen. The company had assets of more than £100,000. 

Figures for the performing arts business Raye uses to channel her earnings show that the singer enjoyed a relatively modest £50,000 pay packet last year
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Figures for the performing arts business Raye uses to channel her earnings show that the singer enjoyed a relatively modest £50,000 pay packet last year

Liz Truss makes a modest advance

Tony Blair was paid a reported £4.6million advance for his memoirs, yet it’s a different story for some other former prime ministers.

Liz Truss has just reported in the MPs’ register of financial interests that she was paid a £1,512 initial advance by Biteback Publishing for her book, Ten Years To Save The West, which is due out next month.

Liz Truss has only been paid a £1,512 initial advance by Biteback Publishing for her book, Ten Years To Save The West, which is due out next month
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Liz Truss has only been paid a £1,512 initial advance by Biteback Publishing for her book, Ten Years To Save The West, which is due out next month

Regnery, the conservative publisher which is releasing her book in the U.S., has slightly more faith in its prospects, giving her a £6,000 advance.

King Charles has had a challenging first year as Monarch, but he’s determined to celebrate the first anniversary of his Coronation nevertheless.

I hear that his Gloucestershire retreat, Highgrove, is hosting a ‘red, white and blue ball’ next month.

An advertisement promises a ‘sophisticated evening of elegance, glamour and excitement’, including canapes followed by a candlelit dinner featuring a ‘sumptuous three-course menu expertly paired with the finest Highgrove organic wines and live music throughout the night’.

Tickets are a suitably regal £200 a pop.

Rose at 40 has lost none of her bloom

Although its patron, the Princess of Wales, was conspicuous by her absence, the National Portrait Gallery still attracted an impressive array of guests to its Portrait Gala on Tuesday evening.

The Marquess of Cholmondeley and his wife, Rose, were among the guests, who included Princess Alexandra’s granddaughter Flora Ogilvy.

The Marquess of Cholmondeley and his wife, Rose, were among the guests at the National Portrait Gallery's  Portrait Gala on Tuesday evening (pictured at a previous event)
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The Marquess of Cholmondeley and his wife, Rose, were among the guests at the National Portrait Gallery’s  Portrait Gala on Tuesday evening (pictured at a previous event)

Sarah Rose Hanbury and David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley at the King's coronation
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Sarah Rose Hanbury and David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley at the King’s coronation

Rose, who celebrated her milestone 40th birthday at the weekend, will be hoping that her friend, Princess Catherine, is soon dancing again. Last summer, I revealed that Catherine had attended her first ‘rave’ at the Houghton Festival on the Cholmondeleys’ Norfolk estate.

Late Earl leaves £500,000 to Eton

Remarkably, given that he was 6ft 6in, his shoes were a petite size 6. But the 8th Earl Cadogan, who died last year aged 86, remained nimble on his feet till the end – proverbially speaking, at least.

The 8th Earl Cadogan, who died last year aged 86, bequeathed £500,000 of his conservatively estimated at £5.5billion fortune to his old school, Eton
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The 8th Earl Cadogan, who died last year aged 86, bequeathed £500,000 of his conservatively estimated at £5.5billion fortune to his old school, Eton

His will, just published, shows that Charles Cadogan, who succeeded to the earldom on his father’s death in 1997, left £6.5 million. That’s only a minute fraction of the family fortune which, based on ownership of 93 prime acres in London’s Chelsea, is conservatively estimated at £5.5billion.

The thrice-married Cadogan, who nobly spoke in favour of women who enjoyed sunbathing topless in gardens owned by his Cadogan Estates, bequeathed £500,000 to his old school, Eton.