Here come the Blairs and the Coe

While summer party season is warming up, is the work drying up for Cherie Blair?  At last night’s Renaissance Photography Prize at the Mall Gallery, Mrs Blair took full advantage of being introduced as Cherie Booth QC. ‘As a barrister there are important people for me here – solicitors!’ She went on to name check the sponsors Freshfields in a brazen nudge for their work. The short-listed photographers and breast cancer charity of course played second fiddle.

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Crossing the road to the annual Beating the Retreat on Horse Guards Parade, crowds were anticipating a royal to receive the salute and oversee proceedings. Drum roll please, trumpets ready, here comes — Sebastian Lord Coe. Cue audible groans. Coe’s role as Olympic supremo may be going to his head, but last time Mr Steerpike checked he wasn’t a Queen. He acted like he owned the place, though. Before all the guards and marines had marched off, a blacked out limo roared right across the parade square and m’lord was whisked away.