High life | 28 July 2016

Rosa Monckton is married to my old editor Dominic Lawson and they have two girls. Rosa was a close friend of Diana, Princess of Wales and one who never spilled any beans about her. I once had a good laugh with Rosa over the stuff written about Diana and her Egyptian so-called boyfriend who died with her in Paris. Rosa knew the truth and I think I did too, but let’s leave it at that. Those who will go to any lengths for self-promotion will always be with us. Diana was a gift from God for them, and everyone knows how the jackals feasted on the ‘last romance’ for their own benefit. It is now close to 20 years since she died, so there’s no use naming them. They’re a miserable self-promoting lot without shame or principles, and the less said the better.

Rosa and Dominic’s younger daughter is Domenica, who has Down’s syndrome and is now based in Brighton. She was Princess Diana’s last godchild. I remember well when Domenica was born and how her parents did their utmost to bring her up in a normal manner. Close to where I live in Gstaad there is a school for children with Down’s syndrome, and over the years I have come into contact with its pupils. Something one seldom reads about Down’s children is how absolutely sweet-natured they are. This, I think, is so that other disabled children won’t be seen as being not as nice in comparison. Which is understandable. But it doesn’t stop Down’s kids being very, very sweet. Call it my theory, but there you have it. I always ask Rosa about Domenica when we meet.