EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Guinness heiress sold her London home after it was repeatedly burgled by armed raiders

Netflixs lavish new series House Of Guinness portrays the super-rich dynasty as cursed. And one of the Anglo-Irish family’s most prominent members, Daphne Guinness, might be tempted to agree.

For the fashion icon tells me she sold her London home after it was repeatedly burgled by armed raiders.

‘It actually happened three times – knives and baseball bats,’ says the brewing heiress, who was a muse to the late designer Karl Lagerfeld.

‘They really threatened the poor postman on the way out – that’s how I found out about the knives. The milkman was also threatened. They pumped gas into the house to make sure no one woke up.’

Until now, Daphne, 57, the daughter of Lord Moyne and granddaughter of the late Diana Mitford, never spoke about the raids, which took place under the previous Labour government.

She is speaking out now because she is so alarmed by police priorities, following the ‘terrifying’ decision by Essex Police to visit journalist Allison Pearson over a year-old online post.

‘When I was burgled at knifepoint, the police did absolutely nothing,’ Guinness claims. ‘I was not allowed to protect myself and, of course, it happened again. We live in an upside-down world.’

She explains: ‘It’s the reason I moved out of London back then. I tried everything to secure the house, as I was either alone or, in term times, with my three children. I couldn’t risk it.

Daphne Guinness revealed she sold her London home after it was repeatedly burgled by armed raiders

Daphne at the McQueen Spring/Summer 2025 show during Paris Fashion Week in September

‘I tried, but I wasn’t allowed to make the changes I needed to by the council.

‘And, most importantly but outrageously, the police discouraged me from making the walls more perilous in case another gang got injured.

‘It’s really idiotic and makes no sense. I regretted selling that house terribly, but there was nothing I could do.

‘I got to the point where I was living with the shutters closed and unable to live a normal life. I think it’s worse now.’

She adds: ‘I actually managed to do a lot of the police work, I identified one of the gangs and the fences they used in Hatton Garden, they were arrested then absconded – unbelievable.’

She was reported to have sold her home in St John’s Wood, north London, for £17.5million in 2008.

What makes Guinness’s experience even more traumatic is that her childhood was marred by an incident when she was five years old. A family friend, in a schizophrenic rage, held her at knifepoint outside the family’s home in Kensington, west London.

Liz opens up on body confidence - Pick of the parties 

The occasion: Michael Josephson MBE Charity Ball at Hilton Manchester Deansgate. It raised more than £1.2million for youth charities this year.

Swimwear shy: She’s known for posing in bikinis, but Elizabeth Hurley tells me: ‘I have insecurities about my body, we all do.’ On tips for pictures, she says: ‘Never stand in overhead sun and have a sarong, so you can hide what you want to cover.’

Stellar menu: Liz’s ‘best friend’, actress Patsy Kensit, helped fetch £32,000 by enticing one bidder for a lunch with the pair, along with Hurley’s son Damian and panto dame Christopher Biggins.

Still got it: Sixties star Lulu was the star act, performing a string of hits including her pal Elton John’s I’m Still Standing.

Attendees at the Michael Josephson charity ball in Manchester, which raised £1.2million this year

Elizabeth Hurley (pictured, left) said she had insecurities about my body

Sixties star Lulu was the star act and performed a series of hits including Elton Johns Im Still Standing

A funeral like no other 

There will never have been a society funeral like this. Mourners planning to attend the Gloucestershire service for Dave Lycett Green – the grandson of Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman, whose death at the age of 49 I reported last week – have been advised of the unusual dress code: ‘Top hats/baseball caps, white gloves, tracksuits, Nike and rave colours.’ 

Queen Camilla’s nephew Sir Ben Elliot, who was at Eton College with Lycett Green, said he was an ‘enlightened soul’. His brother John adds: ‘There will be a memorial rave in London next year, as per Dave’s wishes.’ 

Mourners planning to attend the funeral of Dave Lycett Green have been given an unusual dress code

Support for farmers - from a Labour MP?

Can farmers marching on Westminster today expect support from new Labour MP Henry Tufnell? 

The Radley-educated barrister says he ‘grew up in a farming family’. I hear that Tufnell, who hails from a 2,000-acre Gloucestershire estate, was shouted down when he tried to defend farmers at a recent meeting with colleagues. 

Most of his family and friends are likely to be marching or sympathise with the protesters. Will ‘Red Henry’ stick with his fellow socialists? 

Farmers protesting in Westminster today may expect support from Labour MP Henry Tufnell, who grew up in a farming family

Ellies wedding comeback

Since Prince William and Catherine’s Buckingham Palace reception in 2011, Ellie Goulding has rarely sung at weddings.

But the pop star was happy to take the stage at the weekend for Savannah Murphy and Nico Hochschild at The Dorchester in Mayfair.

Savannah is the daughter of socialite Heather Kerzner and late hedge fund boss Charles Murphy, while Nico is heir to the Hochschild mining fortune.

No word on whether Ellie was joined by Kerzner’s boyfriend, the American singer Michael Bolton.

Ellie Goulding performing at the wedding of Savannah Murphy and Nico Hochschild at The Dorchester in Mayfair

Goulding has scarcely performed at weddings since appearing at Prince William and Catherines reception in 2011

Savannah is the daughter of socialite Heather Kerzner and late hedge fund boss Charles Murphy. Nico is heir to the Hochschild mining fortune

Grant forgets his briefs in LA 

Once caught with his pants down on Sunset Boulevard, Hugh Grant still visits Los Angeles without his briefs on. 

During a podcast recorded in LA, the actor declares: ‘Do you know what I forgot to bring because I’m a bad packer? Underwear. So, I’m talking to you commando, which is exciting.’ 

He adds: ‘I’ve asked the concierge to provide some and he was surprised.’ 

Hugh Grant at the Governors Awards at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles on November 17