EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Why there were Three Degrees of separation from the royals

He has, so far, ­unburdened himself over 416 pages of often excruciating memoir, as well as in public periodic pronouncements.

So is it too much to hope that Prince Harry might heed the words – and the warning within them – of one of his fathers most devoted admirers, the Three Degrees star Valerie Holiday?

I ask because Holiday, who performed regularly for King Charles, has broken her silence about why, in her ­opinion, the group ceased receiving invitations to ­perform at private royal ­parties after the mid-1980s.

It was, she tells me, because of the perceived indiscretions of Sheila Ferguson – the member of the group who really caught Charless eye.

I thought the relationship should have been kept private because it was very delicate, reflects Holiday, 76, who is touring Britain with group members Freddie Pool and Jessie Wagner.

I didnt like the idea that that was put out on paper. Youre talking about the image of a country, and to me that made it not nice.

I didnt agree with what she did. It was tacky.

The Three Degrees meet then Prince Charles after a charity show in Eastbourne, Sussex in July 1978. From left to right: Sheila Ferguson, Helen Scott and Valerie Holiday

Charles dances with The Three Degrees at the charity event. The group went on to perform at his 30th birthday party and later, his wedding party

Ferguson undoubtedly appeared to be the young Princes favourite – but she did not, she said many years later, want to be a notch on his ­bedpost, describing Charles as a womaniser.

Holiday prefers to dwell on the innocence of their first encounter with the future King.

We were asked to do a charity event for Prince Charles in Eastbourne, she says. He came up on stage and had a boogie with us.

Such was his enchantment that the trio performed at his 30th birthday party at Buckingham Palace and, later, his wedding party.

There is, Holiday adds, no prospect of a reunion – artistic or otherwise – with Ferguson: Sometimes its best to leave things as they were.

Sheila wanted to pursue a solo career. We were not quite aware of her departure until it was already in the making. It was a very traumatic time – like a bad divorce.

Annie Mac meets Madonna

Annie Mac may be regarded as royalty on the airwaves but she was left feeling like a spare part when she met Madonna last year.

On her Sidetracked With Annie And Nick podcast, the DJ says: I got a message from my friend, who knows Madonna, saying, "Shes having a private party." 

When she walked in we all stood up, like she was the Queen. She looked straight through me, and then looked at my friend and was, like, "Oh, its you" so got talking to my friend.

It was a ten-minute period of being really awkward.

Lucky Laura has found her own place in the sun

Laura Hamilton has been showing ­Britons round holiday homes as presenter of A Place In The Sun for more than a decade – but only now has she taken the plunge and purchased her own property abroad.

I’ve just bought a house in Majorca, she tells me at the National Television Awards at The O2 arena in London, where she wore a jewel-encrusted tulle Isabell Kristensen dress.

Laura Hamilton in a jewel-encrusted tulle Isabell Kristensen dress at the National Television Awards at The O2 arena in London

It’s my first property overseas and it’s quite daunting, but I have to practise what I preach . . . so now to do it myself I’m able to give that experience, first-hand to people that I help holding their hands when they’re going through the process.

The Spanish property, in Pollensa, is being renovated and Hamilton, 42, who lives in Surrey, reveals: I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter how experienced you are, you are guaranteed to make a mistake every time.

Motorcycling bishop is zooming to New Zealand

The Book of Proverbs talks of the craving of a sluggard – but Queen Camilla’s favourite priest is scarpering off to the Antipodes for a ­quarter of next year.

Richard Jackson, the motorcycling bishop of Hereford, has told his flock he will be disappearing to New Zealand on sabbatical from ­January to April. He said he hopes to catch up with his reading.

Jackson, 63, who attended on Camilla at the Coronation, is Clerk of the Closet (chief clergyman) in the royal household.

The Queen is said to admire his preaching. It must be stronger than his work ethic.

Suchet versus Beethoven

Classic FM host John Suchet has subjected Beethoven to an investigation worthy of his brother David’s portrayal of Poirot – for his latest book.

Beethoven’s music has been my companion through the best and worst of times, yet I find it difficult to forgive him for the pain he caused those around him, he says.

This book includes some truly surprising, and not altogether welcome, discoveries.

All will be revealed when In Search Of Beethoven is published next month.

French passports for Davina and her son

Davina McCall revealed last year that she was trying to come to terms with her past by ­applying to become French like her late mother, Florence.

Having since acquired dual ­citizenship, she says her 17-year-old son, Chester, has been accepted, too. We’re keeping it in the family, she tells me.

Davina McCall at the NTA Awards at the O2 Arena on September 11

It’s the best feeling having a French passport, and now my son is about to get his. 

The Long Lost ­Family ­presenter, 56, has two other children, Holly, 22, and Tilly, 20, with ex ­Matthew Robertson.

McCall, who was 12 when she first took drugs with her mother, was left to live with her grandparents aged three, when Florence moved back to her native France.