EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Her Majesty’s cyber wall ‘crashes systems near Buckingham Palace’

Cyber security is a deadly serious issue, with hackers holding to ransom record numbers of companies and institutions.

The Royal Family is not immune and the Queen called in spooks from GCHQ’s cyber security division last year to advise on extra protection.

But I hear the beefed-up measures to shield the royals from cyber criminals have had a curious effect on businesses near Buckingham Palace, with several complaining of ‘unusual’ effects on their own systems.

The Royal Family is not immune and the Queen called in spooks from GCHQ’s cyber security division last year to advise on extra protection

But I hear the beefed-up measures to shield the royals from cyber criminals have had a curious effect on businesses near Buckingham Palace, with several complaining of 'unusual' effects on their own systems

But I hear the beefed-up measures to shield the royals from cyber criminals have had a curious effect on businesses near Buckingham Palace, with several complaining of ‘unusual’ effects on their own systems

One of those said to be affected is the Goring Hotel, which is so close to the Palace that it’s known among staff as the ‘royal annexe’. 

It was also used as a guest wing by Kate Middleton’s family before her wedding to Prince William in 2011.

The Queen often meets friends for tea at the hotel, as did the Queen Mother.

One of those said to be affected is the Goring Hotel, which is so close to the Palace that it's known among staff as the 'royal annexe'

One of those said to be affected is the Goring Hotel, which is so close to the Palace that it’s known among staff as the ‘royal annexe’

Spooks from GCHQ (pictured) had been called in by the Queen last year to advise on extra protection against cyber attacks

Spooks from GCHQ (pictured) had been called in by the Queen last year to advise on extra protection against cyber attacks

A member of staff is said to have told a guest last week: ‘The ring of cyber steel around the Palace has played havoc with our own computer systems — a couple of times our computers have crashed completely, and we understand it’s because of the new cyber-security measures over the road.’

A Goring spokesman declines to comment, but a source at the hotel is keen to play down the claims. 

While a Buckingham Palace spokesman tells me: ‘We would not comment on matters of security.’

Peter Phillips spots filly on Ladies’ Day

Fresh from finalising his divorce on Monday, the Queen's eldest grandchild, Peter Phillips (left), enjoyed horsing around with Sky Sports presenter Natalie Pinkham (right) during Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot

Fresh from finalising his divorce on Monday, the Queen’s eldest grandchild, Peter Phillips (left), enjoyed horsing around with Sky Sports presenter Natalie Pinkham (right) during Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot

Single and ready to mingle! Fresh from finalising his divorce on Monday, the Queen’s eldest grandchild, Peter Phillips, enjoyed horsing around with Sky Sports presenter Natalie Pinkham during Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot.

Princess Anne’s 43-year-old son, who was married to Autumn Kelly for 12 years, looked especially close to Prince Harry’s former confidante. 

‘He was having a great time and laughing a lot with Natalie,’ a fellow race-goer tells me. 

Princess Anne's 43-year-old son, who was married to Autumn Kelly for 12 years, looked especially close to Prince Harry's former confidante

Princess Anne’s 43-year-old son, who was married to Autumn Kelly for 12 years, looked especially close to Prince Harry’s former confidante

Natalie, 43, who has two children with entertainment executive Owain Walbyoff, was previously close to Prince Harry, but sources claim he cut her off after meeting Meghan Markle.

Peter and Autumn — who have two daughters, Savannah, ten, and Isla, nine — were due to begin a five-day divorce trial at the High Court this week. 

It was called off minutes before it was due to start, with the couple confirming they’d reached a settlement ‘amicably’.

Dunbar in full Bloom at the Irish Embassy

Line Of Duty star Adrian Dunbar got off lightly over the famously difficult-to-read James Joyce at the Irish Embassy in Belgravia this week.

The Enniskillen-born actor appeared at a ‘Bloomsday’ event — a celebration of the life of Joyce which is observed annually on June 16, the day the Irish author’s novel Ulysses takes place in 1904, and named after its protagonist Leopold Bloom.

Dunbar chose instead to read a passage from Samuel Beckett’s reminiscences about his fellow writer.

Sadly, there was a much smaller audience at the virtual event than Dunbar is used to with Line Of Duty. In the past, embassy dos have been lively. After one Christmas party at the mansion, the well-refreshed then Bishop of Southwark climbed into the wrong car and threw toys he found there out of the window. When asked to explain himself, he memorably replied: ‘I’m the Bishop of Southwark. It’s what I do.’

So is that Carrie at Royal Ascot?

Actress Ophelia Lovibond (left) wore a Ralph Lauren dress and Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat to watch the racing with her sister Lettie (right), who works for a gaming company.

Actress Ophelia Lovibond (left) wore a Ralph Lauren dress and Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat to watch the racing with her sister Lettie (right), who works for a gaming company.

No sign of Boris Johnson’s wife at Royal Ascot, but Ophelia Lovibond, who plays Carrie in the forthcoming Sky series This Sceptred Isle was there instead.

The 35-year-old actress wore a Ralph Lauren dress and Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat to watch the racing with her sister Lettie, who works for a gaming company.

Ophelia sports a blonde wig to play the third Mrs Johnson in the coronavirus drama, but showed off her natural auburn hair at the Berkshire course.

Ophelia sports a blonde wig to play the third Mrs Johnson in the coronavirus drama, but showed off her natural auburn hair at the Berkshire course

Ophelia sports a blonde wig to play the third Mrs Johnson in the coronavirus drama, but showed off her natural auburn hair at the Berkshire course

Spandau Ballet star Gary Kemp has told fans desperate for a reunion of the Eighties band to stop harking after their youth. 

‘People get angry with me on social media, saying I should re-unite the group, because we owe it to them,’ he says of the New Romantic band, a favourite of Princess Diana’s. ‘Well, I can’t make them young again. The Spandau Ballet they love is Spandau Ballet from the Eighties.’ 

The ex-husband of Sadie Frost, Kemp, 61, says of his new solo record: ‘It’s the story of an old gunslinger. You get to my age and you’ve had myriad experiences you didn’t have when you were writing songs in your 20s.’

Andrea’s walking on air with the love of her life

Andrea Riseborough and her new French boyfriend Karim Saleh at the Royal Ascot for their society debut

Andrea Riseborough and her new French boyfriend Karim Saleh at the Royal Ascot for their society debut

Andrea Riseborough, acclaimed for her performance as a young Margaret Thatcher in The Long Walk To Finchley, yesterday made the long walk to the Longines VIP suite at Royal Ascot for her society debut with new French boyfriend Karim Saleh.

The actress, 39, met Saleh when he played her Egyptian former lover in the 2020 film Luxor. ‘It’s the film on which I found the love of my life,’ she has explained.

Riseborough played Wallis Simpson in Madonna’s film about the 1936 Abdication crisis, W.E. — but that wasn’t held against her at the Royal Enclosure.