Alain de Botton Splits from Wife of 23 Years; Royal Family Members and Celebrities Appear in New Shows

Philosopher and author Alain de Botton has separated from his wife of 23 years, Charlotte. The couple, who co-founded The School of Life, a global organization aimed at providing emotional and psychological guidance, are now living in different houses on the same street in North London. A friend confirmed the separation, stating de Botton has a new girlfriend.

De Botton, 56, known for his books such as 'The Romantic Movement,' 'Essays in Love,' and 'How to Think More About Sex,' was reportedly accompanied by an unidentified woman to the wedding of film producer Jemima Goldsmith and financier Cameron O’Reilly in Oxfordshire earlier this month. He and Charlotte married in 2003 after meeting in London. Charlotte also played a significant role in the financial and legal aspects of Seneca Productions, the television company behind de Botton's Channel 4 documentaries.

In separate celebrity news, Alexandra Mountbatten, daughter of Lord Ivar Mountbatten, is set to appear in a new Channel 4 survival series titled 'Apocalypse.' The seven-part show will feature two teams competing in an abandoned town in the US, lacking electricity, water, or food. Mountbatten, an ambulance care assistant and self-proclaimed 'adrenaline junkie,' will join former 'Made In Chelsea' star Freddie Browne on the program.

Amidst reports of television projects involving the royal family, it has emerged that Prince William held private discussions with the new Director-General of the BBC, Matt Brittin, at Kensington Palace. This follows a previous BBC documentary in 2017, 'Diana, Our Mother: Her Life And Legacy,' in which Prince William and his brother, Prince Harry, appeared. Prince Harry is reportedly planning his own program, likely for Netflix.

Actress Claire Foy, who portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in the Netflix series 'The Crown,' expressed a desire for a private chef, humorously noting it as a royal perk she might have enjoyed keeping. Foy, 42, who has a daughter with her ex-husband, actor Stephen Campbell Moore, stated she dislikes cooking and would prefer someone to prepare meals for her without living in her home.

Elsewhere, a sheet of Buckingham Palace-headed notepaper bearing pencil signatures of a young King Charles and Princess Anne, dating from around 1960, sold for £400 at auction. The item was reportedly kept for decades by a nurse who worked for their mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Mandana Dayani, the former president of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Archewell organization, described the couple's decision to step away from royal duties as an act of courage. Dayani, who worked with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from 2021 until the end of 2022, cited their dissent against the institution of the monarchy as a key reason for her involvement.

In a quirky note on modern manners, Countess Sara Bathurst has implemented a policy at Cirencester Park, her family estate, to fine guests who use mobile phones at the table. Fines are collected in a Wooden Spoon charity tin, with an immediate penalty issued for answering calls, making calls, or even glancing at a phone screen during meals.