Dolly Busby
The Princess of Wales‘ uncle called for Harry and Meghan to be stripped of their titles on last night’s episode of Celebrity Big Brother.
Speaking with presenter Fern Britton, Gary Goldsmith spoke candidly about the Royal Family.
Discussing the Sussexes, the 58-year-old said: ‘I genuinely think their titles should be taken away’.
He was also asked about the Princess of Wales’ health. He replied: ‘She’s getting the best care in the world and all the family has done is put the wagons around and look after family. They put a statement out that just said, ‘We’ll just take some time to recoup and we’ll see you in Easter.’
Mr Goldsmith, the younger brother of Kate’s mother Carole Middleton, added: ‘She’s amazing, she’ll be back, of course she will.’
It came as the businessman was revealed as the first housemate who could be evicted from the show after being nominated by Sharon Osbourne to face a public vote tomorrow against YouTuber Zeze Millz and reality star David Potts.
Mr Goldsmith pleaded with Ms Osbourne, 71, saying he had come on the show to change the perception of him as ‘the black sheep of the Royal Family’, adding: ‘I’m a normal bloke, it just so happens that my niece married Will.
‘If I can show people that I’m not that person and I’ve really put myself out there cause this isn’t my world.
‘And ultimately I’m not a celebrity. I don’t want to be a celebrity. I don’t want to go down that path.’
In her conversation with Mr Goldsmith, Ms Britton said: ‘My feeling is that William must be furious now to have suddenly the weight of it all on his head and his shoulders when he could’ve shared it.’
Kate’s uncle replied: ‘I think he’s done an amazing job, in that horrible situation… and I’ve seen he’s had an olive branch open every time for Harry to come back.’
Ms Britton said: ‘For a father to see two beloved sons warring that way is heartbreaking’, to which Mr Goldsmith responded: ‘I genuinely think their titles should be taken away’.
Speaking about the current state of the Conservative Party, Goldsmith said: ‘I’m a Tory at heart and I don’t think he’s (Rishi Sunak) the leader we want.’
He expressed his admiration for former prime minister Boris Johnson and said he thought the world would be ‘safer’ with Donald Trump back as US President.
When Fern Britton said she could imagine David Cameron becoming prime minister again, Goldsmith said: ‘You’re not the first person I’ve heard say that.’
It came as domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid criticised Mr Goldsmith being a contestant on the show. In 2017, he was fined and given a community order after admitting to assaulting his wife in a drunken argument when she accused him of taking drugs.
A spokesperson for the charity said: ‘The decision to include a man who has been charged, and pleaded guilty to, assaulting his wife demonstrates the lack of awareness the production team has when it comes to survivors of domestic abuse.
A Big Brother spokesman said ‘all behaviour in the house is strictly monitored’, and an apology provided by the broadcaster on behalf of Mr Goldsmith said: ‘I’m not perfect and I made a mistake that I’ve worked endlessly for seven years to put right.’
Gary earned notoriety when he was caught in a drugs sting by the now-defunct News Of The World newspaper in 2009 at his Ibiza villa, the Maison de Bang Bang – crude French slang for the ‘House of Sex’.
He was filmed giving hard drugs to an undercover reporter – but denied taking drugs and reporter Mazher Mahmood, known as the ‘Fake Sheikh’, was later jailed for perverting the course of justice.
The businessman, who made his money in recruitment and was once worth £30million, is thought to have been kept at arm’s length by the Middletons in recent years.
This is despite him attending William and Kate’s wedding in London in 2011 and then that of Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton to James Matthews in Berkshire six years later.
In 2012 he married his fourth wife Julie-Ann – but five years later in 2017, he was arrested after assaulting her outside their home in London.
Gary knocked her to the ground after she accused him of taking drugs during a drunken fight.
He later pleaded guilty to one count of assault by beating and was fined £5,000 and handed a 12-month community order with 20 sessions of rehabilitation.
Julie-Ann’s mother Maureen Brown told MailOnline at the time: ‘You shouldn’t do that to a woman. She doesn’t deserve that.’
Gary has also publicly apologised for his behaviour, saying: ‘I’m not perfect and I made a mistake, a personal row seven years ago which was publicly exposed that I’ve worked endlessly for seven years to put right. The offence is long since spent, however my regret continues.’
When he moved into the Celebrity Big Brother house on Monday , Gary said he believes Kate could be watching from ‘behind a sofa’.
He reportedly tried to gain a spot on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here last year, but was turned down over concerns it could embarrass his niece.
Mr Goldsmith is said to have told friends that he won’t do anything to hurt Kate or William on Celebrity Big Brother – but he has previously attacked Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and they could therefore now be in the firing line.
Asked by Celebrity Big Brother presenter AJ Odudu last night whether Kate would be watching, Mr Goldsmith said: ‘If she is it will be behind a sofa, I guess… It’ll be a nice one in a nice house, I can guarantee that.’
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings