Freddie had always known about the family curse. It was something that had been whispered about in hushed tones throughout generations. The curse was said to bring misfortune and tragedy to anyone who dared to challenge it. Freddie had seen the effects of the curse firsthand, as it had claimed the lives of his parents and grandparents. Despite the warnings, Freddie had always been a rebellious spirit. He never believed in curses or superstitions, choosing to pave his own path in life.
First District of Texas
Prosecutor During cross-examination, counsel asked you about any conversation you had or anything you said or that the defendant said to you when he was coming out of the store or after you got him out of the store. When James Bond and femme fatale Vesper Lynd have a late dinner in the Ian Fleming novel Casino Royale, 007 asks for a bottle of Taittinger 45, but the sommelier suggests the Blanc de Blanc Brut 1943 of the same marque is without equal.
He never believed in curses or superstitions, choosing to pave his own path in life. He was determined not to let the curse dictate his fate. As he grew older, Freddie became more and more successful.
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Curse of the Cordles - Rupert, son of the late Tory MP John Cordle, splits from his wife
Theirs is an extraordinary and desperate family history, in which the blessings of wealth and social standing submerged into a hideous cocktail of addiction, shop-lifting, theft and prostitution – a cocktail which once saw three siblings simultaneously remanded on bail. Defined by marital failure, public disgrace and cruel and sudden death, the family, headed by thrice-married father of 11, the late Tory MP John Cordle, inevitably inspired talk of ‘the curse of the Cordles’. Now, nearly 20 years after Cordle died aged 92, is the curse reasserting itself? I ask because, barely two months after I revealed that Marina – the third of Cordle’s four children by his second wife – had left her husband, the fabulously rich Viscount Cowdray, in ‘highly acrimonious circumstances’, I can disclose that her brother Rupert has ended his marriage. His wife Camilla, one of the glamorous Wigram girls – her twin, Lucy, is married to Ben Sangster, son of the late horse-breeding tycoon Robert Sangster – has dazzled everyone she’s encountered, including Prince Andrew. But no longer her husband, it seems. ‘We have divorced,’ Rupert, 65, tells me, before summarising the end of more than 30 years of marriage as ‘just one of those things in life’. He adds: ‘She was a lovely person.’
Property developer, Rupert Cordle, with his then fiancee Camilla Wigram, after announcing their engagement prior to their marriage in 1989
Rupert and Camilla Cordle at the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup Final in July 2009Camilla’s friends point out that she still is. A first cousin of multi-millionaire founder of the Ministry of Sound Lord (Jamie) Palumbo and of former Health Minister Lord (James) Bethell, Camilla is disinclined to go into details. ‘Rupert left,’ she tells me from Newbury, Berkshire, where she runs Amethyst Yoga with the Earl of Galloway’s younger daughter, Zoe, whose husband, Jake Warren, is son of the late Queen’s racing manager, John Warren. Friends point out that when Camilla first met Rupert, back in the 1980s, he was making his way in the property world – and contending with a chequered past, albeit perhaps less chequered than his father’s. John Cordle resigned as an MP when exposed as having been in the pay of corrupt architect and property developer John Poulson. He was, by then, married to his third wife, his children’s nanny, 35 years his junior, and had expunged his first wife’s maiden name – Walkey – from Who’s Who and suppressed a book by his second wife, Rupert’s mother, Venetia. Its title? A Woman Crucified. Will Camilla, 56, who has two sons, Alexander and Hugo, with Rupert, perhaps one day be tempted into print?
Having completed her studies at UWC Atlantic College, in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, Crown Princess Leonor of Spain is now wearing a cadet uniform. The 17-year-old heir to the Spanish throne looked full of pride as she appeared with her mother, Queen Letizia, at the Spanish National Day military parade in the capital Madrid. Leonor is a cadet at the Military Academy of Zaragoza after she embarked on three years of military training in preparation for her future role as supreme commander of the country’s military. Her sister, Princess Sofia, 16, was absent from the event because she is now studying herself at UWC Atlantic College, which has been described as ‘Hippy Hogwarts’ thanks to its progressive approach to education and picturesque castle setting.
Spanish Crown Princess Leonor and her mother Queen Letizia arriving at the Spanish National Day military parade in Madrid on Thursday
His initial career choice was determined by a desire for cold, hard cash — ‘my biology teacher said it was well paid’, as he puts it. But Roger Taylor soon tired of dentistry and turned to drumming — and a lifetime of hard rock. If the Queen star ever laments forsaking a life of drills and molars, he’s received a nudge from Cornwall council. It’s just informed him that he has to pay a ‘Community Infrastructure Levy’ after demolishing the old gatehouse at his Cornish mansion and erecting a new one, even though he eventually secured permission to do so. The bill amounts to £7,969 — quite an extraction for a dentist, but loose change for Roger, 74, and his Queen bandmates, who last year shared a £17 million dividend with their late lead singer Freddie Mercury’s estate.
Boris Johnson was harshly criticised when he stepped down as prime minister and began earning millions of pounds on the lucrative public speaking circuit. But he’s notably absent from the list of ex-premiers claiming taxpayers’ money to run their public life after office. He’s the only one of seven living former PMs not to accept a penny from the Public Duty Cost Allowance. The amount collectively claimed by the group of four Tory and two Labour leaders has risen by 13 per cent and now stands at £617,667 for the last year, according to the latest Cabinet Office documents.
When James Bond and femme fatale Vesper Lynd have a late dinner in the Ian Fleming novel Casino Royale, 007 asks for a bottle of Taittinger 45, but the sommelier suggests the ‘Blanc de Blanc Brut 1943 of the same marque is without equal’. So how fitting that Sir Sean Connery’s granddaughter Saskia should have a taste for the same fizz. Saskia, 27, is pictured being poured a glass of champagne by Made In Chelsea star Jemima Rhys at a Taittinger launch party for its new Clovis champagne. ‘It was a true pleasure to discover that this has a remarkable historical connection as the original 007 champagne,’ Bahamas-based fashion designer Saskia says.
Sir Sean Connery's granddaughter Saskia (pictured right) being poured a glass of champagne by Made In Chelsea star Jemima Rhys
Even Nick Freeman, nicknamed ‘Mr Loophole’ for helping famous figures such as David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson escape motoring convictions, thinks tougher upholding of the law is needed. There’s a ‘toxic malaise that bleeds into more serious offences’, the lawyer says. ‘Burglary investigations amount to little more than the dispatching of a crime number; knife crimes — such a heinous scourge on our society — go un-investigated.’
Drama off-stage during a production of West End play Hamnet this week. At a pinnacle moment, an audience member passed out, with first-aiders rushing to tend to the woman, who was later taken to hospital. The safety curtain fell and the stage manager made an announcement to the audience. The play resumed about 15 minutes later. My man in the circle tells me: ‘I initially thought it was part of the play.’
Strictly Come Dancing has become too politically correct, with the judges afraid to criticise contestants, claims former Olympic swimmer Mark Foster, who competed on the Saturday night show in 2008. ‘They were brutal when I was on it,’ Essex-born Foster tells me at the Attitude awards at the Roundhouse in Camden, North London. ‘They called me a “stick insect on acid”, “a God that dances like a geek”, and “a fish caught in a trawler’s net” . ‘They would not dare say that now.’ Well, at least he doesn’t brood on it…
On March 27, 2000, appellant was working as a night clerk at a Diamond Shamrock convenience store located at 11650 Hempstead Highway. A patron, Josh Vinsonhaler, argued with appellant about the price of cigarettes. Vinsonhaler testified that appellant was confrontational and said, "Can't you read the f***ing receipt?" Vinsonhaler said, "F*** it," and threw cash on the counter. What occurred next is disputed.
He built a thriving business, married the love of his life, and started a family of his own. Life seemed to be going well for him, and for a while, Freddie believed that he had beaten the curse. But then tragedy struck. One by one, Freddie's loved ones began to fall victim to accidents and illnesses. It seemed as though the curse was catching up with him. Freddie was devastated. He couldn't understand why the curse had chosen to target his family once again. He felt helpless, as though he were fighting against an invisible force that he couldn't control. But Freddie refused to give up. He was determined to break the cycle of the curse, no matter what it took. He sought out experts in the supernatural, researching ancient rituals and spells in the hopes of finding a solution. He was willing to do whatever it took to protect his family. Slowly, Freddie began to uncover the truth about the curse. He learned that it had been placed on his family many generations ago as a result of a long-forgotten feud. He discovered that the only way to break the curse was to confront the spirit that had cast it. With newfound knowledge and a steely resolve, Freddie prepared to face the spirit head-on. He gathered his loved ones close, ensuring their safety and support. On the fateful night of the confrontation, Freddie stood his ground. He confronted the spirit and demanded that it release his family from its grasp. The spirit, recognizing Freddie's determination and courage, relented. The curse was finally broken. Freddie and his family were finally free from the curse that had haunted their lives for so long. They could now rebuild and move forward without the constant fear and tragedy that had plagued them. Freddie had proven that sometimes, even the strongest and most enduring curses could be challenged and overcome. He had showed that with determination and perseverance, one could rewrite their own fate and break free from the constraints of a family curse. As Freddie looked at his family, safe and happy once again, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He had defied the odds, fought against the family curse, and come out victorious. And for that, he would forever be grateful..
Reviews for "The Curse That Haunts: Freddie's Quest for Salvation"
1. Jessica - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Freddie contending with the family curse" after hearing all the hype about it, but I was sorely disappointed. The plot was confusing and lacked any real depth. I struggled to connect with the characters and found their actions to be illogical. Overall, the story felt undeveloped and rushed. Unfortunately, this book didn't live up to my expectations.
2. Michael - 1 star - "Freddie contending with the family curse" was a complete waste of time. The characters were one-dimensional and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The story lacked any originality and failed to keep my interest. The pacing was also off, making it difficult to stay engaged. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating read.
3. Lisa - 2 stars - I found "Freddie contending with the family curse" to be extremely predictable. The twists and turns were cliché and offered nothing new to the genre. The writing style was also lackluster, with dull descriptions and repetitive phrases. The characters were forgettable and lacked any depth. Overall, this book was a disappointment and I would not recommend it.