The Coronation is widely considered to have been a perfectly choreographed success, but I can reveal a number of key figures were afflicted by something of a wardrobe crisis.
Not Queen Camilla, nor the Princess of Wales. It was, instead, the ecclesiastical stars of the show: the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby; and eight of his fellow Church of England prelates. As the countdown to the Coronation began, it dawned on the Archbishop that their vestments weren't equal to the splendour of the occasion.
This resulted in a decision which would have been unthinkable at Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953, when the gulf between the established church and other denominations — especially Catholics — was unbridgeable.
'They decided that the only solution was to approach the Catholic Church and ask to borrow from the Cardinal's vestment wardrobe at [Roman Catholic] Westminster Cathedral,' my source says.
The Roman Catholic Church confirms this. 'We were asked to provide a set of ten matching vestments,' a spokesman tells me. 'We were happy to support the C of E on such a special day.'
The Coronation is widely considered to have been a perfectly choreographed success, but I can reveal a number of key figures were afflicted by something of a wardrobe crisis
A Lambeth Palace spokesman explains: 'Only two historic clergy vestments exist, both of which would have needed expensive refurbishment and adaptation. A decision was taken by the bishops involved that, in the current climate, it was not appropriate for the C of E to commission new vestments.
'Instead, it was decided that a matching set would be borrowed. To demonstrate the strong ecumenical links between the C of E and the Roman Catholic Church, the Archbishop wrote to Cardinal Vincent Nichols.'
Perhaps all of the C of E's loose change is being funnelled into the £100 million fund which Welby announced at the start of this year in order to 'address past wrongs' for the Church's tangential links to the transatlantic slave trade?
As the countdown to the Coronation began, it dawned on the Archbishop of Canterbury that the prelates' vestments weren't equal to the splendour of the occasion
One of the world's most celebrated conductors, Sir Simon Rattle is keen to remain simply 'Simon'. Liverpool-born Rattle, who was awarded a knighthood in 1994, says: 'Only my parents really love to use that title.' He adds that he does not like being called 'maestro' either. 'The word 'maestro' is something only the Americans use,' he says, laughing.
Dame Edna helped son battle addiction
Barry Humphries's son, Oscar, has spoken publicly for the first time since his father's death last month aged 89, revealing that the comedian best known as Dame Edna Everage helped him battle addiction.
The London-based art dealer, 42, had a public falling-out with his father six years ago and temporarily changed his surname after he was apparently disinherited.
Barry Humphries's son, Oscar, has spoken publicly for the first time since his father's death last month aged 89
'That was me in a bad place, struggling at the time with mental health, and lashing out,' says Oscar (right, with Barry).
When he had addiction problems, his father was supportive: 'Because Dad had his own history with addiction, he was understanding of some of those same things in others.
'It was wonderful to have a parent who was sober and who understood everything that surrounds that.'
Penelope blooms in Spanish style
They say, 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do', but Penelope Cruz was keen to pay homage to her Spanish heritage at a film awards ceremony in the Italian capital.
The actress, 49, wore a flamenco inspired, polka-dot gown, with a daring thigh-high slit.
Penelope Cruz, 49, wore a flamenco inspired, polka-dot gown, with a daring thigh-high slit in Rome
She will have kept the locals happy, though, as it was created by Italian label Dolce & Gabbana.
Cruz, who has two children with fellow Oscar-winning Spaniard Javier Bardem, completed the look with a red floral headpiece. Ole!
Comic Frank Skinner, who collected an MBE at Buckingham Palace last month, wouldn't trade it for his beloved football team West Bromwich Albion's promotion.
'I hate the Premier League,' he tells me at the opening night of new musical Operation Mincemeat at London's Fortune Theatre.
Skinner says: 'Getting promoted to the Premier League is like winning a lion in a raffle. You have a moment of excitement, then you think, 'Oh no, what happens next?''
Gethin's nude pic horror
It's not just women who are victims of 'cyberflashing', the trend of being sent unsolicited nude photos online.
Former Blue Peter presenter Gethin Jones, 45, reveals that he's been on the receiving end.
'Men are probably worse than women,' he tells me.
Former Blue Peter presenter Gethin Jones, 45, reveals that he's been on the receiving end of 'cyberflashing'
'I don't know what to do with it.
'Sometimes, you don't know what's there until you open [it], and then I think: 'Oh, God, does that mean they know I've seen it, and they'll message back?' I do get a lot of that.'
Will Sting, a spring chicken at 71, follow the example of Sir Paul McCartney, who rocked Glastonbury last year at 80?
'Well, it's not that far away, why not? I'm not wearing a corset. As long as I can get into my rock-star pants, I'll be fine,' he says.
Don't expect him to invite his former colleagues in The Police to join him on stage though, following their 2007 reunion tour.
'Doing it again would just be gratuitous and that won't happen. But we did it, and everyone was happy that Mum and Dad got back together again and had one last fling.'
Will Sting, a spring chicken at 71, follow the example of Sir Paul McCartney (pictured), who rocked Glastonbury last year at 80?
Royal expert Hugo is all partied out
It has been a busy few months for royal historian Hugo Vickers in the run-up to the Coronation, but it's now 'time for renunciation' of his sociable lifestyle.
'The time has come for me to disappear,' he declares. 'I knew that when the Queen died, the game was over for me... Her death was like the sounding of the Last Post.'
Vickers, 71, insists he never enjoyed partying anyway.
'I am thought to be social,' he writes in The Oldie magazine, but confesses: 'Every time I get an invitation, with few exceptions, my first thought is how to escape.'
He will miss 'nothing' about his old life. 'One schoolfriend of mine dedicated his life to having as much sex as possible. He has a short memory — so he has to keep doing it... I have
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