EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Prince Harry’s ex Chelsey Davy scraps debt-laden luxury travel firm
She came to national – and, indeed, international – attention as the party-loving blonde with the sunshine smile who dated Prince Harry during his carefree 20s, bonding over their shared passion for Africa.
It’s a passion which the vivacious Chelsy Davy, 39, hoped to introduce to discerning travellers – perhaps the sort with monogrammed luggage and undoubtedly those with pockets that are deep enough to pay for what she described as ‘incredible trips’, tailored to clients’ particular desires by her company, Aya Luxury Travel.
‘I can see what Aya can be,’ she explained as she launched the business in early 2020.
‘I want to build this beautiful brand that does amazing things and works with amazing companies and showcases Africa in beautiful ways.’
But things haven’t gone to plan. Five years after Zimbabwe-born Chelsy outlined her vision, describing the venture as ‘an organic progression’ from her Aya jewellery business and explaining she was blessed with rare knowledge of ‘parts of Zambia and Cape Town’, she’s applied to have it struck off at Companies House.
Those tempted to conclude that it was all rather flaky should think again. Chelsy, who was recruited by ‘Magic Circle’ legal firm Allen & Overy after gaining a law degree from Leeds University, had lined up an outstanding business partner, Brigitte Walsh, who had been leading safaris for more than two decades.
She also had an inspirational figure close at hand – her father, Charles, a South African businessman who made his fortune creating and running game reserves.
But no one could protect the company from the baleful effect of repeated and protracted lockdowns due to Covid.
Prince Harry’s former girlfriend Chelsy Davy, 39, has applied to have her luxury travel business struck off at Companies House
Prince Harry and Chelsey Davy pictured together in May 2010 as he received his flying badges
Prince Harry and Chelsey Davy pictured together in the Royal Box at Guards Polo Club in 2006
‘I’m not going to lie – [it] hasn’t gone swimmingly so far,’ Chelsy acknowledged in autumn 2020, though taking solace from the bookings she’d accepted ‘for next year’, only for lockdown to recur in 2021.
Chelsy declines to comment on the company’s closure. But, by the end of 2021, its debts had swollen to £91,000. Just under £22,000 of that debt remained by the end of October 2023.
So she has evidently decided that, for now, she should concentrate on her jewellery business – and on her other gems, her son, Leo, three, and daughter, Chloe, born last year, with her husband, hotelier Sam Cutmore-Scott, who was the year above ex-boyfriend Prince Harry at Eton.
Snapper Bailey is a bit snappy, reveals wife
David Bailey doesn’t mince his words when it comes to the great and the good, calling Mother Teresa a ‘tough old b****’ and claiming Princess Diana had ‘terrible’ hair and poor posture.
However, according to his wife, Catherine Dyer, when it comes to his demanding demeanour it’s his assistants who really have it tough.
‘I always feel sorry for assistants because I see how hard it is for them,’ she tells me during an event at the V&A Museum in London.
Photographer David Bailey, 87, pictured with his wife Catherine, 63, at one of his exhibitions in 2021
‘He will get a plate camera out and then get bored of it and say, “No, change it”, and as he thinks it before he verbalises it, he expects his assistants to do exactly what he wants then.’
The model, 63, also reveals that 87-year-old Bailey’s unreasonable demands include shooting her naked.
‘Usually, it’s when I’m gardening, and he’s like, “Oh, can you do something?”, and I’m thinking, “I’m going to get bitten by ants – stop it”.’
Fit for the future, Lady Isabella hits the beach after quitting marriage
During her ten-year marriage to millionaire Christophe de Pauw, Lady Isabella Hervey claims the Belgian businessman was so abusive that he fractured her skull.
Having now filed for divorce, the sister of the Marquess of Bristol, 42, has become a personal trainer in Portugal and is fighting fit.
‘I decided to restart my career to help those suffering like me,’ she tells me.
Lady Isabella Hervey, 42, pictured showing off her side planking skills on a beach in the Algarve
The ex wife of millionaire Christophe de Pauw showed off her killer abs in snaps shared on Instagram
Showing off her side planking skills on an Algarve beach Lady Isabella – who won the Channel 4 reality show The Games in 2004 – adds: ‘This is motivation – to inspire and help women with domestic violence knowing there is a way out.
‘Exercise is a miracle in itself.’
F1 star turned pub landlord David Coulthard says it’s a tough year for beer
In 2023, F1 star David Coulthard swapped pitstops for pints and became one of the landlords of The Brown Dog, a pub in Barnes, south-west London.
But I hear the beer hasn’t been flowing as well as he had hoped.
In 2023, F1 star David Coulthard swapped pitstops for pints and became one of the landlords of The Brown Dog, a pub in Barnes, south-west London
‘It’s been a tough start to the year– because people aren’t drinking as much,’ the 13-time Grands Prix winner tells me at a red-carpet event in London, and jokes: ‘Hopefully, they lower the age of drinking so the kindergarten can come in.’
Sonali: Charles is King of listeners
King’s Trust ambassador Sonali Shah says His Majesty goes above and beyond to understand the cultural issues facing his realm.
Sonali, 44, who presents Escape To The Country on BBC One, tells me: ‘The one thing I’ve always noticed is he asks for advice.
‘Say there is an issue in society – I once remember meeting him after some riots in the Midlands – and he asked about them and my opinion on it.
‘So what’s really interesting is he uses all of us as a resource.’
King’s Trust ambassador Sonali Shah says His Majesty goes above and beyond to understand the cultural issues facing his realm
Noel Gallagher’s cheeky jibe at his brother’s vocal capabilities ahead of reunion tour
Will Liam Gallagher’s vocals hold up for the duration of Oasis’s 41-concert reunion tour this summer?
I ask only because his older brother, guitarist and songwriter Noel, appears to have his doubts.
Noel and Liam Gallagher are set to begin their Oasis reunion tour on July 4, 2025
Comedian David Walliams, who was given a ticket to attend the band’s opening show on July 4 in Wales, reveals: ‘I saw Noel the other day and he said, “Come to Cardiff because it’s the first show and Liam will still have his voice”.’
Botox solved Sienna Miller’s sister’s painful disorder
Spare a thought for Savannah Miller, the sister of Hollywood star Sienna, who has been suffering from ‘agonising’ lockjaw.
Savannah Miller (left) and Sienna Miller (right) attend the launch of Savannah’s clothing line, Vivere, in November 2023 in London
The disorder, which she says was brought on by stress, made it painful for her to open her mouth.
‘You think you’re on top of it all and then wake up unable to chew,’ says the 46-year-old bridal wear designer.
She adds: ‘I tried meditation, breath-work, all of it.’
Happily, Savannah has now had intramuscular Botox injections, which she says have been the ‘best treatment’.
