However popular its summer parties are, The Spectator is unable to invite all and sundry. Young Matthew Bell, now a gossip columnist on Londoner’s Diary at the Evening Standard had wanted to cover the event for his paper.

But the delightful Matthew was sacked unceremoniously earlier this year by the editor of The Spectator where he had been in charge of its online operations.

So Phoebe Vela, corporate affairs manager, saw to it that he stayed away. “We can’t include everyone who wants to come,” she told him. Oh, what it must be like to be so popular, Phoebe.