05 March 2024 , 14:02
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As the Royal Family faces a challenging period - with Kate and King Charles both off duty due to medical issues - it looks to potentially get even more controversial: with Kate's 'black sheep' maternal uncle entering the Celebrity Big Brother house. Gary Goldsmith, 58, enjoyed his television debut last night and is known for his candour when it comes to discussing the royals, particularly Prince Harry.
While Goldsmith speaks of the Princess in nothing less than glowing terms most of the time, his inability to hold back makes him likely both a great draw when it comes to television ratings, and another stress that the short-staffed royals could likely do without.
It seems that once, the Middletons did enjoy a relatively close relationship with Goldsmith - Carole Middleton's younger brother. But after his first brush with serious controversy back in 2009, Kate, her siblings, and parents all seem to have kept their distance from the businessman who reportedly made his millions in recruitment.
Goldsmith was the subject of a News of the World sting at his luxury Ibiza holiday home - dubiously named 'Maison de bang bang' at the time - during which he was filmed allegedly cutting lines of cocaine and bragging about his royal connections through his niece. He also reportedly offered to provide the undercover journalists with sex workers - and Kate's family quickly distanced themselves, although the Mail reported at the time that the late Queen was "sympathetic" that great scrutiny was put on anyone even marginally associated with the royals.
Gary Goldsmith's home in Ibiza (Internet Unknown)Back in 1991, Kate acted as a bridesmaid at her uncle's first wedding - he's been married a further three times since - and used to holiday at his Ibiza villa, with Prince William accompanying her on one occasion. After the scandal hit, the couple haven't returned, but in 2013 Goldsmith told Hello Magazine in an extensive interview that they had enjoyed mud baths whilst they were there and one of his friends had taught William how to DJ. Kate also retreated to his home in the sun during her brief break up with William back in 2007, where Goldsmith claims she paced around the pool making phone calls.
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Goldsmith was a guest at Kate and William's Westminster Abbey wedding in 2011, despite the reportedly cooled relations between him and his sister's family. In more recent years he has vocally defended his niece against allegations made by Harry and Meghan against the couple. After their 2021 Oprah interview, during which Meghan claimed it was Kate who made her cry at the now-infamous bridesmaid dress fitting, not the other way around as had been widely reported, Goldsmith said, "I've known Kate since she was born and she doesn't have a mean bone in her body. It's just simply not in her nature.
Gary attended Kate and Pippa's weddings (AFP/Getty Images)"She's even lovelier on the inside than on the outside. If anyone had a hissy fit, it must have been Meghan. Kate would have been trying to make the peace. I would fight for Kate's honour until the day I die. She is the most spectacular person I've ever met."
In an interview with The Sun ahead of his entrance to the Celebrity Big Brother house, Goldsmith said that his niece is a "doting mum" and beautiful inside and out and called allegations that she was one of two royals who made comments about Prince Archie's skin colour, "absolute bull***t" and added that "Kate is 100 percent not racist, neither is Carole. My family is not racist and for Kate to be portrayed as that is just so far removed from the truth, it's ridiculous".
He also said that he had "spoken to Carole just to send my love and we talked about Kate given what's going on.
"There's lots going on in the family at the moment. So she's spinning a lot of plates right now, it's quite stressful. So the last thing I'm going to do is bring any stress to them."
Gary pleaded guilty to domestic violence in 2017 (Evening Standard via Getty Images)
Kate's family keep their distance from her uncle (Getty Images)Goldsmith's appearance on Celebrity Big Brother is not only controversial because of his ties to the future queen, which expert Jennie Bond called "tacky, tasteless and demeaning" for the i newspaper, it's also been criticised by Women's Aid after Goldsmith pleaded guilty to assault by beating against his wife in 2017 - and was fined £5000.
"At Women's Aid, we would urge the producers to consider how they approach this, as for many survivors of abuse, the inclusion of men convicted of abuse in entertainment programmes will already be a sign that these crimes are not taken seriously," a spokesperson has said.
Kensington Palace has been contacted for comment.
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