Founded in 1897 and with King Charles as patron and Prince Michael of Kent as president, the Royal Automobile Club is one of London’s most venerable institutions.
The gentlemen’s club in Pall Mall is, however, at the centre of a scandal over the distinctly ungentlemanly behaviour of some of its members.
Things have become so bad that the chairman of the private members’ club has, I can disclose, felt the need to warn about potential consequences.
Duncan Wiltshire reveals: ‘Senior managers are having to deal with an increasing number of cases of improper conduct by members, including being rude to employees, using profanity or making inappropriate comments.’
Founded in 1897 and with King Charles as patron, the Royal Automobile Club is one of London’s most venerable institutions
He adds: ‘Sadly, this unacceptable behaviour is not limited to exchanges with employees; we are also seeing an increasing number of disciplinary cases arising from members being rude and disrespectful to each other.’
The venue, which was established as a motoring club and later spawned the roadside assistance business RAC, is struggling to deal with the mistreatment of staff by members.
‘This is just the tip of the iceberg,’ admits Wiltshire in the RAC’s quarterly magazine. He highlights a comment by a longstanding member at the club’s annual general meeting who said: ‘I have never seen the staff under such pressure…brought about, I believe, by certain types of members.’
Wiltshire concedes: ‘I am afraid that he has a point.’
Members, who include fashion designer Sir Paul Smith and former Tory transport secretary Chris Grayling, pay a £6,000 joining fee as well as annual membership costs. The group also operates a clubhouse and golf course in Epsom, Surrey.
Wiltshire instructs members to ‘listen and respond with good grace’ when reminded of the club’s rules, and to settle disagreements with ‘politeness and understanding’.
Strictly Amy hits back at Brendan
Professional dancer Amy Dowden at the Women of the Year Awards on October 12, 2026
Amy and her celebrity partner, hair stylist Chris Appleton, were the first pair eliminated off this year's dance competition
Strictly star Amy Dowden has hit back at Brendan Cole after the show’s former professional claimed she ‘hasn’t been up to the challenge’ this year.
She and her celebrity partner, hair stylist Chris Appleton, were the first pair eliminated. Now, Amy, who fought a brave battle against breast cancer, tells me: ‘I’ve been so lucky over the years to have so many partners who’ve made the final. I am so grateful every single year of being on this show, I’ve got friends for life.’
Speaking at the Women of the Year awards, Amy, 36, adds: ‘Chris Appleton did very well. He came into this competition as a non-dancer, he was very nervous and every celebrity is on their own journey and it’s important to remember that.
‘What are we teaching the younger generation if we’re being unkind and making personal remarks towards other people?’
What Not To Wear could make a comeback. More than 20 years after Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine became TV’s style tough love duo, the pair are in talks to revive the BBC series. ‘We were recently asked to do it again, and it’s a conversation that is still happening,’ reveals Trinny, 62, on the Experience Is Everything podcast. ‘Initially, I thought, “No way!” But it was very nice of the people who came to see us, so we just had a meeting with them.'
Sir Michael Palin has, typically, managed to see the funny side after suffering a nasty accident.
The Monty Python star, 83, has had to cancel an overseas book tour and ‘any other events over the next few months’.
He says: ‘My accident was quite unsensational, a slip in the family bathroom where I’ve walked for 58 years. I fell heavily on my left side resulting in three fractured ribs and a minor pelvic fracture.’
He adds: ‘It was a comedy fall with no audience there to see it. I shall stick to fish slapping dances from now on.’
Sienna smooches birthday beau
Actress Sienna Miller indulged in a public display of affection with her boyfriend Oli Green at the River Cafe in west London
Why save your kisses for the bedroom? Actress Sienna Miller indulged in a public display of affection with her boyfriend, Oli Green, at the River Cafe in west London.
The couple were joined by friends at the restaurant including TV presenter Alexa Chung as they celebrated actor Oli’s 30th birthday. ‘Dirty thirty,’ joked one pal online.
Sienna, 44, who was wearing a boho chic blouse, gave birth to the couple’s second child, Juliette, in May. She is currently starring with Dominic West in Sky drama War.
Lady Violet becomes Countess of Lindsay
The former Lady Violet Manners, 33, now Violet Lindesay-Bethune, must shed her new married name and take on the title of Countess of Lindsay
Her name changed on the happiest of days last year when she married a chap known to friends and family as Bill – more formally, Viscount Garnock – who summarised their wedding party as ‘an unforgettable night of cannon fire, dinner and dancing’.
But the former Lady Violet Manners, 33, daughter of the Duke of Rutland, must now shed her new name far sooner than she or Bill, 35, would have wished.
Bill’s father, 16th Earl of Lindsay, died last Friday aged 70, making Violet the new Countess of Lindsay.
BBC’s Brittin a ‘vibey dude’
Tech bro BBC boss Matt Brittin prompted David Brent mockery when he told staff the broadcaster needed to be ‘more Elvis – a little less conversation, a little more action’.
Fortunately, Brittin has an ally in ‘chief product and innovation officer’ Manon Dave, who posted a picture of himself online alongside the former Google president.
‘Got to kick it with that dude Matt Brittin CBE, new director-general at the BBC, last week. Here are five things I learnt about the big homie,’ Dave enthused.
‘Chill dude, Nice dude, Vibey dude, Smart dude,’ who for good measure ‘Likes rowing.’
Is Ali G in da house?