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THE HOT Valentine's Day news from London was that anyone wanting an appointment with Sophie Rhys Jones (31) must now call Buckingham…

THE HOT Valentine's Day news from London was that anyone wanting an appointment with Sophie Rhys Jones (31) must now call Buckingham Palace and ask for Lieut Col Sean O'Dwyer, the private secretary of Queen Elizabeth's youngest son, Prince Edward (31).

The placing of her schedule within the palace orbit gave off a strong scent of a royal betrothal in the offing. The Daily Telegraph said friends of the couple believe an announcement will come soon. According to the Telegraph she now has her own room in his palace apartment and drives a palace registered car as an adviser to the Duke of Edinburgh.

Monica Seles's personal account of how she returned to the world of tennis after she was stabbed in the back in 1993, Monica My Journey from Fear to Victory, is to go on sale next June.

Ms Seles (22) said she "was flattered to be asked" to write the book. "I hope the story will help other people face, and overcome, obstacles in their lives."

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A spokesman for Paul McCartney has dismissed claims that a contract killer had been hired to murder the ex Beatle.

The Sun said the killer was promised 5150,000 for the job but failed to carry out the assassination because police were tipped off by two criminals he had asked to assist him.

Sister Marjorie has completed her first free fall parachute jump at the age of 75. The intrepid nun from St Helen's Priory in Whitby, North Yorkshire, did a sponsored jump at Brize Norton to help a centre for underprivileged and handicapped young people.

The feat was filmed by Channel 4's The Big Breakfast and will be broadcast tomorrow morning in the first edition of a slot called Eye on the Ball, when new presenter Zoe Ball goes out and about meeting extraordinary people.

Sister Marjorie was in free fall for 7,000 metres before pulling the rip cord. Two years ago she abseiled down Sneaton Castle in Whitby, the headquarters of her order, the Order of the Holy Paraclete.

Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown's DIY activities sparked a full scale police alert in his home village when he switched off the electricity at his Somerset cottage to put a new light in a kitchen cupboard for his wife Jane.

His action triggered the panic alarm, bringing several police squad ears to investigate.