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Beloved by William and Kate, private members' club The Hurlingham has infuriated its loyal members by closing 'for the first time in its history' so that French luxury fashion brand Hermès could use it for its own 'very British Garden Party'.

'It is appalling,' one irate member told me about the French takeover.

The party was rammed with celebs including Doctor Who star Jenna Coleman, tennis commentator Annabel Croft, Sir Bob Geldof and supermodel Erin O'Connor.

My source raged: 'It's the first time ever the club has been closed. They've stooped to accepting money from a brand – a French one at that – and forgetting about the value of the members!' Another told me they were 'deeply disappointed' at being locked out for an entire day.

'The works beforehand stopped me walking round the river walk and sitting in the deckchair by the croquet,' they added.

While the paying members of the club, some of whom waited over 25 years for their memberships, were left fuming, the lavish party spared no expense.

Jenna Coleman attends the Garden Cocktail event celebrating the opening of Maison Hermes New Bond Street store at The Hurlingham Club

Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, and Lady Martha Sitwell attend the Garden Cocktail event

It was thrown to celebrate the fashion brand opening its new store, Maison 166 in Bond Street. Jools Holland took over the piano to serenade guests, while Fat Boy Slim played a DJ set, to the delight of the attending aristos, including Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, and Lady Sitwell.

The closure earlier this summer is not the only thing members of the exclusive club in South-west London are irritated about.

The Thameside spot in Fulham is demolishing two of its tennis courts to make way for two new padel courts. 'Total waste. It'll go out of fashion in a week,' one member moaned.

The Hurlingham Club was contacted for comment.

Ophelia's back… in a role not to be sniffed at

Ophelia Lovibond may adore being a new mother, but like many new mums she admits returning to work – in her case the West End stage – can be something of a relief!

The W1A actress, 40, is set to star in Noel Coward's Hay Fever, her first role since welcoming her first child last December.

And she admits that being back in rehearsals is 'bliss'.

She confided: 'I adore my baby but I felt like my shoulders went down a bit.'

Ophelia Lovibond attended the West End press night performance of 'Abigail's Party' at The Harold Pinter Theatre this week

Lily does it by the book

As dating rumours swirl, Lily James, 37, has posted photos to her 3.1million Instagram fans of her charity work in Cambodia ... and a picture of a self-help book.

Perhaps The Joy Of Living: Unlocking The Secret And Science Of Happiness, by the Buddhist monk Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, has the answers.

Lily James, 37, known for playing Lady Rose MacClare in Downton Abbey and the title role in Disney's live-action Cinderella, posted photos of her charity work in Cambodia

Charlotte's in bloom

Welsh singer Charlotte Church has found the perfect garden ornament... herself.

Sitting seductively on her lawn in a low-cut frilled dress, she told her 257,000 Instagram followers she needed to 'make more social media content' but added: 'The one thing I do love doing is being in the garden and having a little tinker.'

Welsh singer Charlotte Church told her 257,000 Instagram followers that she would post 'in my garden' content

While most of London's socialite population has decamped to a poolside lounger for the summer, Tigerlily Taylor daughter of Queen drummer Roger Taylor, has been on the frontlines saving the planet.

'Guess who was hauling an illegal octopus trap from the Med last week on the Sea Eagle?' asked the 31-year-old, who was volunteering for marine conservation charity, the Sea Shepherd campaign.

Clearly doesn't mind getting her hands grubby... or the rest of her by the look of things…Dad would be proud.

Tigerlily Taylor, daughter of Queen drummer Roger Taylor, was volunteering for marine conservation charity, the Sea Shepherd campaign

Pippa's pike

She may be the sister of the Princess of Wales and live in a £15 million mansion in Berkshire, but Pippa Middleton and her husband, James Matthews, don't like to rest on their laurels.

Following the folding of their latest entrepreneurial venture, the Bucklebury Farm petting zoo, the pair are now teasing a new activity on the Barton Court website.

'Pike fishing – coming soon.'

I wonder if it'll cost as much as their trout fishing, which is up to £1,260 per day for a group.

In her Harry Potter days, Emma Watson could just wave her magic wand for things to happen, but now life is more of an uphill battle, if figures from her two production companies are anything to go by. I can reveal that Breadcrumb and Sofia Rising productions are in a negative net asset position of £324,109 and £43,054 respectively. Or, in English, they haven't taken off.