Socialite's plan to wed unbelievable

IT is a well established practice in this column that a story is never to be believed until it is officially denied.

So we have British socialite Jan Fitzalan-Howard continuing to dismiss British tabloid speculation that she will tie the knot with former Hong Kong Minister, Lord Caithness.

The ex-cabinet minister's wife, Lady Diana Caithness, killed herself earlier this year when details of the affair between her husband and Fitzalan-Howard became known.

While confirming that she still saw Lord Caithness, Fitzalan-Howard - who formerly worked for Princess Anne and also the Conservative Party - referred to newspaper reports that the Earl will soon share her London home as 'ridiculous'.

She added: 'I am divorced. I am a single woman. Do I have to be married?'.

The wedding announcement looks imminent.