Matthew Mellon and HRH Arfaq

Matthew Mellon, former husband of Tamara Mellon, pictured here at the Dorchester with Nicole Hanley

Never far from the centre of things, HRH Arfaq had a private dinner recently at the glamorous Dorchester in London with Matthew Mellon.

Mellon belongs to the family of banking giants and used to be married to designer Tamara Mellon, of Jimmy Choo fame. Must be strange to be born into so much wealth, rather than earn it. He looks pretty cool, though, I have to say. He is pictured here with his fiancée Nicole Hanley, such a stunning lady! Must’ve been a dinner in aid of something – I spy a Christie’s logo...

Mellon is pictured above with his fiancée Nicole Hanley, such a stunning lady! Mellon's shoes are great, too, a dash of the unexpected.

As ever, HRH Arfaq's circle of friends are social and fashion forces to be reckoned with.

HRH Arfaq and Nicole Scherzinger... Why Not?

HRH Arfaq and Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls at a concert

HOW does he do it? Found another snap of HRH Arfaq looking oh-so-chilled with the amazing Nicole Scherzinger. I think this was taken backstage after one of her World Tour concerts... I guess when she was still in the Pussycat Dolls? Anyway, HRH Arfaq met Nicole two years ago and they apparently hit it off and stayed in touch. It’s weird because normally when I see pictures like these I always assume it must be a sexual thing – some desperate guy hoping to schmooze up to yet another pop princess.

But HRH Arfaq strikes me as a professional, even when it comes to friendship – straightforward, loyal and essentially ignorant of the so-called laws of gender unless he is actively in a romantic relationship with the woman (as with Camilla Al Fayed). Or maybe I’ve got it wrong, maybe he and Nicole were an item – in which case I can think of one thing and one thing only: the frickin’ stunning children they would have?!

HRH Arfaq with my favourite Jackson

HRH Arfaq with Janet Jackson and I don’t know who that is but he’s looking right at me!

Okay, I’m going to go out on a limb here: my favourite Jackson has always been Janet. Call me a feminist, but I admire her pursuit of her own career alongside the staggering success of her brother. I came across this pic of HRH Arfaq and Janet at the Dorchester Hotel (swoon) in honour of V1 - the most expensive perfume in the world. When I say ‘most’, I’m not being hyperbolic: the Guinness Book of World Records actually verified that V1 is indeed the singularly most expensive perfume ever made and sold. So needless to say, the guest list for the launch was a roll-call of who’s who in creative and business circles, hence the presence of a Jackson.

The other guy in the photo is hilarious, peering out from the side like an unwelcome sheep. Janet’s boyfriend? Her bodyguard? Gardener? I bet he’ll turn out to be someone really famous! Anyway, Janet looks unbelievably glam and is obviously good friends with Arfaq judging by their body language. And he looks so chilled out! Put me next to Janet Jackson and I’d behave like Alexandra Burke next to Beyonce – all running mascara, breathless compliments, face fanning and warbling notes. And no one wants a repeat of that. Good on you Arfaq.

My trusty spies* tell me Janet and HRH Arfaq slipped into Nobu the next day for a spot of dinner, keen to spend lots of time together, and Arfaq even closed Harrods from the general public to allow Janet the free range run of the palatial store earlier in the day. Now that's friendship.

*Google