REAL LIVES: PEOPLE

people

I CANNOT TELL A LIBEL

Until this week his biggest claim to fame has been occasionally escorting actress Daryl Hannah, but now his name is being bandied about as the selling point of America's new "political magazine" George (after George Washington). John F Kennedy Jnr, or John John to his friends ("JFK's insignificant son" to his enemies) is George's new editor-in-chief. "It's going to be a fan magazine, the Rolling Stone of politics," he announced (his first front cover featured Cindy Crawford). "We do not," adds the executive publisher, "want to expose 's life secrets. On balance, we are not going to have a point of view." At least if George doesn't make it, John John is sure to get a job offer from Hello!

ON THE BUSES

It has been a week of snakes and ladders for Sophie Rhys-Jones, the 30- year-old PR girlfriend of Prince Edward. First she went up four rungs when she was invited to accompany the Royals on board Britannia and later at Balmoral. Then it was down three when, upon disembarking from the Royal Yacht, she had to stand to the side, far away from her beloved and his parents, while photographs were taken. Then it was up four as the Queen Mother gave her a warm greeting in public. Then it was down eight as she was forced to travel in a Royal staff bus to Balmoral while Edward went in a limousine. The Palace insists however this was not anything to do with protocol - "it's just the way the transport arrangements worked out". That, says one member of the Royal press corps, is rubbish: "I've even travelled in a Royal limo when I've been in a hurry."

A WHALE OF A TIME

If Sophie Rhys-Jones was losing at snakes and ladders, Shannon Faulkner was completely wiped off the board. Having campaigned and sued for two years to be the first woman to gain entry to the Citadel all-male military college in South Carolina, Faulkner, 20, fainted on the first day of training. Not that the training was particularly arduous. She had to march, salute and say "Yes, Sir," "No, Sir" and "No excuse, Sir". But it all proved too much for the young woman who, the Citadel can't help repeating, is almost 30lb over the preferred weight (and that's by American standards) for her height. Alluding to the fact that she does not have to shave her head like the men, her terribly right-on colleagues have posted stickers round the place, saying friendly, welcoming things like: "Save the Males, Shave the Whale".

HEART ON SLEEVE

When you've got Scott, the name of your first husband, tattooed on your arm, it's as well to cover up when marrying the second. This was about the only piece of conventional behaviour displayed by Diane Beddoes, the care worker who married Colin Stagg - the man cleared of murdering Rachel Nickell. The groom wore jeans and trainers while the bride, wearing a blue ribbon choker and silver sandals, chain-smoked. But their sentiments, despite having failed to sell the story of the nuptials, were pure. "It's the happiest day of my life," said Stagg. Beddoes, who met Stagg while he awaited trial, said she was "madly in love". After the register office ceremony, however, the heat became too much. Ms Beddoes removed her jacket and that tattoo was plainly visible. VICKY WARD