Pandora: Her Majesty calls on Big Brother for a gift

Pandora very much doubts that the Queen harbours many an anti-establishment tendency – though the prospect is, rather delightfully, raised by news of her gift to the Mexican President: a copy of the classic dystopian novel, 1984.

Felipe Calderon, who arrived in the country yesterday on a state visit, was presented with a 1949 leather-bound first edition of George Orwell's famous work about a repressive, totalitarian regime perpetuated by a "Big Brother" state.

It's an intriguing gift, not only because of the Palace's usual preference for uncontroversial tokens, but also because of its apparent prescience just a few days before a host of anti-G20 protesters descend on London to demand systemic revolution.

Apparently it couldn't have been better received. "The President really admires George Orwell," explains a Palace spokesperson.

Naturally, Mr Calderon also received a more traditional offering: framed photographs of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, presumably to sit atop the presidential television.

Kay gets funky in the farmyard

In an apparent attempt to soften up her image following "those" allegations of a courthouse spat with an Associated Press photographer, Sky News's straight-talking presenter Kay "Hurly" Burley has succumbed to the temptations of a soft-focus Hello! interview.

Granting the magazine access to her north London home, Burley holds forth on the highs and lows of family life, her stint on Dancing on Ice and her career plans ("Sky is in my DNA"). The best bit? Apparently, she keeps a roost of chickens as pets, one of whom – brilliantly – is named "Funky".

A Special kind of trouble-making

Curious tales from behind the scenes of The Specials' reunion. The seminal ska band, who split more than 20 years ago, are due to play a series of gigs this summer – minus the formative influence of their founding member Jerry Dammers. Since the remaining six members announced their intentions, Dammers has claimed he was being left out, pointedly dedicating tracks at his solo gigs. Now things have taken a turn for the sinister. I'm told that an unknown troublemaker has taken the bizarre step of posing as the Specials' support act, Sean Jamdown, and posting divisive messages regarding Dammers online, causing his record label considerable discord.

Westwood gives Smith his analysis

Jacqui Smith's encounter with the embarrassing potential of blue movies has given rise to an amusing array of punditry.

Pandora's favourite – just pipping the "porn again" reverend touting a cure – comes courtesy of Ben Westwood, son of the fashion doyenne Dame Vivienne.

His tussle with the Home Secretary has been well-documented by this column. (For the uninitiated: Westwood, himself an erotic photographer, was a vociferous critic of Ms Smith's Criminal Justice Bill, which bans so-called "extreme" pornography.

"It's censorship!," he cried at the time it was passed, taking to the street with an army of S&M-ready models in a spectacular but ultimately unsuccessful protest.

Now Westwood – never one to mince his words – has seized upon Richard Timney's apparent penchant for blue movies as proof that the Bill was little more than a personal crusade. "It is not to protect people but to protect herself," he said yesterday. "This restriction of individual freedom has been so that she can restrict her own husband."

Charlotte's no Daddy's girl

Not everyone in the Wheeler household appears to regret Stuart's expulsion from the Conservative Party.

Indeed, the spread-betting magnate's young daughter Charlotte could hardly hide her glee, greeting the news with a rapid-response Facebook update.

"I don't agree with David Cameron on everything," she wrote yesterday morning. "But on my father's expulsion... bang on!"

No doubt her dad will be thrilled with such filial loyalty.

pandora@independent.co.uk