The Princess of Wales’s uncle has joined the new series of Celebrity Big Brother.
Gary Goldsmith has joined the celebrity reality show, which returned to UK television for the first time in six years tonight.
The 58-year-old businessman, and younger brother of Kate’s mother, Carole, attended the wedding of his niece and Prince William at Westminster Abbey in 2011.
It comes as Kate continues to recover from « planned abdominal surgery » in January. She was photographed for the first time since the medical procedure on Monday afternoon.
She was last seen out in public on Christmas Day when she walked to church in Sandringham, Norfolk, with the rest of the Royal Family.
The Princess of Wales was seen in Sandringham on Christmas Day. Pic: PA
She is « recovering and continues to be doing well », according to a statement from Kensington Palace.
During Monday night’s show, presenter AJ Odudu asked Goldsmith: « The nation needs to know, will Kate be watching? »
He replied: « If she is it will be behind a sofa, I guess. »
Former X Factor judges Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh also reunited in the Big Brother house, and will appear alongside TV presenter Fern Britton, Strictly Come Dancing professional Nikita Kuzmin and Love Island winner Ekin-Su Culculoglu.
Coronation Street actor Colson Smith, Dragons’ Den businessman Levi Roots and Heartstopper star Bradley Riches are also among the other contestants on the show.
Who is Gary Goldsmith?
Goldsmith is a London-based businessman who made his money in IT and recruitment.
As the brother of Carole Middleton, he is the uncle of the Princess of Wales, as well as her siblings, Pippa and James Middleton.
In 2017, he was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 20 sessions of rehabilitation, as well as a fine of £5,000, after striking his wife with a « left hook » to the face during an argument.
Gary Goldsmith, leaving Westminster Magistrates’ Court in 2017. Pic: PA
He knocked Julie-Ann Goldsmith to the ground after she accused him of taking drugs during a drunken fight outside their home in central London, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard at the time of the hearing.
Goldsmith pleaded guilty to one count of assault by beating.
Celebrity Big Brother returns
Celebrity Big Brother has been broadcast live tonight on ITV for the first time.
The show, and its non-celebrity version, originally found fame on Channel 4, before moving to Channel 5, where the final season aired in 2018.
Read more from Sky News:
Why has there been speculation about the Princess of Wales’s health?
Prince William to carry out engagements this week
Last year, ITV announced plans to revive the show after striking a deal with production company Banijay, who own the rights.
Big Brother returned in October last year for its 20th civilian season
The celebrity version, fronted by presenters AJ Odudu and Will Best, began at 9pm.
