Tim Walker

Mandrake

Splitting Heirs

With a piece not so long ago by its star columnist Richard Littlejohn headlined “Please don’t pretend two dads is the new normal”, the Daily Mail has scarcely been at the forefront of the campaign for gay rights. Soon, however, the media empire may find itself leading very much by example.

Months before his untimely death this year at the age of 57, Esmond Harmsworth – the son of the 2nd Viscount Rothermere, proprietor of the Daily Mail from 1932 to 1970 – became the father of two children, Alfred and Lilly, with his French husband, Jérôme Buet Harmsworth.

Alfred – named after Alfred Harmsworth (later Viscount Northcliffe), who founded the Daily Mail with his brother Harold (later Viscount Rothermere) in 1896 – therefore has his place in the line of succession to take over the media empire, which is still based on the hereditary principle of the eldest male descendant of either of the paper’s two founders taking charge.

“While it’s as well not to take mortality for granted, I’d be surprised if Vere Harmsworth – the son of our present proprietor [the 4th Viscount Rothermere] – doesn’t succeed him,” whispers Mandrake’s man at the Daily Mail’s London headquarters. “After that, I’d say Alfred would have a strong claim as Jonathan’s son Vere. While he is expected to marry his fiancée Alex next year, he is currently without issue.”