Tthe Earl of Balfour has suggested that one of his four daughters might declare that she identifies herself as a man so she could become the next Earl

When Tory MP Justine Greening announced plans to allow people to choose their own sex without a doctor's diagnosis, did the Women and Equalities Minister consider the potential effect on our upper classes?

For the British aristocracy relies on the tradition of male primogeniture, in which titles, as well as stately homes, are inherited by the eldest son.

And now a leading aristocrat, the Earl of Balfour, has suggested that one of his four daughters — Ladies Willa, Kinvara, Maria and Candida — might declare that she identifies herself as a man so she could become the next Earl when he dies.

'As far as I can see, on the same day that I meet my maker one of my daughters could declare that there has always been a man screaming to get out of her female body,' says Lord Balfour, who turns 69 next week.

'She could thus claim my hereditary title as a son. How could present law be applied to argue with that, given the way this area is developing? And should that even be necessary in this day and age?'

As things stand, Lord Balfour's title would go to his brother, if still alive, or his nephew. In 2013, the Earl wrote to Francis Maude, who was then Cabinet Office minister, asking for an end to male primogeniture.

The Earl's daughters, from left, Kinvara, Maria, Candida and Willa are pictured above. As things stand, Lord Balfour's title would go to his brother, if still alive, or his nephew. In 2013, the Earl wrote to Francis Maude, who was then Cabinet Office minister, asking for an end to male primogeniture

He now adds, in a letter to The Times: 'Surely the time has come when we can nominate which child we want to be our successor, regardless of their current, past or future gender.'

The Earl's wife, Lady Tessa Balfour, eldest child of the 17th Duke of Norfolk, could now be living at her family seat, Arundel Castle in Sussex if she'd inherited the dukedom instead of her younger brother.

Her second daughter Lady Kinvara has described male primogeniture as 'archaic, mad, absolutely mad'.

She said: 'I simply believe that property and land should stay together and that a home should go to one person — the eldest born.'

Perhaps it's time she came out as a man?

Visiting Bangkok with his father, posh comic Jack Whitehall had to chaperone him on a spa visit.

'He had back pain and they organised him a massage, but he'd heard what a Bangkok massage entails and assumed there would be, as he said it, "funny business" at the end of it,' Jack says at the launch of Marella Cruises' spa at sea with Champneys.

'So he made me sit in on it. That put me off massages for a while.'

Penny Lancaster has posted this snap of her rock star husband Sir Rod Stewart (right) with his three siblings, from left, Don, Mary and Bob

Penny Lancaster has posted this snap of her rock star husband Sir Rod Stewart with his three Scottish-born siblings.

Or as she puts it: 'Brother Don, Sister Mary, Brother Bob and Little Roddy.'

Longevity runs in the genes.

At 72, Rod is the baby of the family, with Don and Mary well into their 80s.

'Everybody sang in my family,' says Rod. 'My big brother still thinks he's a better singer than me.'

Known for his love of canines, comedian and presenter Paul O'Grady is not averse to resorting to violence if he witnesses animal cruelty.

'I was in a shop and a man outside kicked my dog. I marched out and gave him a well-aimed kick and sent him flying,' says the host of For The Love Of Dogs.

'I said, "Next time, you'll end up in the Thames." It was a bit gangster movie.'

Grr!

After a very sluggish start to writing his memoirs, David Cameron is now in the home stretch — and all thanks to the purchase in April of his £25,000 garden shed.

'The former PM did not initially seem inspired to write, but buying the shepherd's hut has done the trick, ' says a HarperCollins exec. 'With Sam's egging on, he spends time there most days writing away.'

The memoir is expected to be delivered to his publisher early next year, although it will not be out until September.

Wearing a see-through skirt to a charity gala might be considered inappropriate, but not if you're attention-seeking model-turned-actress Suki Waterhouse, 25.

The ex-lover of Hollywood star Bradley Cooper tried to steal the show when she arrived at Claridge's in London on Tuesday for the Gynaecological Cancer Fund dinner, wearing a sheer pink John Galliano skirt through which her small pair of bright pink knickers were clearly visible.

Wearing a see-through skirt to a charity gala might be considered inappropriate, but not if you're attention-seeking model-turned-actress Suki Waterhouse, 25. She tried to steal the show when she arrived at Claridge's in London on Tuesday

Despite her self-confidence, the former lingerie supermodel admits that she does have insecurities.

'I think one eye is smaller than the other. You see it in pictures, but what am I going to do about that, really?

'I've also always had a bigger bum than other models I've worked with. But bums are in now!'

Joining the brazen blonde was a relatively demure Duchess of York, who was in high spirits as she caught up with her old friend and host of the night, former It-girl Tamara Beckwith.

Joining the brazen blonde was a relatively demure Duchess of York (left), who was in high spirits as she caught up with her old friend and host of the night, former It-girl Tamara Beckwith (right)

Despite reports that Princess Eugenie has met Meghan Markle several times, her boyfriend Jack Brooksbank says he's never been introduced to Prince Harry's fiancee.

'I have no idea if I'll be invited [to the wedding],' he tells me at launch of Harry's Dolce Vita restaurant in Knightsbridge.

'I genuinely know nothing. But I just wish them all the best because they're an amazing couple. It's very exciting.

'I haven't met Meghan, but she seems really nice.'

Meghan Markle's custom-made engagement ring is made from two of Princess Diana's diamonds.

If Meghan is keen to maintain links with Diana, perhaps she should invite Bruce Oldfield to design her wedding dress.

'I haven't been contacted,' Oldfield tells me. 'I would say yes if I was asked, obviously. But hopefully I will be making lots of other things for the guests at the wedding.

'I make for quite a lot of members of the Royal Family; I always have for the last 40 years. I've never done the Duchess of Cambridge, but I do the Duchess of Cornwall. She doesn't usually call me — she has people who do that for her.'

Oldfield, who dressed Diana throughout the Eighties, would be a perfect choice not least because, like Meghan, he is of mixed race.

Barnardo's boy Bruce, 67, was the result of a fling between his Irish mother and a Jamaican boyfriend.