He’s been referred to over the years as a ‘buncle’ – a ‘bad uncle’ – and Gary Goldsmith, uncle to the Princess of Wales, is somewhat living up to that name since he arrived on Celebrity Big Brother on Monday night. The controversial figure has already accused Meghan Markle of ‘creating drama’ between Kate, William and Harry. During Tuesday night’s episode of the show Goldsmith also said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could not ‘throw your family under a bus in such a dramatic style’ – referring to ‘books’ written by Meghan and Harry – and still be expected ‘to be invited round for Christmas’. He added, ‘I have the opinion that Harry was really, really, really loved, massively loved, and when they were a threesome – Kate, William and Harry – were really comfortable together, loved.’

These words, barely 24 hours into the ITV reality show’s relaunch (the last series aired on Channel 4 in 2018), will come as a massive blow for both the Middleton family and the palace, especially considering reports suggested Goldsmith had been ‘read the riot act’ before landing in the house. A source told the paper, ‘Gary said he’s been read the riot act by Kate’s mum Carole and her dad Michael – they aren’t happy he’s going into Celebrity Big Brother. It is infuriating for them. Kate doesn’t need this stress.’

The last line of that source quote refers to, of course, Kate Middleton’s health, given that she hasn’t been seen since Christmas and has been recuperating from an undisclosed abdominal surgery since last month – and is going to be out of action until Easter, according to a palace statement.

In fact 58-year-old Goldsmith’s arrival in the Celebrity Big Brother House, where he is residing with the likes of Fern Britton and Louis Walsh, could not have come at a worse time. It coincides with a period of extreme instability amongst the senior Royals, at a time when conspiracy theories about her health had just days before culminated in the palace being forced to issue a statement about the princess. ‘We were very clear from the outset that the Princess of Wales was out until after Easter and Kensington Palace would only be providing updates when something was significant,’ a spokesperson said, adding that the princess, 42, is ‘doing well’. Then, on Monday night, shortly before Celebrity Big Brother began, a grainy photograph of Kate was published by US gossip site TMZ, showing her riding in a car driven by her mother Carole – an image which sparked further conspiracy theories about the state of her health.

During one conversation with fellow housemate Sharon Osbourne, Goldsmith asked her what people in LA thought of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. She suggested their popularity is ‘dwindling’, adding: ‘I think everyone is fed up of their moaning.’ Goldsmith repled: ‘I think it is pretty sad because I think at some point he’s going to want to come back and be part of the gang, he might need to, but I think we’re a very forgiving nature and I think everybody will give him a chance again [sic].’

With a royal whirlwind already circling around the Firm, with King Charles also out of action as he receives treatment for cancer, the fact that the palace will now be subjected to a new onslaught of stories and attention as Goldsmith speaks out from inside the infamous Big Brother house, will not be a welcome development. He is already attracting attention from social media users, who are claiming that he may be, in fact, speaking on behalf of Kate Middleton and her family. One wrote on X, formerly Twitter, ‘Considering he’s never met Harry or Meghan I’m assuming this is what Kate has told him’, while another said, ‘So Kate Middleton gave her uncle Gary talking points and approval go go slag off Meghan on #CBB.’

What these commentators (and there are many of them) are missing is that Goldsmith isn’t a mouthpiece for either Kate Middleton or her immediate family, let alone the palace. While he was a guest at William and Kate’s wedding at Westminster Abbey in 2011, and then Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton’s marriage to James Matthews in 2017, he hasn’t been seen in the family’s company regularly – and in fact has brought them great shame over the years. He made his living building an IT recruitment business, but has been caught up in scandals, including being pictured with drugs in Ibiza in 2009. He was also arrested in October 2017 after allegedly assaulting his fourth wife, Julie-Ann, outside their London home. Goldsmith knocked her to the ground after she accused him of taking drugs during a drunken fight outside their home. He later pleaded guilty to one count of assault by beating and was fined £5,000 and handed a 12-month community order with 20 sessions of rehabilitation.

Goldsmith’s actions are said to have been a cause of great concern to Kate and the palace, and this latest chapter on Celebrity Big Brother is likely to be the icing on an already ugly cake. Although Goldsmith claims to only want the best for his niece, someone he calls ‘the most spectacular person I’ve ever met’, speaking out on any aspect of her life should be a no-go for any family member. Doing so during one of the most stressful times of her life is likely to be inviting greater tension than ever before.

While friends of Goldsmith have claimed this week they can see him going the distance on the reality show, there’s no doubt that his assault convictions and uncomfortably loose tongue when it comes to the royals will leave a nasty taste in many viewers’ mouths.