In brief: the Queen in flares

Those who thought Queen Elizabeth II was not a follower of passing fashion must think again. This photo, which was taken in the 1970s, shows the monarch sporting a garish oriental smock and voluminous denim flares (with ironed creases). It is taken from a collection owned by a former royal page and, along with others, is being sold by the Colchester auction house, Reeman Dansie, next week………… Michael Jackson, who will appear at the High Courts of Justice in London next week defending a £4.5m breach of contract case brought against by him the King of Bahrain's son, has reportedly become a Muslim and changed his name to Mikaeel. According to the Sun he officially converted to the faith in a ceremony in Los Angeles last week………… Jonathan Ross, the BBC's highest paid performer, will not face further disciplinary action for his part on the "Manuelgate" affair. While the BBC Trust said today that the remarks left on the Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs answerphone were "grossly offensive", it felt the three month ban it had imposed in November was sufficent punishment. This means Ross will be back on television, with his Friday Night with Jonathan Ross show, and on Radio 2, after January 26...........Meanwhiile, John Sergeant, the former political correspondent who announced he was bowing out as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing on Wednesday, has received 170,000 supportive messages on the BBC's website………… ·