Suzy

Zara Phillips, Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter who was named one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world last year by People magazine, has a new boyfriend, and her mother, Princess Anne approves. He is a 21-year-old jockey named Henry Oliver, and she has been seeing him steadily since the end of her three-year affair with Richard Johnson, another jockey. Henry, who began as a sturdy shoulder to cry on even though Zara had to lean way down to do so, has reportedly moved up and down from there. His father and sister are also jockeys. Apparently, the best way to get to Zara is on horseback.



Everybody in this social burg knows that during the high season — and it’s all high season here, friends — there are dozens of parties on the same night every night. So it’s no surprise that tonight, for instance, in no particular order there will be: 1) A farewell reception at the French Embassy on Fifth Avenue to say goodbye to French Ambassador Francois Bujon de l’Estang, whose tour of duty will come to an end next month. At the same reception, the ambassador will confer the prestigious Order of Arts and Letters on American filmmakers Ethan and Joel Coen. 2) Tycoon Barry Diller and fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg, husband and wife, the honorary chairmen of the big opening night Winter Antiques Show, will give a kick-off party for the show at Diane’s downtown studio with swells mingling throughout. 3) The dashing Marchese Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, president of the Ferrari Maserati Group, is the host of a glamorous fete at the Four Seasons restaurant to celebrate "the return of Maserati" with new and vintage Maseratis on view on the esplanade of the Seagram building, with all sorts of Italian glitterati present, Robert Isabel decor in silver and blue and a big Hollywood celebrity at the Park Avenue entrance in a priceless Maserati, etc., etc., etc. 4) The Spanish Institute Gold Metal Gala will burst forth in all its glory at the Plaza with the honorary chairman, the King of Spain’s sister, the Infanta Dona Pilar de Borbon, Duchess of Badajoz in attendance along with some of her handsome grown-up children. The loveable chairmen of the evening are Emilia and Pepe Fanjul, Carolina and Reinaldo Herrera, Annette and Oscar de la Renta and Beatrice and Julio Santo Domingo.