Matthew Freud Will See You Now

On the night of July 2, Elisabeth Murdoch and her husband, Matthew Freud, threw a party at their country estate on the outskirts of London. According to an account in the Daily Mail, guests watched a boxing match in the château’s private screening room and test-drove a vintage Jaguar across the grounds. The U.K.’s top political operatives, such as Conservative Steve Hilton and Labor politician Peter Mandelson, mingled with celebrities, including pop singer Lily Allen, director Tim Burton, survivalist Bear Grylls, and TV host Piers Morgan.

Murdoch, a 43-year-old TV executive who several months earlier had sold her production company, Shine, to News Corp. (owned by her father, Rupert, and a Daily Mail bête-noire) for $673 million, gave a welcome toast. News Corp. executives, including Elisabeth’s younger brother James and his top lieutenant, Rebekah Brooks, mixed with the politicians and stars. Guests were invited to sleep over in the 22-room mansion. They were tight as Freud’s leather pants.