Mother-in-law No2 enters the great 'Miss Fancy Pants' saga

The bride-to-be who was

Heidi Withers, 29, was described by Freddie Bourne's stepmother Carolyn, 60, as "uncouth" and an "ideal candidate for the Ladette to Lady television series."

The email was forwarded to friends and went viral, becoming a global internet sensation.
But Freddie's mother Penelope Godfrey, 62, said today that Miss Withers was a "charming girl" and she had no criticism of her future daughter-in-law's manners.

Ms Godfrey added that Miss Withers, a PA who works in the West End, would always be welcome in her home.

Speaking outside her home in Putney she said: "It has not got that much to do with me really. The whole thing has opened a can of worms that really should not have been opened.

"I love my son and Heidi is a charming girl who I have never found rude - not once. She is also Freddie's choice and will always be welcome in my home."

She added light-heartedly: "I don't think the wedding will be awkward but we shall see."
However, Ms Godfrey stopped laughing when she was asked her thoughts on Carolyn Bourne - only offering a terse "absolutely no comment".

The engaged couple will marry in an £18,000 ceremony in the great hall of Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire in October.

Mrs Bourne had condemned the choice of venue as "brash, celebrity style behaviour".

In a brutal passage in the email, she added: "One could be accused of thinking that Heidi Withers must be patting herself on the back for having caught a most eligible young man. I pity Freddie."

Miss Withers's father spoke out yesterday, branding Mrs Bourne, a renowned horticulturist, "Miss Fancy Pants".

Alan Withers, 64, who was also criticised in the email for failing to save up enough money to pay for his daughter's wedding, said: "I don't care if she apologises. You can't take back what has been said once it's said."

Edward Bourne, 63, who is Mrs Bourne's third husband, said today: "I'm afraid we still have nothing to say on this."