Flying High

Actor and aviator John Travolta was the driving force behind Prince Harry being named a ‘Living Legend of Aviation’ because of a ‘strong emotional connection’ to the Riven Rock resident through the actor’s friendship with the late Princess Diana when the Duke of Sussex collected the honor at the Beverly Hilton this past weekend.

Travolta, 69, is said to be one of the ‘biggest supporters’ of King Charles’s youngest son being honored in Beverly Hills during an election process involving current honorees and committee members.

Diana and Travolta famously danced together at a White House dinner in an iconic moment in 1985, said to be the highlight of the Saturday Night Fever actor’s life.

A source connected to the event, which also honored Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez, said Travolta, who won the Living Legends Ambassador of Aviation award in 2007, feels that Diana’s son has carried on her legacy of charitable works.

Meghan Markle did not attend the bash, reportedly as one of the couple’s children was ill.

Heartthrob Gushes

Barbie actor Ryan Gosling is gushing over the love of his life thanks to the movies.

The 43-year-old was presented the 16th Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film at the Ritz Carlton Bacara at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

He gave a special shoutout to Eva Mendes and their two daughters.

“More importantly, I got to meet the girl of my dreams, Eva Mendes, and have two charming children. I dreamed one day of making movies, and now movies have made my life a dream.”

Local Mom Makes Home Video

Montecito actress Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed how she manages to stay good friends with her rocker ex-husband Chris Martin of Coldplay.

Paltrow, 51, dished out life and style advice in an interview with British Vogue saying: “Remember what made you decide to date them to begin with.”

On the topic of love, the Goop founder revealed the best gift she has ever given her current partner, TV producer Brad Falchuk, 52.

“A movie was my husband’s present for his 50th birthday,” she said of the gift she gave her husband of five years.

Remembering Mason’s Maison

On a personal note, I remember Manhattan uber realtor and society hostess Alice Mason, who has died at her Manhattan home, aged 100.

For some reason I became a regular guest at her sprawling Park Avenue apartment for her socially gridlocked black tie dinner parties catered by Daniel Boulud, former chef at Le Cirque and founder of his eponymous eatery a tiara’s toss from the Hotel Carlyle.

Alice threw nine dinner bashes annually and those attending included a heady mix of journalists, heads of state, diplomats, and moguls with 60 guests seated at eight small tables throughout the apartment after cocktails and canapés.

Those I remember included President Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, publisher Malcolm Forbes, Gloria Vanderbilt, Barbara Walters, Norman Mailer, Norman Lear, Alexander Haig, Claus von Bülow, and Cosmopolitan magazine editor Helen Gurley Brown.

Extraordinary gatherings…

Sightings

Legendary comedienne Carol Burnett co-hosting at the Emmys… Oprah Winfrey at the Critics’ Choice awards… Oprah’s beau Stedman Graham picking up his New York Times at Pierre Lafond.

Pip! Pip!