Meet the next Baroness Rothschild: How the ex-Page 3 girl who dated Steve Coogan is crossing a social chasm to marry a scion of one of Britain's most illustrious dynasties

There was a time when Nat Rothschild (top right) was running wild and drinking to excess. 




But his forthcoming marriage to Loretta Basey, 25, (left) from Middlesex, is seen as the start of a new era, writes GEOFFREY LEVY. 'That is unlikely ever to happen now,' says a close observer of the family, 'but Nat will have the consolation of a beautiful trophy wife to show off - he will love doing that.' When Loretta marries Nat later this year, she will become the next Baroness Rothschild. Which is quite something when you consider that she is a former lads' mag glamour model and Page 3 girl for The Sun. (She had a habit of shortening her name to the more coquettish Elle for revealing glamour shoots.) The news of her imminent welcome into this great family has been the cause of considerable excitement at the Fake It Hair & Nails salon in the Market Place, Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, where Loretta's married elder sister Olivia works as a receptionist. 'Liv's told us all about it - isn't it thrilling?' trilled one of the staff. Not that the identity of Loretta's previous beau was any the less exciting to the girls working there, especially as this was someone whose name they recognised from the telly. Until fairly recently, it was thought that Loretta might marry the award-winning actor and comedian Steve Coogan (bottom right).