Ann Summers chief executive Jacqueline Gold admitted she has been “hurt” by rumours that she was only sanctioned for her recent CBE because of her friendship with David Cameron.
The 55-year-old businesswoman denied having ever met the Prime Minister and said the claims could have been designed to slur Cameron by those with antiquated views about her high-street sex-shop company.
Jacqueline with husband Dan and daughter Scarlett (Hello! Magazine)
She told Hello! magazine: “I’d be lying if I said recent criticism hasn’t hurt me but I also understand where it comes from.
“There are people who still have very outdated views of Ann Summers in this country and there is some snobbery around that.
“If there is a perception that I’m David Cameron’s best friend, then perhaps there is an agenda to get at him at my expense.
“The truth is (the CBE) came as a total shock. I’ve been awarded a CBE for ‘services to entrepreneurship, women in business and social enterprise’.
There are 140 Ann Summer stores in the UK (Yui Mok/PA)
“It’s absolutely the highlight of my career and marks another milestone in my life.”
Jacqueline, who received her investiture in the 2016 New Year’s Honours List, said she was excited to meet the Queen again.
She said: “I’ve actually met the Queen twice before and found her remarkable. We might discuss what it’s like to be a strong woman at the head of a big firm.”
The woman famous for introducing the Rampant Rabbit vibrator to the UK also admitted she had taken a mobile phone cover bearing the sex toy’s distinctive pink ears to a Downing Street reception.
She speaks exclusively inside this week’s issue of Hello (Hello! Magazine)
Jacqueline added: “At Downing Street, you have to hand in your phone on arrival and they store it in a cabinet that looks a bit like a wine rack. Mine was the only one with pink ears sticking out. It’s like my calling card.”
The Ann Summers and Knickerbox boss took part in a photoshoot for the magazine with her six-year-old daughter Scarlett and husband Dan Cunningham, who praised her for juggling work and home life.
Dan said: “Jacqueline is a great mum. The business has been her baby for 35 years but when she comes home at 5pm she takes that hat off and puts the mummy one on.”
Jacqueline is reportedly the 16th richest woman in Britain with an estimated fortune of £250 million.
Read the full interview in Hello!, out now.
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