Daily Mail - 8 November 2006

Two years after parting company with Crown jewellers Asprey, Princess Diana's close friend Rosa Monckton tonight marks her return to the retail world with a lavish party at the Chelsea home of banker John Studzinski.

The launch of the Rosa Monckton Collection of jewellery and homewares is the culmination of her dream to bring British designers and craftsmen to a wide audience.

'I was always conscious that Bond Street, where I spent most of my career, was at times outside the range of the people I want to reach,' says Rosa, the former boss of Tiffany.

Some of the investors she approached disliked her plans to donate 5% of sales to four charities - Acorns, Downside Up, Kids and The Down Syndrome Educational Trust.

'That's why I wasked John to be my chairman,' says Rosa, who is starting with catalogue and internet sales.

One of the City's biggest philanthropists, Studzinski gives away half of his £13.5 million salary to charity.