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Malia Obama's British boyfriend feared girls did not like him as he tried to be cool and laddish

Rory Farquharson, a former head boy at the prestigious Rugby School pictured bottom right, was filmed apparently kissing Malia Obama, top right - TMZ/MEGA/Alo Ceballos/GC Images/Andrew Fox
Rory Farquharson, a former head boy at the prestigious Rugby School pictured bottom right, was filmed apparently kissing Malia Obama, top right - TMZ/MEGA/Alo Ceballos/GC Images/Andrew Fox

In a self-deprecating letter to his younger self, Rory Farquharson once bemoaned how he was a “lanky over-confident public school boy” whose “floppy mop” was embarrassingly unattractive to girls.

The former head boy at Rugby School even berated himself for being so desperate to prove to his friends what “a lad” he was, but admitted that really he had “failed miserably”.

So, it may come to a surprise to his younger self that he has been linked romantically to one of the most eligible women of the western world after being filmed kissing Malia Obama, the eldest daughter of the former American president.

The video, which has gone viral after being taken during a football match in the US, has sparked speculation that the two Harvard students are officially an ‘item’.

Rory Farquharson - Credit: Twitter
Rory Farquharson in a picture posted on social media Credit: Twitter

That letter, published a few years ago in the Rugby School magazine, the Meteor, was addressed to his 16-year-old self, and may now prove somewhat embarrassing. He even explains how his determination to appear “cool” meant he stole the sunglasses belonging to his father, Charles Farquharson, a 57-year-old investment banker from Suffolk, and lied to his mother, Catherine, 58, about his whereabouts.

Referring to a photograph of him in the magazine, he writes: “You’ve slipped on a pair of your dad’s Ray Bans (he’s not best pleased when he finds out) and smugly informed your mum that you’re going to Ollie’s house - in fact you’ve sneaked off to London with some mates. And for goodness’ sake, get a haircut. Despite what you think, your floppy mop isn’t attracting the girls.”

The Obama family - Credit: Twitter/Barrack Obama
Michelle and Barack Obama with daughters Malia, left, and Sasha, right, last year Credit: Twitter/Barrack Obama

Residents in the quintessentially English village of Martlesham in Suffolk where he spent so much of his adolescence at the family’s £1.6 million home were hoping that he would bring his new world famous girlfriend, also 19, to visit.

“I say good luck to him, and good on him,” one neighbour, who did not want to be named, joked, giving a thumbs up. The barmaid at the nearby Red Lion said: “Everyone is given a warm welcome here - it'd be lovely if the Obamas came to visit.”

However, no one answered the door at either the Farquharson’s London or Suffolk homes. The student’s Facebook and Twitter page had also been removed from public view.

Rory Farquharson - Credit: Facebook
Rory Farquharson, back left, was selected head of Rugby School for 2015-2016 before heading to Harvard, where he met Malia Credit: Facebook

Barack Obama tweeted a picture of his wife, and two daughters, Malia and Natasha, and wished his followers a “Happy Thanksgiving”.

While it was not known whether Rory was spending the day with them, the former president may find some comfort in how the new boyfriend of his eldest daughter, who grew up in the White House, has links to the Queen, Prince Charles and even the highest echelons of the judiciary.

Sir Donald Farquharson, who died in 2011  - Credit: PA
Sir Donald Farquharson, who died in 2011 Credit: PA

Rory’s second cousin, Andrew Farquharson, can boast of having once lived in Buckingham Palace as a career courtier. He was the Queen’s Assistant Master of the Household responsible for handling a budget of thousands of pounds for food and drink at events ranging from state banquets to summer picnics in Balmoral.

During his near 10 years of service, he was instrumental in sacking a kitchen porter who was said to have claimed she could have laced the Queen’s food with cyanide without anyone noticing.

When writing to dismiss Monica Traub, then 46, he explained in his letter that such comments were “an act of gross misconduct”. Ms Traub, originally from Germany, was promptly escorted from the Sandringham estate. She later told journalists that “people had been deliberately nasty” to her over a throwaway comment.

Mr Farquharson’s influence within the Royal household even saw him manage to persuade the Queen to opt for a Tesco range of Christmas puddings to offer as Yuletide gifts, rather than the more costly Harrods and Fortnum & Mason’s delicacies she normally chose. Considering the order was made up of more than 1,000 puddings, it was a sizeable saving to the royal purse.

The Queen was so impressed with his service that she later made him a member of her own order of chivalry, the Royal Victorian Order.

In 2006, he was poached by Prince Charles to serve as his Deputy Master of the Household at Clarence House. He took charge of the prince’s programme of engagements, managing his travel arrangements and ran his public and private residencies, as well as gardens and farming interests.

However, in 2009, Mr Farquharson’s six figure salary role was axed, a move said to have angered the courtier so much that he refused the prince’s offer to work out his six months’ notice. At the time, Clarence House insisted his job was terminated down to a “review of costs”.

He is now the head of household at Alnwick Castle, in Northumberland, the dramatic setting for a number of the Harry Potter movies.

 

Rory Farquharson Facebook image - Credit: FACEBOOK
Rory Farquharson, far right, pictured with friends Credit: FACEBOOK

If that were not enough, Rory’s great uncle was Sir Donald Farquharson, a respected judge and barrister who appeared in some of the UK’s most famous cases.

He was the presiding judge who jailed Lester Piggott for three years after the champion jockey admitted a £3 million tax fraud.

As a barrister he prosecuted the Streatham madam, Cynthia Payne, whose South London brothel he described as “well run” and popular with vicars, MPs and aristocrats alike.

According to The Telegraph’s obituary following Sir Donald’s death in August 2011, he was “one of the outstanding criminal barristers of his generation” who went on to become Lord Justice of Appeal from 1989 to 1995.

Barack Obama and daughter Malia make their way to board Air Force One - Credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP
US President Barack Obama and daughter Malia prepare to board Air Force One in April last year Credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP