Bell Pottinger ruling mutes wedding bells

With a guest list that included royalty, rock stars, tycoons, models and politicians, their wedding should have been the high society event of the year.

But, with the collapse in fortunes of the PR firm Bell Pottinger amid allegations that it incited race hatred in South Africa, James Henderson, its former boss, and Heather Kerzner, his fiancée and a wealthy socialite, have called off the ceremony.

The couple were due to marry in November.

The "postponement" is particularly embarrassing for Kerzner, ex-wife of SA hotel billionaire Sol Kerzner. She invested a sizeable part of her fortune to buy 15% of Bell Pottinger.

That and Henderson's stake gave them 40% of the company - but it is now virtually worthless.

Henderson resigned as CEO of the company shortly before it was thrown out of the British PR trade association for bringing the industry into disrepute.

A source close to the couple insisted the relationship was not in jeopardy from the loss of their investment or the company's possible demise.

"The wedding will go ahead next year," said one source. "They're still together. It's just they've got a lot on their plate."