Author: Mr Bang

The bubbly Duchess joined her ex-husband and the royal family for Christmas at Sandringham last year – the first time since 1991. And she was clearly excited to be a part of the festivities

Sarah Ferguson’s delight at joining the Royal Family for Christmas at Sandringham last year was clear for everyone to see.

Prince Andrew’s ex wife was invited to the celebrations for the first time since 1991 – and she beamed as she warmly greeted members of the public who lined to walk to Church of St Mary Magdalene. Indeed, Fergie was so excited on the day, she broke royal tradition with a surprising act during Christmas lunch.

As Ephraim Hardcastle noted: “She even live-tweeted from Sandringham after lunch, overwhelmed that she was finally back in the royal fold.” In her message, Sarah told her followers: “We are enjoying each other’s company and feeling grateful today. I hope everyone has a wonderful day. Happy Christmas to anyone who celebrates and season’s greetings to all!”

What a difference a year makes. Rather than heading to Sandringham with the rest of the royals, Sarah will celebrate Christmas alone with Prince Andrew at their shared home, Royal Lodge. Their two daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, are believed to have made plans to celebrate with their respective in-laws, and their own children.

Andrew was under pressure to stay away amid the ongoing scandal surrounding his links to an alleged Chinese spy. According to reports, it was Sarah who convinced him to rescind his invitation to Sandringham, and also skip the pre-Christmas royal lunch at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

It’s the latest controversy to engulf the Prince and put him back on the front pages of newspapers. Andrew as forced to step back from public duties following his bombshell interview with the BBC about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which aired in November 2019, just over five years ago.

The late Queen then stripped Andrew of his military titles and patronages in January 2022. And more recently, King Charles reportedly cut Prince Andrew’s allowance off this past summer while encouraging him to move out of Royal Lodge into a smaller residence.

But despite the many scandals involving Andrew, Sarah has remained incredibly loyal to her former husband. In a new interview with the Times , which took part “before recent revelations about Prince Andrew” but published after the event, she gushed about her love for her ex.”I was totally and utterly in love with Andrew. I would do it all over again, 100 per cent. He’s the best, a great man with a great heart, and kind. Our wedding was the best day of my life. But I gave up my anonymity that day. I was able to because love conquers all. It’s still with us today. I won’t let him down. He supports me as much as I support him. He’s supported me through thick and thin, not just marriage or divorce. We agree on the three Cs — communication, compromise, compassion.”

Dianne Buswell has hit back at a Strictly Come Dancing viewer who claimed the only reason Chris McCausland hasn’t been voted out yet is because he’s blind.

The professional dancer, 35, and the comedian, 47, who is blind due to retinitis pigmentosa, are through to the semi-finals after surviving musicals week.

Dianne took issue with one fan of the BBC show who thought Chris was getting the sympathy vote.

In a post on X seen by The Sun, they wrote: He’s only through because he’s blind.’

Responding to the post, she wrote: ‘He absolutely is not!’

On last Saturday’s show, Dianne defended Chris after judge Craig Revel Horwood criticised his posture during their performance.

 

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Dianne Buswell has hit back at a Strictly Come Dancing viewer who claimed the only reason Chris McCausland hasn’t been voted out yet is because he’s blind

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In a post on X seen by The Sun, a viewer wrote: He’s only through because he’s blind.’ Responding to the post, Dianne wrote: ‘He absolutely is not!’

She said: ‘We mustn’t forget that for 20-odd years Chris’s safe space has been down here, so for him to stand up actually makes me quite emotional.

‘It’s a big thing that we’ve overcome, and you’ve done so well.’

Taking to X himself after the public vote, Chris said he was ‘overwhelmed’ by the support he has received from the public.

He wrote: ‘We’ve only gone and reached the bloody #Strictly semi-final! I am so proud of what we have achieved.

‘We have always challenged ourselves and given 100%. Thank you for all of your votes and support. It’s honestly overwhelming. Lots of love X’.

Meanwhile, former Strictly pro dancer Brendan Cole has also given his thoughts on the judges’ scores ahead of the semi-final.

On last week’s show, Gladiators star Montell Douglas was sent home after she landed in the bottom two alongside Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri.

This was despite Montell getting the same score from the judges as Chris, who was kept safe by the public.

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The professional dancer, 35, and the comedian, 47, who is blind due to retinitis pigmentosa, are through to the semi-finals after surviving musicals week

Taking to X himself after the public vote, Chris said he was ‘overwhelmed’ by the support he has received from the public

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On last week’s show, Gladiators star Montell Douglas was sent home after she landed in the bottom two alongside Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri

Speaking to The Sun, Brendan said: ‘The nine (that Chris McCausland got) from Anton (Du Beke) was outrageous.

‘He’s supposed to be all about ballroom, but you can easily, as a judge, be swept up in the moment.

‘You can be swept up in the euphoria. Essentially, he’s (Anton) saying, by giving Chris a nine – who was probably the worst on the night in terms of dancing – that he was the same as what everybody else was.

‘It’s not fair in terms of the positioning on the leaderboard. If you’re giving an extra mark because you’ve just got swept up in the euphoria, that could mean somebody else finds themselves in the bottom two, that otherwise wouldn’t be there if they marked it correctly.’

It’s been six years since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle joined the Royal Family at Sandringham for Christmas, but would you like to see the Sussexes return to the UK for the festivities?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will miss the Royal Family’s Christmas celebrations at Sandringham again this year, as they reportedly remain in California for the festive season – but should the Duke and Duchess of Sussex return to the UK for the occasion?

The couple are expected to spend the festivities with their children Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland. It has been six years since the Sussexes joined the Firm for Christmas, with reports suggesting the pair were snubbed from the invite list this year.

However, their absence from the guest list doesn’t come as a surprise following the Sussexes’ ‘strained’ relationship with the family since stepping down from royal duties in 2020. This reportedly reached ‘breaking point’ after the release of Harry’s tell-all memoir Spare last year, and his ongoing legal fight over security for his family during UK visits.

A royal source told People that Harry is deeply concerned about the safety of his family, as they said: “Harry is frightened and feels the only person who can do anything about it is his father.” Meanwhile, a Palace source has stated that the idea that Harry’s security is in the King’s hands is “wholly incorrect”, reports GB News.

While the younger prince has made several trips to his home country this year, his last encounter with his father was in February, following Charles’ cancer diagnosis. Speaking to People , a source said: “Nothing would give [Harry] more happiness than being able to rekindle his bond with his father. At the end of the day, you can’t undo bloodlines.”

Meghan shared her first experience of Christmas at Sandringham in their 2022 Netflix documentary, where she said: “I remember so vividly the first Christmas at Sandringham. Calling my mom, and she’s like, ‘How’s it going?’ And I said, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s amazing.’ It’s just like a big family like I always wanted.”

The King and Queen are set to welcome many members of their family – including the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children – to the Norfolk estate next week. Camilla’s son Tom Parker Bowles is also set to join the Firm this Christmas in a major first for the 49-year-old.

Princess Eugenie is reportedly in a difficult position after being invited to both the Royal Family’s Christmas and celebrations in the US with Meghan and Harry. Following the release of the Sussexes new Christmas card, where they shared a rare photo of their two children, we want to know if you think Harry and Meghan should return to the UK for the festivities. Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.

Questions are being raised about Harry and Meghan’s future with Netflix following the release of Polo – and now an insider has delivered a tough verdict on the Duchess

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s latest Netflix show garnered less than favourable reviews from critics and viewers. Polo, a five-episode series, aimed to give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the ‘elite’ and ‘privileged’ sport.

But it was not well received, with many taking issue with the premise of the documentary itself, noting that the polo field is “the playground of the rich”.

In its review, the Telegraph branded the series “tedious”, while the Mail on Sunday dismissed it as a “load of old tosh”. The Guardian stated that “Polo looks destined to fall through the submenus into obscurity at the speed of light. And rightly so”.

Even The Cut, a magazine once favoured by Meghan, turned against the Duchess with a scathing review in an article titled ‘Harry and Meghan’s Projects Can’t Stop Flopping’. Writer Danielle Cohen commented on the couple’s “tortured attempts to launch a successful Stateside endeavour” which, she wrote, “continued this week” with the release of Polo. “Seems like this one is bound for the same fate as Markle’s beleaguered jam company,” she wrote.

The backlash has prompted questions about the couple’s next Netflix project. For almost a year there have been rumours that Meghan is making her own show celebrating ‘the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining, and friendship’.

But it remains to be seen if and when it will air – with a Netflix insider revealing their dissatisfaction with the Duchess and her work so far, as reported by the Daily Mail.

In a brutal six-word summary, they reportedly stated: “It’s so much work with her.” The insider then added: “Bluntly, the ‘deliverable’ does not seem to be worth it.”

Harry and Meghan signed a five-year agreement with Netflix in 2020, worth an estimated $100million (£80million). It is due to come to an end in autumn next year. So far, they have released just four projects through the streaming giant, all of which are docuseries: Harry & Meghan, following their love story, Heart of Invictus, about Prince Harry’s Invictus Games, Polo, and Live to Lead, highlighting inspiring world leaders.

But whether or not the streaming giant will continue to work with the couple remains to be seen – especially after the Sussexes’ £15million Spotify contract ended early in June last year .

Hollywood executives have stated that any new deal with the couple will amount to nothing like the $100 million they previously received, primarily due to the lack of content Harry and Meghan have actually produced.

Should Meghan’s series be given air time, it is most likely to launch – alongside her brand – in the first quarter of the year. It has not been included in Netflix schedules for January, and therefore might hit screens in late February – after Harry’s Invictus Games in Whistler, Canada – or in March.

The criticism of the couple’s work with Netflix comes just days before they are set to celebrate Christmas at their Montecito mansion with their two children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three. It is likely Meghan’s mum Doria Ragland will also join them for the big day.

Reports suggest that the couple did not receive an invitation to spend Christmas with Harry’s royal relatives at Sandringham this year, where 45 members of the Royal Family are set to gather.

‘Kit is growing on me now’

Coronation Street fans have changed their tune about bent copper Kit Green.

Kit rocked up to Weatherfield this year as the long-lost son of Bernie. He’s never quite sat right with fans, with viewers wondering if he’s been keeping secrets from everyone.

But after Kit’s latest move on the ITV soap, fans have declared that he is “growing” on them.

Mason’s brothers are causing plenty of drama (Credit: ITV)

Coronation Street Kit warns Mason’s brothers

In Wednesday’s Coronation Street episode (December 18) David Platt was confronted by Matty and Logan Radcliffe, about the money he stole from Harvey Gaskell.

The brothers quickly threatened David, warning they would go after his family if they didn’t get the cash back.

A startled David then resorted to desperate measures, and used Gail and Jesse’s weddings to pay off some of his debt.

In a bid to make it look like he was mugged though, David got the brothers to beat him up – before reporting it to the police.

Kit threatened Matty (Credit: ITV)

Kit headbutts Matty on Coronation Street

David then told his family that he had been mugged – but wife Shona suspected David was lying. She went and confided in Kit about it and asked him to have words with Matty and Logan.

Despite refusing at first, Shona threatened to report Daisy Midgeley for the hit and run – something Kit helped cover up.

Later on, Kit approached Matty and took things into his own hands. The cop ended up headbutting Matty, possibly breaking his nose.

Kit then warned the youngster that if he didn’t leave David alone, he would get “a nice, long holiday in prison”. Finishing off his threat, Kit then pulled on Matty’s nose before walking off.

Fans were left cheering at Kit (Credit: ITV)

Fans do huge U-turn on Kit

And it’s fair to say Kit’s move went down a storm with Coronation Street fans, with plenty finally getting behind him

“Didn’t like him at first, but he’s playing his role very well and becoming likeable,” said one person on X. Someone else added: “Kit is growing on me now.”

A third chimed in: “I’m not really a fan of Kit but that was brilliant especially twisting his nose.” Another added: “Absolutely loved it! I loved that it was so unexpected too! I didn’t see that Glasgow kiss coming from Kit at all. Fabulous.”

Coronation Street usually airs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV.

So what do you think of this story? You can leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know.

Emmerdale tonight once again aired a format-breaking episode as Tom King finally came to an end. And yes, justice was served: he has been sentenced to three years in prison.

The episode went back and forth between evidence being given in court and the jury deliberating their verdict. And once we had reached the conclusion, Tom was taken away and we heard the stories of real women who had been through what Belle had.

Here’s how Emmerdale played out on Thursday December 19.
Belle recounted her abuse in court (Credit: ITV)

Things didn’t look good for Belle in Emmerdale tonight

At the start of the episode, the jury arrived in their room and they were equally split – six for guilty, six for not guilty. So we flashed back to Tom and Belle giving evidence in court.

They each recounted their stories and obviously told a very different tale.  It was very clear in as the jury deliberated Tom had taken some of them in. Denise Welch’s character, Heidi, was not taken in though. She knew Tom was guilty. She just had to convince Karl, the Foreman of the Jury, of the fact.

Back in court, Belle’s past with Gemma was brought up and her mental health called into question. It made some members of the jury think Belle was not a reliable witness – exactly as Tom had planned.

The instances of abuse were recounted as the Dingles sat in the gallery fuming at what they were hearing. But the time Belle assaulted Tom was the only one that had been witnessed.

Credit to Tom, he was putting a sterling performance in court. If we hadn’t been watching all of these months, we might have believed him ourselves. Things were not going well for Belle.

Belle’s case worker Rachel gave testimony too, explaining her own suspicions about Tom’s abuse. However as she had no actual evidence back in the deliberation room, the jury were leaning towards Tom’s side of the tale.

Amelia took to the stand and had to admit Tom wasn’t ever violent to her.

In the jury’s discussion, Heidi continued to fight for Belle, against Karl, who was sure Tom was innocent.
Heidi (Denise Welch) was adamant Tom was guilty (Credit: ITV)

The tide turned against Tom

But soon enough, the tables began to turn against Tom as the tablet and his treatment of Carl Jnr was brought up. Then the prosecution went into detail about Tom’s filming and tracking of Belle and the small cameras he put everywhere, including in the bathroom. Plus the fact he hid it all from the police (by the way, where was DS Foy? A travesty he didn’t appear). Tom squirmed as he clearly didn’t have answers for the evidence in front of him.

And back with the jury, the cameras were a sticking point because even staunch Tom supporter Karl didn’t have an answer this time.

Juror Kenneth had stayed silent pretty much throughout, but then he piped up with a story about an abuser he knew, who had hid it well and was a respected medical professional. Kenneth said he saw the same look in Belle’s eyes as he had seen in the wife of the man he knew and he was firmly on Belle’s side.

This certainly got the jury thinking…
Abuser Tom couldn’t believe the jury had believed Belle in Emmerdale (Credit: ITV)

Tom was found guilty in Emmerdale tonight

As the Dingles waited outside the court for news, they were in a state of worry. But then they were called back into the court and Belle knew this was judgement day.

Karl the foreman stood up and announced they had found him guilty – on both counts. The Dingles cheered and shivers were sent down our spines.

Tom was then sentenced for his crimes with the judge telling him he has shown no remorse and doesn’t want to change. He has been sent to prison for three years.

As he shared a last, dark look with Belle, she sobbed tears of heartache, pain and relief. And it’s clear her ordeal is far from over – but it’s a start.
Belle attended a support group and we heard the stories of real women (Credit: ITV)

Real stories in Emmerdale tonight

We then flashed back to where Belle had got to the day before. She had been to a support group for women who had suffered like her.

We heard their stories, which were those of real women. It had helped Belle realise none of what she had been through was her fault. It was the most moving part of the episode as we can only scratch the surface of what these people had suffered.

Belle then tearfully told Charity she knew Tom was in the wrong and the blame was all with him. But can she move forward with her life now?

Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns

Harry and Meghan included a very rare photo of their two children, Archie and Lilibet, in their 2024 Christmas card – and fans have noted a striking resemblance to an image of Princess Diana

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gave a rare glimpse of their family life in their new Christmas card. In one sweet photo, the couple were joined by their two children, Archie and Lilibet, who can be seen running into the outstretched arms of their delighted parents.

And fans have been quick to note that the image bears a striking resemblance to a shot of Princess Diana with Harry and Prince William when they were boys.

The Sussexes photo shows Archie, five, in jeans and a khaki jacket, while Lilibet, three, looks summery in a floral dress and socks. The family are also joined by their three dogs: black Labrador Pula, a Beagle named Guy, and the newest addition to the Sussex set, their Beagle, Mamma Mia.

It’s similar to a snapshot taken of Diana greeting her children on the deck of The Royal Yacht Britannia in Toronto when William and Harry joined their parents on an official visit to Canada, October 23, 1991. Beaming Diana, dressed in a red houndstooth jacket, can be seen reaching out to her young sons for a warm embrace.

Diana and her sons William and Harry ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

The photo of their children in their Christmas card is one of very few images that Harry and Meghan have released of Archie and Lilibet. The first official photograph of their daughter also appeared in a festive Christmas card, which the Sussexes shared in 2021 – the year, they wrote, that “Lili made us a family”.

Fans caught another glimpse of the Princess in a photo released to celebrate her first birthday, which she spent at Frogmore Cottage in 2022. And the children made fleeting appearances in the couple’s Netflix series.

Notably, in the new Christmas picture, both Archie and Lilibet are facing away from the camera – in keeping with the Sussexes’ desire to maintain their children’s privacy, so that they “never have to experience the online world as it exists now”.

A source previously told PEOPLE: “Harry has been reluctant to show his children publicly, not out of a desire to hide them but to protect their privacy and safety from potential threats. He wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm.”

And the Duke of Sussex also spoke out recently about how grateful he is to be raising his children away from the pressures he would have in the UK if he had remained a senior royal.

At The New York Times DealBook Online Summit on December 4, Harry said : “I very much enjoy living here and bringing my kids up here. It’s a part of my life that I never thought I was going to live.

“I feel as though it’s the life that my mum wanted for me. To be able to do the things I’m able to do with my kids that I undoubtedly wouldn’t be able to do in the UK — it’s huge. That is a fantastic opportunity and I’m hugely grateful for that.”

King Charles hosted a number of royal family members at Buckingham Palace for a pre-Christmas lunch today – but William and Kate, along with their children, did not attend

The Prince and Princess of Wales surprised fans by skipping the pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace today.

The couple were expected to attend the annual celebration along with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. But just a short time before the luncheon was due to start, it was revealed that the family would be missing the event.

A royal source said that the family is already in Norfolk, as had been planned, and is looking forward to spending time with the rest of the royal family at Sandringham over Christmas. While beleaguered royal Prince Andrew was also absent, amid the ongoing furore over his relationship with alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo, his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were both there.

William and Kate’s 2024 Christmas card, released this afternoon ( 
Image:
Instagram)George, Charlotte, and Louis broke up for their Christmas holidays from Lambrook on 13 December and it is thought the Waleses family immediately travelled to Anmer Hall, their much-loved country retreat on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. But the family’s absence from the Buckingham Palace lunch has nevertheless raised eyebrows – not least because, as a future monarch, William usually attends such big royal events – and has done so for a number of years.

However, a Kensington Palace source told the Telegraph: “The decision not to attend the lunch was made some time ago.” It also meant that the King didn’t have either of his sons with him at the Palace – although the Waleses will be celebrating Christmas with Charles and Queen Camilla just next week.

It had been speculated in some quarters that the couple’s decision was somehow linked to Prince Andrew and the furore surrounding his relationship with an alleged spy. But sources have been quick to shut that down, noting that Andrew has already decided to stay away from the event.

King Charles heads to Buckingham Palace today ( 
Image:
PA)
But despite missing today’s party, the Waleses did release their Christmas card this afternoon, showing a sweet family snap. The image was taken from the video released by Kate in September when she announced her chemotherapy treatment had ended and her focus was “doing what I can to stay cancer-free”. In the picture, William and Kate are shown with their arms around their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Princess Louis.

In the video, the princess delivered a heartfelt message about her cancer journey, speaking over images showing the Waleses and their children enjoying the Norfolk countryside, walking through woods and the couple cuddling as they hold hands. She described the year to that point as “incredibly tough for us as a family” and how the “cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone”, with the experience giving her a “new perspective on everything”. The card has the message, “wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year”.

It comes as for the past two years, King Charles has held the pre-Christmas party at Windsor Castle but it has returned to be held at Buckingham Palace today, where the late Queen nearly always hosted the lunch. Earlier, the King was seen heading into the palace ahead of the party to make final preparations for his guests. He was followed by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Edward and Sophie.

Princess Beatrice arrives at Buckingham Palace today ( 
Image:
PA)As previously revealed, Prince Andrew missed miss the event. The beleaguered royal will no longer join the party amid the ongoing furore over his relationship with alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo. However, his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were both there. Pregnant Beatrice sat in the passenger seat while husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi drove them to the party, while Eugenie was also seen in a car with her husband Jack Brooksbank.

Also attending were Lord Frederick Windsor, his wife Sophie Winkleman and their daughter Isabella; the Duke of Kent; Prince and Princess Michael of Kent; the Earl of St Andrews; Lady Marina Windsor and Lady Amelia Windsor; Timothy Taylor, Lady Helen Taylor, Estella and Eloise Taylor; Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones; and Lord Downpatrick.

They were joined by Countess Mountbatten of Burma Penelope Knatchbull; James and Julia Ogilvy; Samuel Chatto; the Earl of Ulster and Lord Culloden; Flora and Timothy Vesterberg; Princess Alexandra; and Lady Davina Windsor.

Princess Eugenie arrives to join the party ( 
Image:
PA)Andrew has decided to stay away from the festivities this year in light of his latest scandal. It is understood it was his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson who advised him to keep a low-profile and stay away from the Palace soiree. Furthermore, the former couple have decided to remain at their home in Royal Lodge on Christmas Day, rather than travel to Sandringham with the rest of the family, to avoid further embarrassing the King.

It will be an especially poignant Christmas for the royal family, marking the the end of a highly challenging year for the family following Kate’s cancer diagnosis and subsequent chemotherapy treatment, as well as the King’s own ongoing cancer treatment.

Sarah and Andrew are set to spend Christmas Day together at their shared home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, having made the decision to stay away from the Sandringham celebrations

Christmas is set to be a quiet affair for Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. In light of the ongoing furore surrounding the Duke’s connections to an alleged spy, the former couple have decided to stay away from the celebrations at Sandringham and will instead spend the day together at Royal Lodge.

While it will be a muted affair in comparison to the revelry in Norfolk, Sarah and Andrew will no doubt make the best of the day. The pair, who will also be without their daughters, will be sitting down to a delicious Christmas Day meal – but there are two items that will not be included on the menu, according to Princess Eugenie.

Sarah and Andrew’s youngest daughter lifted the lid on her parents’ eating habits during an appearance on the podcast Table Manners with hosts Jessie and Lennie Ware. and she revealed there are two common food items she is not allowed to eat when at Royal Lodge – onion and garlic.

“I’m not allowed onion and garlic in my parents house because they worry about the breath,” she confessed. “I’ll eat the garlic and then I’ll pop a mint in and hope and pray that no one smells me!”

Of course, they aren’t the only royals to steer clear of the cooking staples. In 2018, Queen Camilla was asked about banned Royal foods during an appearance on MasterChef Australia, and she confirmed: “I hate to say this, but garlic. Garlic is a no-no.”

Gary Mehigan, one of the judges, then asked: “So garlic is a no-no? Because you’re talking, chatting?” The Queen replied: “Yes, exactly. So you always have to lay off the garlic.”

The ban has also been confirmed by former royal chef Darren McGrady , who revealed that palace chefs are forbidden from serving food containing too much onion or garlic.

Meanwhile, it’s been reported that it was Sarah who convinced her ex-husband that they should stay at Royal Lodge this Christmas in light of the ongoing spy scandal – even at the expense of her own Sandringham invitation.

Just last year, Sarah was invited to join the Royal Family for the festive celebrations for the first time since 1991. And her delight was clear to see as she walked to church alongside her ex-husband and their daughters, warmly greeting well wishers and eagerly chatting with members of the public.

While the 65-year-old will no doubt be disappointed that she and Andrew are no longer able to attend, she remains incredibly supportive of her ex. In a new interview with the Times, which took part “before recent revelations about Prince Andrew” but published after the event, she spoke about her love for the late Queen’s second son.

“I was totally and utterly in love with Andrew. I would do it all over again, 100 per cent,” she admitted. “He’s the best, a great man with a great heart, and kind. Our wedding was the best day of my life. But I gave up my anonymity that day. I was able to because love conquers all. It’s still with us today. I won’t let him down. He supports me as much as I support him. He’s supported me through thick and thin, not just marriage or divorce. We agree on the three Cs — communication, compromise, compassion.”

Andrew and Fergie split in 1992, and divorced in 1996, but they still live together at Royal Lodge in Windsor. In the same article, Sarah’s sister Jane shared, “Sarah and Andrew are the best divorced couple I know. They’ve done it for their children; it’s incredible.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales have shared the heartwarming snap that they’ve chosen to feature on the front of their Christmas card this year – showing the couple with their three children in Norfolk

The Prince and Princess of Wales have revealed the heartwarming snap that features on the front of their official 2024 Christmas card.

The poignant photo, which has been seen before, shows the couple with their three children in Norfolk. It is taken from the video released by Kate in September, which confirmed she would return to public duties following the completion of her course of chemotherapy after her cancer diagnosis earlier this year. The card was shared on a post on social media that said: “Wishing everyone a very happy Christmas’ – with the words inside the card saying: ‘Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year.”

The release of the card comes after it emerged earlier today that William, Kate and their three children would not be attending the royal family’s traditional pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace, taking place today.

The picture that graces the front of the Waleses’ Christmas card ( 
Image:
PA)A royal source said William and Kate are already in Norfolk, as had been planned, and are looking forward to spending time with the rest of the royal family at Sandringham over Christmas. The Buckingham Palace lunch is a private event for senior royals and their wider family who will not be attending Christmas celebrations at the King’s Norfolk home.

Members of the family pictured arriving at Buckingham Palace on Thursday included the King and Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Andrew’s daughters Princess Beatrice with her husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi, and Princess Eugenie with her husband Jack Brooksbank. William and Kate have been pictured arriving for the pre-Christmas lunch in some previous years, including 2018 and 2019. The event was not held in 2020 or 2021 because of the Covid pandemic.

Last year the Waleses’ Christmas card photo showed all five of the Wales family posing in a formal shot dressed in matching white shirts and dark denim jeans.. It was marked difference from the snap shared for 2022, which showed the couple dressed down holding hands with their children on a walk in Norfolk. In 2021, the card featured a photo of the family relaxing on a private holiday in Jordan.

The location of that year’s snap was especially poignant for Kate – she spent a small part of her childhood years in Jordan, where her dad Mike worked for British Airways. Meanwhile, the Wales’ 2020 Christmas card showed them all huddled together in casual clothes at Anmer Hall, their country home close to the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

William and Kate with their children at Westminster Abbey earlier this month ( 
Image:
PA)
The release of the card comes at the end of a highly challenging year for the family following Kate’s cancer diagnosis and subsequent chemotherapy treatment. In Kate’s highly personal video from several months ago, where she revealed her chemotherapy treatment had finished she said that she was doing all she could to remain “cancer free”.

She also spoke of how she was “looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months”. In recent weeks, she has attend Remembrance weekend events while in the summer she was at Wimbledon for the men’s final and she also made an appearance at Trooping the Colour in June. Kate also took part in the Qatar state visit to the UK in early December as part of her gradual return to royal duties.

Earlier this month at her Christmas Carol Concert at Westminster Abbey, the princess also reflected on ther tough 2024. She was heard telling singer Paloma Faith: “I didn’t know this year was going to be the year I’ve just had.” When Faith replied “the unplanned”, Kate said: “The unplanned, exactly. But I think lots of people this year have had such challenging times.”

Menwhile, back in early November, William also reflected on the year, which not only saw Kate receive a cancer diagnosis but his father King Charles too. During a trip to Cape Town for his Earthshot Prize Awards, he spoke of his pride in his father Charles, 74, and his wife Kate, 42, for the bravery they have shown throughout their ordeal. However, the future king said of his annus horribilis – which is Latin for terrible year: “Honestly? It’s been dreadful. It’s probably been the hardest year in my life.

“So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult. But I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been brutal.”