Author: quyen3

The cast of Only Fools And Horses: The Musical were reportedly subjected to vile racist abuse from an audience member.

It comes as the hit musical took to the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, West London. It’s said members of the cast, including Bradley John and Gloria Acquaah-Harrison, who play lorry driver Denzil Tulser and Mrs Obooko, were targeted by with the disgusting heckling on Friday evening.

Sources say some of the show’s stars were left “visibly upset” by the incident, which prompted stage show bosses to issue a statement online to condemn the actions. The statement read: “Here at Only Fools and Horses The Musical we always act with respect and kindness towards ourselves and others. We do expect our audiences to do the same.”

There was reportedly racist abuse at a show of the Only Fools and Horses musical ( 
Image:
Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty I)
It continued: “Any unkind comments, bullying, discrimination or any form of abuse towards our cast or company members will not be tolerated by the producers or theatres. We expect respect on and off stage.

“We are committed to working closely with the venue teams to ensure that our cast, company and audiences embrace an environment of respect, inclusivity and safety.”

A source who witnessed the abuse told the Sun: “It was a rowdy crowd, with everyone in the Christmas spirit. But this idiot spoiled the performance for those in ear shot. Security were unable to identify the culprit and eject them.”

Katie Paine, Amanda Coutts, Gloria Acquaah-Harrison, Vinnie Jones, Georgina Hagen, and Nicola Munns ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
Another added that “cast members were visibly upset” by what was going on. “They couldn’t believe what they were hearing,” they said.

The show stars Paul Whitehouse as Grandad, while it has been guest starring Vinnie Jones during it’s three-week run at the venue.

Last week, Sir David Jason attended the gala performance of the Only Fools and Horses The Musical in London and reminisced about his old friends. The 84-year-old icon, who was best known for his role as Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter on the BBC sitcom between 1981 and 1991 along with a few Christmas specials, said the entire performance was a ‘memory’ for him.

After the show ended, he said: “It’s very, very good. What I did like about it was so much of the original script was used and they did it so well that sometimes it took me by surprise. The whole show was a memory for me of the whole thing – the script, the characters. It was lovely to see them all and everybody was working so well together, very much like we did.”

He sighed before confessing he thought he was going to ‘cry’ as he was touched by the entire production. He added: “I’m going to have a boo now. I’m so moved.”

It was the news that most people could only dream of. Steven Riley had opened an unexpected email from a lawyer and discovered he was in line for a huge $30 million inheritance from a distant relative that he’d never even met. It was impossible not to imagine how life changing the huge sum of money would be. Steven, 51, had five sons and wanted to share his good fortune with them.

Steven’s girlfriend Ina Thea Kenoyer, who lived with him in Minot, North Dakota, was also over the moon when she found out. They had been together for 10 years and Kenoyer was sure she’d benefit from the surprise windfall.

But it seemed the promise of millions of dollars gave Steven the opportunity to think differently about his life, and after receiving the news he confided in his friends that Kenoyer might not be part of his future. Steven told those close to him that he was thinking about leaving his girlfriend and just sharing the money with his sons.

The next step for Steven was to meet with the lawyer involved in the inheritance at a local airport on 3 September, 2023. He didn’t tell Kenoyer he wanted to end their relationship but somehow she found out. She decided that if Steven wasn’t going to share the money with her, she’d take it all. Kenoyer had been with Steven for 10 years and believed that would give her common law wife status so she would be entitled to the money when he died. She just needed that to happen.

Almost straightaway, Kenoyer started to spike Steven’s iced tea with antifreeze. The key ingredient, ethylene glycol, has a sweet taste so Steven would have consumed the deadly liquid without even realising. On the day Steven was due to meet the lawyer and receive the cheque, he headed to the airport with Kenoyer and some friends. He started to feel unwell and told them he had stomach pains. He was struggling to walk, as though he was drunk, and started vomiting.

The lawyer didn’t show up. Meanwhile, Steven’s friends became increasingly worried about him and suggested he needed urgent medical help. But Kenoyer insisted it was just heat stroke after drinking too much in the sun and said she’d look after him at home. Later that day, a friend called around to see Steven. Kenoyer said he had gone to a walk-in clinic, but that friend couldn’t find Steven or any record of him at any local clinic or the emergency room. The friend returned to Steven’s home and found him unconscious. They called 911 and paramedics rushed him to hospital but, despite being airlifted to a second hospital, he couldn’t be saved. He died on 5 September.

When Kenoyer talked to the police about the inheritance that was coming her way, she insisted that while she would keep her portion, she would go on to share the money with Steven’s sons. Officers told her North Dakota law doesn’t recognise common law marriages so she wouldn’t be entitled to any of the money. They noticed she suddenly became angry and upset.

Steven believed he was in line for a huge $30 million inheritance from a distant relative ( 
Image:
Steven Riley/Facebook)

Flagging up concerns

After Steven’s death, loved ones went to the police to say Kenoyer had made comments in the past about poisoning her boyfriend with antifreeze. While he’d been fighting for his life in hospital, they said Kenoyer had made comments that he had been poisoned with antifreeze. It gave investigators the opportunity to look out for poisoning. An autopsy confirmed Steven had died of ethylene glycol poisoning, the ingredient found in antifreeze.

There was no alcohol in his system, which confirmed he hadn’t been drinking as Kenoyer had claimed. Officers searched the couple’s home and found a Windex bottle that contained antifreeze and a beer bottle and plastic mug in the garage that had traces of antifreeze in. During questioning, Kenoyer denied killing Steven and suggested that maybe he had dropped a cigarette in the garage and had smoked it with antifreeze on it. She said an online search had informed her the symptoms of heat stroke can “mimic poisoning”.

Kenoyer was arrested on 30 October. Investigators said she had “financial motives” for killing Steven, but where was the $30 million? It turned out the email was an online scam. There was never any evidence of money. Steven had been murdered over an inheritance that didn’t exist. At first Kenoyer denied spiking Steven’s drink, but she eventually admitted she had been making her boyfriend iced tea with antifreeze in it. In May this year, she pleaded guilty to felony murder and five months later she faced sentencing.

Lives touched by loss

Steven’s sister, Stephanie Gonzalez, made a statement. She said that while Steven had been dying, Kenoyer had tried to sell his vehicle. “You stole a father from five sons, a brother from two sisters, an uncle from 12 nieces and nephews and a great uncle to eight and many friends,” she said. “How does it feel to have taken so much for absolutely nothing?”

Princess Diana’s split from Prince Charles left her with a change of plans for the festive period.

The Princess of Wales split with the now King of England back in the mid-1990s and decided it would be more appropriate to cancel her plans of spending Christmas at the Sandringham Estate. She was set to sit in with Prince Harry, Prince William, the at-the-time Prince of Wales, Charles, as well as Queen Elizabeth II. Instead of making the trip to the royal estate in Norfolk, Princess Diana spent the festive period away from her family in her Kensington Palace apartment.

The festivities of 1995 were a far stretch from the family fun of the previous few years for Princess Diana. She took a number of sleeping pills to get through the day. She had spent Christmas with the rest of the Royal Family since 1992 despite her separation from Prince Charles.

 

She decided to keep her distance from the royals on this particular year. Her absence from the Christmas celebrations was noted by the Sandringham attendees though, which led to a “rather strained atmosphere”, according to instyle. A friend of Princess Diana further alleged her reception at these Christmas events was “frosty” and the Royal Family was not keen on her appearances. Richard Kay, a friend of the late Princess, believed she was not always welcome at the get-together.

Recalling a trip in 1993, Mr Kay said Princess Diana had “stayed overnight and went with everyone to church” but did not stick around for much longer, the Daily Express reported. He wrote: “But she didn’t stay for lunch. Instead, she went home alone to Kensington Palace and spent the rest of the day there before flying to Washington to stay with friends”.

Just a half hour after the service had ended, according to Mr Kay, Diana had been “at the wheel of her dark green Jaguar speeding back to London” from St Mary’s Magdalene Church on Sandringham Estate. He added: “‘If I had been photographed as some sort of lady bountiful, my husband’s family would have been in uproar, accusing me of a stunt,’ she later confided.” Diana and Charles divorced in 1996, with the Princess of Wales spending her last Christmas alone as she decided not to attend Sandringham Estate.

 

Supermarkets start yellow-tagging items on Christmas Eve, but there are specific times when you’ll see items reduced. That’s according to vouchercodes.co.uk which has listed every major UK supermarket and the predicted times they will slash the prices of their stock.

Voucher Codes says Christmas Eve is actually the best day to bag a bargain in the supermarket in the run up to Christmas – so disorganisation could actually work in your favour. It says items such as perishables and festive-themed food will be all for the taking, as bosses aim to catch the eye of last minute dashers.

Anita Naik, savings expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk, says: “Timing is everything when it comes to bagging these unbelievable deals. Shop at the right moment, and you can save a fortune, enjoy luxury products for less, and stop good food from going to waste.”Lidl are predicted to reduce prices between 4pm and 5pm on Christmas Eve. Lidl’s yellow sticker markdowns usually happen in two waves: one early in the morning when stores open at 8am, and another in the evening before closing. For the deepest discounts, plan your Christmas Eve visit around 5pm.

Aldi

Aldi are set to slash prices at 5pm – but shoppers will have just one hour to make the most of these deals, as the shop shuts at 6pm and is understandably closed on Christmas Day. Anita says staff will roll out two markdowns on the day. She added: “Aldi also has a two-round system for markdowns – first thing in the morning (from 8am) and again later in the evening. However, unlike Lidl, Aldi uses red stickers to highlight its discounted products. Head there by 5pm on Christmas Eve for the best bargains before stores close at 6pm.

“Red-sticker items are scattered across the store, so keep your eyes peeled. From meat to packaged goods, Aldi tends to mark down items by up to 75% on their final day of sale.”

Asda

Asda will start reducing items at 6pm – and shoppers will have until 10pm to make the most of those. Anita says: “Asda’s reductions follow a three-tier system: the first in the morning, a second midday, and a final round of markdowns around 7pm. On Christmas Eve, plan your shop for 6pm to catch the best deals, especially on fresh fruit and veg, which can drop as low as 10p.”

M&S

M&S will be one of the early birds, slashing prices from 3pm and its stores are set to remain open until 4pm. Anita says: “M&S keeps it simple but strategic, with stores reducing items about an hour before closing. On Christmas Eve, that means arriving at 3pm to snag the best bargains before stores close at 4pm. If you can’t make it earlier, some M&S stores often apply last-minute reductions in the final 30 minutes before closing time. If you’re willing to risk it all, here is when you’ll find the mega bargains.”

Tesco staff will start yellow-tagging from 6pm to 7pm – but you’ll need to be quick as most stores shut at 7pm. According to Anita’s research, Tesco’s yellow stickers roll out in three waves – around 10am, 2pm, and 7pm. For the biggest bargains, head to Tesco an hour before closing. Depending on your local store, on Christmas Eve, this will be 6pm or 7pm.

Morrisons will start reducing items from 3pm with stores shutting at 4pm. Anita says: “Morrisons usually applies its first reductions as soon as stores open, and saves a final further markdown for the evening. With Christmas Eve hours closing at 4pm, the best deals are likely to pop up around 3pm.”

Sainsbury’s will start knocking money off produce at 6pm with just an hour left until closing at 7pm. Anita says: “At Sainsbury’s, yellow stickers appear around 2pm and again at 6pm. With stores closing at 7pm on Christmas Eve, arriving at 6pm will give you the best chance to bag festive treats for less.”

The couple shared several photos on Instagram today revealing that they took their dog and cat on a specialised pet airline with them – but some fans were horrified by the opulence and cost of their journey. Storm and Boyzone star Ronan have just been in London, and were likely heading back to Australia – Storm’s native country – for Christmas.

Not wanting to leave their furry family members behind, they opted to fly with K9 Jets. Flights from London on the pet airline seem to only reach the United States at the moment, meaning they likely wouldn’t have made it all the way on just the one leg. Despite only getting halfway back to Oz, the couple would have spent thousands each. A seat on the jet (with one pet allowed per seat), would be at the lowest $8,925 per person. Prices can rise as high as $16,600 per person according to the website, which exchanges to around £13,200.

Ronan and Storm Keating have just been in London, and took their pets with them as they jetted away – most likely to Storm’s native Australia ( 
Image:
Instagram)

The couple flew with K9 Jets, which guarantees to spoil both human and four-legged guests – with a hefty price tag to prove it ( 
Image:
Instagram)
Ronan shared plenty of snaps from the flight, showing wide, airy common areas on the plane, comfy sofas for pets and humans alike, and even a silver service coffee tray with photos of him and Storm printed on the cappuccino foam. “Got our other babies safe and sound. Massive thank you to Adam and all the team @k9jets_,” Ronan wrote, adding, “WOW what an incredibly easy and enjoyable experience #classservice #canttopthat #insane.”

In the comment section of his post, Ronan’s fans were torn by the splashy display of wealth. “Blimey how the other half live,” one person snarked, while another reasoned: “If you’ve got it, spend it. Ignore nasty comments. Looks amazing. Happy Christmas to you and your family.”

Storm also shared photos from the first class pet plane, and gushed: “Reunited with our furry babies !!! Can’t recommend @k9jets_ enough, if you need to get your pets safely from A to B. What an outstanding service offering unlike anything we’ve ever experienced. Carbon footprint offset.”

Flights on the jet cost between £7,100 to £13,200 per single ticket, and the couple seemed to think they got good bang for their buck ( 
Image:
Instagram)

Many fans weren’t happy to see Ronan and StoWhile the couple reunited with their dog and cat, their full family won’t necessarily be reunited in Australia over the festive period. The couple shares two children, with Cooper, seven, and Coco, four, still under their wing. Jack also has three older kids, all of whom have flown the nest. Former love Island star Jack Keating, 25, has relocated from London to Dublin, become a father himself for the first time, and stepped into the world of professional radio.

The legendary crocodile that starred in the hit film Crocodile Dundee has passed away.

Burt, the massive 5.1-metre croc who featured in the 1986 movie, died “peacefully” in captivity in Darwin, aged “over 90 years old”. Crocosaurus Cove, the crocodile park and aquarium where Burt had been living since 2008, shared the news of his passing.

Burt, who shot to fame as one of the world’s most recognised reptiles due to the international success of Crocodile Dundee – still the top-earning Australian film ever – has an inspiring backstory. The Crocosaurus Cove shared details about how Burt was caught in the early 1980s, prior to his blockbuster appearance with Hogan.

The team at the Cove delivered an emotional homage to Burt on Monday (December 23), saying: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Burt, the iconic Saltwater crocodile and star of the Australian classic Crocodile Dundee. Burt passed away peacefully over the weekend, estimated to be over 90 years old, marking the end of an incredible era.”

The Crocodile Dundee star died over the weekend ( 
Image:
Crocosaurus Cove Darwin/ Facebook)

“Burt’s life story is one of strength, resilience, and a personality as bold as the Top End itself. Captured in the 1980s in the Reynolds River, Burt became one of the most recognised crocodiles in the world, appearing in Crocodile Dundee and helping to shape Australia’s image as a land of rugged natural beauty and awe-inspiring wildlife.”

They added: “In 2008, Burt made his way to Crocosaurus Cove, where he became a fierce and fascinating ambassador for crocodile conservation. Known for his independent streak, Burt was a confirmed bachelor – a trait he demonstrated during his earlier years at a crocodile farm. His fiery temperament earned him the respect of his caretakers and visitors alike, as he embodied the raw and untamed spirit of the saltwater crocodile.”

The team continued: “Burt was truly one of a kind. He wasn’t just a crocodile; he was a force of nature and a reminder of the power and majesty of these incredible creatures. While his personality could be challenging, it was also what made him so memorable and beloved by those who worked with him and the thousands who visited him over the years. Visitors from around the globe marvelled at his impressive size and commanding presence, especially at feeding time.

“The team at Crocosaurus Cove would like to thank everyone who visited Burt and helped celebrate his remarkable life. As we mourn his loss, we are reminded of the vital role wildlife plays in our shared history and the importance of preserving it for future generations.”

Minister for Parks and Wildlife Marie-Clare Boothby also paid tribute to Burt, describing the late crocodile as “a true icon of the Territory”. She added: “It’s very sad to hear… I think that Territorians right across the Territory would be feeling quite sad about this.”

Burt was a star in his own right, featuring alongside Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski in the original Crocodile Dundee film. He also served as the inspiration for the digital crocodile in the 2007 movie Rogue.

There are few Christmas movies that warm the heart quite like Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life, but for those who worked on the 1946 classic, it was quite a different story.

Far from being the heartwarming festive treat enjoyed by generations of film lovers, the reality of shooting on the seemingly idyllic Bedford Falls set was tense, brutal and, at times, even bloody.

A gorgeous tale of finding meaning amid the trials and disappointments of life, the one and only James ‘Jimmy’ Stewart plays George Bailey, a once ambitious everyman whose youthful dreams have been repeatedly crushed by weighty responsibilities.

Driving to despair, George contemplates suicide one fateful Christmas Eve but is fortuitously interrupted by ‘second class’ guardian angel Clarence Odbody, who helps him realise that ‘no man is a failure who has friends’.

If you make it through to the finale with your eyes still dry, then you’re made of sterner stuff than most. However, knowing the full story behind the life-affirming movie may change your viewing experience completely…

The movie was deemed groundbreaking in terms of creating realistic snow effects ( 
Image:
CBS via Getty Images)

Chemical snow

One of the most iconic shots of the movie shows a joyous George rushing through the streets of Bedford Falls on Christmas Eve while flurries of snow swirl all around him. It’s a beautiful scene for many reasons, with the heavy snowfall bringing to mind the most idyllic of white Christmases. Those without in-depth knowledge of the industry would never guess they weren’t watching a natural blizzard.

Indeed, It’s A Wonderful Life proved groundbreaking in the field of snow effects, with the various weather shifts being integral to the plot. Jeremy Arnold, author of Christmas in the Movies, told Entertainment Weekly: “The snow is vital to the storytelling. It conveys not just a joyful Christmas Eve but also the character’s rebirth. It tells the audience George is back in the real world. He’s back from this alternate reality; the snow starts falling, and we get it right away. And that is a very gentle, cleansing snow.”

Before It’s A Wonderful Life was filmed, filmmakers would paint cornflakes white to create snow, but director Frank Capra knew he wanted something a bit more special. Keen to avoid the ‘crunch’, Capra opted for three different types of fake snow: Ivory soap flakes, chipped ice, and fomite, which are similar to chemicals used in contemporary fire extinguishers.

During this period, it was common for filmmakers to use hazardous chrysotile asbestos to create fake snowfall, which, if breathed in, could lead to lung cancer and other health problems. Although this dangerous substance was indeed used on the set of It’s A Wonderful Life, it at least wasn’t rained down on any of the actors, as was the case with The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Holiday Inn (1942).

Vicious feuds

The message behind It’s A Wonderful Life is all about human connection and the importance of loved ones over financial success, with the story culminating in an outpouring of affection and friendship. For decades, viewers have been particularly moved by the romance between George and Mary Hatch Bailey (Donna Reed), who meet as children and later marry.

Behind the scenes, however, things were decidedly less than harmonious, and leading man Stewart was later said to have blamed Reed for the film’s initial lack of success at the box office. Speaking with Closer Weekly in 2020, Reed’s daughter Mary Ann Owen claimed that her mother was made to feel like a scapegoat on set, on account of Stewart’s insecurities.

Owen said: “There was a lot of insecurity on set because Jimmy Stewart wasn’t sure if he wanted to act anymore. He thought it was too frivolous, but Lionel Barrymore and others talked him into it. So, there was this insecurity on the set and mum was really not that well known. I mean, she was only 25 and I think signed her MGM contract at 21.”

Stewart reportedly vowed never to work with Reed again, but by the time she died in 1986, aged 64, the former flop had become a widely adored seasonal favourite. Praising Reed after her death, Stewart said: “I’ll always remember her as a wonderful woman and as my wife in It’s a Wonderful Life. I don’t know of anybody who could have played the role better. She was absolutely marvellous.”

Stewart and Reed had marvelous onscreen chemistry, but it was a different story behind the scenes ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

Stewart allegedly vowed never to work with Reed again ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

Violence that left actor bleeding

In one memorable scene, the young George (Bob Anderson) has a run-in with his first employer, the pharmacist Mr Gower (HB Warner). Distraught after learning of his son’s death, Gower almost accidentally poisons a child in a drunken mishap. George notices something is wrong and alerts Gower to his error, only to be met with a smack around the ear.

Little did viewers know at the time that Anderson’s ear was actually bloodied, with seasoned method actor Warner having been drinking alone during rehearsals to get into character. Speaking with the Los Angeles Times in 1996, Anderson recalled: “He actually bloodied my ear. We rehearsed, and as the day progressed, the louder and more demanding HB got. We’d rest for a little while; I’d go back to school. They’d bring me back out, and we’d spar a little more.”

Once the cameras started rolling at the end of the day, it took just three minutes to get the take. Anderson continued: “That was Capra’s way of getting it to the Academy Award point. My ear was beat up and my face was red, and I was in tears. I knew when I went through the door of that drugstore to go behind those pillboxes. I was gonna get knocked on my butt, and it was an emotional high. […] I was a baby. I didn’t know what we were building for. HB was perfect. He reached the crescendo. In the end, when it was all over, he was very lovable. He grabbed me and hugged me, and he meant it.”

King Charles III has made a rare TV appearance ahead of the Christmas period.

The monarch appeared on a BBC Christmas special of Countryfile which was filmed at his Highgrove home. and showcased the work of The King’s Foundation’s education programmes. The show’s hosts, Matt Baker, Margherita Taylor and Adam Henson, were introduced to staff at the King’s charity, while his royal residence was transformed into a festive wonderland.

Presenter Matt spoke to Highgrove’s head gardener Grainne Ring while also helping to harvest Charles’s Brussels sprouts. He later went on to speak to head chef Luke Windebank who said Charles is “quite protective” of the sprouts in his garden. Speaking of the monarch’s love for them, the chef said: “His majesty does enjoy his sprouts, he’s quite protective of them in the garden.”

The special festive episode also featured presenter Adam meeting Henry-James Gay, who manages the King’s Duchy Home Farm. The manager told how Charles walks around the farm on a regular basis and spoke about his “second to none” attention to detail.

The Countryfile festive edition also spoke to staff at the King’s charity ( 
Image:
PA)

Constantine Innemee, the Highgrove director of The King’s Foundation, also told the show that everything within the gardens has come from an idea of Charles’. He explained: “What drew him to the house is it is a place that he could really make his own. Essentially, he had a blank canvas. And everything that you see when you’re walking through the gardens is something that he created. It came out of his mind. It was his vision. And I think that sort of template, a blank slate, to be able to start, was something that was quite appealing.”

The added the King’s personality can be seen “everywhere” in the garden, saying: “I mean, every plant, every tree, every hedge. He’s a painter as well. He’s an accomplished artist and I think you see that in the way the gardens are laid out. There’s always something drawing your eye, there’s a composition.”

Head of horticulture at The King’s Foundation, Melissa Simpson, also discussed the King’s role, insisting he still gets “100%” involved with the gardens. She added: “He’s constantly thinking about the landscape, the garden, the environment, and every element of it, to be honest.”

The King’s Foundation offers education courses for almost 15,000 students annually, and health and wellbeing programmes for nearly 2,000 people each year. It also spearheads placemaking and regeneration projects in the UK and overseas to revitalise communities and historic buildings.

It acts as the custodian of Highgrove Gardens, home to education programmes in traditional and heritage crafts, including the Snowdon School of Furniture and the Metiers d’Art Fellowship in partnership with Chanel and le19M. The King attended the royal residence for the annual Crafts At Christmas event, where he was filmed being presented with creations from the Snowdon School of Furniture students. He was given a box of baubles created by students on a post-graduate furniture course and marvelled at the square ornaments they had carved from alder, oak and cedar.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, will not be spending Christmas with His Majesty ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
Jesting, Charles said he needed an “extra-strong tree” after feeling the weight of a bauble. Then, after he had finishing hanging a bauble on a Christmas tree outside the Orchard Room, Charles discussed the “battle” to maintain “timeless skills” to keep traditional crafts alive. He said: “It’s really trying to maintain the timeless skills, which are always needed really, whatever age we’re in. They are all rather disappearing, the battle is trying to keep all the special ones.”

The Countryfile episode follows Charles taking part in a 2023 special of The Repair Shop, where he showcased the work of the students – when the charity was called The Prince’s Foundation – as well as speaking about heritage crafts.

The episode comes as it was revealed Charles had uninvited brother Prince Andrew to Christmas with the royals after he had confirmed that he had “ceased all contact” with a businessman accused of being a Chinese spy. Speaking to OK! Magazine, former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond described the recent headlines as “another embarrassing row” involving the royal, suggesting that King Charles would have “hated” having to uninvite him from the Sandringham gathering.

Jennie said: “The King is a kind soul and Andrew is his brother: he would have hated to be put in the position of having to un-invite him or ban him from what promises to be a big family get together. It seems quite likely that Andrew sat down with Fergie, and possibly his daughters, to discuss the best solution. Thankfully, wise heads have prevailed and he obviously realised that his presence at Sandringham would be an embarrassing distraction on a day which – this year of all years – should be all about the King and Catherine.”

Princess Anne has a reputation for her razor sharp wit and witty sense of humour. And she also enjoys a silly joke – as she once demonstrated at a Royal Family Christmas.

The royals have a number of festive traditions they stick to every year, which includes unusual rules about exchanging gifts. In keeping with their German heritage, the family will open their presents on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day, and will opt for ‘gag gifts’ over more expensive luxury items.

Speaking on Channel 4’s 2020 documentary ‘A Very Royal Christmas: Sandringham Secrets’, royal expert Katie Nicholl noted: “If you can achieve something that is tongue in cheek, and will have the Queen laughing, then you’ve really done well that Christmas. The more kitsch, the better.

Nothing ostentatious, or terribly expensive or lavish, that doesn’t really go down well with the Queen.” With that in mind, Princess Anne opted for a highly-unusual present for her older brother, King Charles, on one occasion – a leather toilet seat.

Former royal press secretary Dickie Arbiter explained why this gift was particularly apt on the show, saying: “What is it we used to call the loo? We would call it the throne. You go and sit on the throne.

“So buying a leather-bound loo seat was really Princess Anne’s way of saying, ‘Here you are, you’ve got your own personal throne!”

Ex-royal butler Paul Burrell, meanwhile, added: “It’s the public school upbringing — and why wouldn’t Prince Charles like a white, leather loo seat from his sister Anne?”

The gift might also have been a tongue-in-cheek reference to a rumour that has haunted Charles for years – that he takes his own toilet seat with him when travelling.

The then-Prince of Wales was asked if there was any truth to the claims during an interview on Australian radio in 2018, and he shocked listeners with his bold response. “My own what? Oh don’t believe all that c**p!” he replied.

The radio crew from Hit105 also took the opportunity to verify Charles’ answer with his wife Camilla, asking: “So he doesn’t carry his own toilet seat when he travels?” “Don’t you believe that!” she answered.

It’s thought that the rumour initially came from Tom Bower’s 2018 book Rebel Prince: The Power, Passion and Defiance of Prince Charles. In it, the author described a list of items he said Charles and Camilla have with them everywhere they go, claiming: “His staff had also made sure to pack a small radio, Charles’ own lavatory seat, rolls of Kleenex Premium Comfort lavatory paper, Laphroaig whiskey and bottled water for both bedrooms plus two landscapes of the Scottish Highlands.”

But the claims have largely been dismissed with Charles and Camilla both strongly denying it.

The late Queen upturned royal tradition to make Meghan Markle feel welcome in the family – before the Sussexes had even tied the knot. The royals’ Christmas celebrations were historically limited to members of the Firm or married partners. As such, neither Princess Kate nor Duchess Sophie spent Christmas Day at Sandringham with their in-laws until after they had tied the knot. But Meghan was invited to join in the festivities in 2017, some five months before her wedding.

It was an unprecedented move from the Queen. According to royal reporter Richard Eden: “Courtiers say the Queen believed that Meghan – a divorced, mixed-race American actress – would be a breath of fresh air and a great asset to the Monarchy. “The Queen fast-tracked her entry into the Royal Family, inviting Meghan to join her at a service to mark Commonwealth Day – her first official engagement with the Queen – two months before the wedding. It was another clear indication that Her Majesty valued Meghan and wanted her to be seen as a part of the family without delay.”

A short time after the 2017 Christmas gathering, Prince Harry told BBC Radio 4’s Today show: “The family loved having her there. There’s always that family part of Christmas [where] there’s always that work element there as well, and I think together we had an amazing time. We had great fun staying with my brother and sister-in-law and running round with the kids. Christmas was fantastic.”

Asked if there were any family traditions that had to be explained to his partner, Prince Harry divulged: “Oh plenty, I think we’ve got one of the biggest families that I know of, and every family is complex as well. No look, she’s done an absolutely amazing job. She’s getting in there and it’s the family I suppose that she’s never had.”

Meghan, meanwhile, opened up about her first Christmas with the royals in the couple’s Netflix series, Harry & Meghan, and revealed she had been seated next to Harry’s grandfather, Prince Philip,

“At dinner, I was sat next to H’s grandfather and I just thought it was so wonderful and I was like, ‘Oh we chatted and it was so great and I talked about this and talked about this’,” she said.

Meghan further described: “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. And there was just this constant movement and energy and fun.”

The Sussexes have not celebrated Christmas in the UK since 2018, when Meghan was pregnant with their first child Archie.

In 2019, they spent the festive period in Canada during an extended break from their royal duties – just weeks before announcing their decision to step back as senior royals. They now live in Montecito, California and are all but estranged from the royal family.