Royal Family news latest – Queen buys SAME £6 Christmas present from Tesco for every member of staff each year
HER Majesty looks set to gift all 1,500 members of her staff the same present, following the tradition which was started by her grandfather George v.
The annual event sees the Queen present each member of staff with a Christmas pudding, though the tradition did not take place last year due to the pandemic.
The Royal Family website confirms this saying 'all members of the household' are given a 'Christmas pudding' by the Queen.
The statement says: "All members of The Royal Household will receive Christmas presents from The Queen, and Her Majesty will personally hand out presents to some members of The Royal Household at Buckingham Palace and at Windsor Castle.
"Continuing the tradition from her father, King George VI and her grandfather, George V – The Queen also gives Christmas puddings to her staff.
"About 1500 Christmas puddings paid for by The Queen (through the Privy Purse) are distributed to staff throughout the Palaces, staff in the Court Post Office and Palace police.
"Each pudding is accompanied by a greeting card."
Read our Royal Family live blog for the latest updates…
- Louis Allwood
Meghan Markle and her celebrity neighbour Adele
After Meghan and Prince Harry’s shocking departure from the Royal Family, it was not immediately clear where the two would settle with their children.
For some time, they lived in Canada before escaping to a mansion lent to them by actor and director Tyler Perry.
Perry’s next door neighbor was Adele, and the singer and the Sussexes hit it off immediately.
Meghan and Prince Harry then moved on and purchased their own Los Angeles – but still got plenty of visits from new pal Adele.
- Louis Allwood
Meghan laughs at her royal title
Meghan has laughed at her title today as Ellen called her the Duchess of Sussex in an interview.
When addressed as the Duchess of Sussex as the pair were speaking about her book The Bench Meghan let out a stifled giggle.
Sarcastic Ellen poked fun at "Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex" during the sneak peak clip of the interview – set to air today.
Meghan and Harry can still be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after being given the titles as a wedding gift at their 2018 nuptials at Windsor Castle.
But they stepped down from royal life in a desperate bid for privacy – with Meghan revealing in her Oprah interview the damaging impact royal life had had on her mental health.
- Louis Allwood
Sussexes went to a secret party in disguise before going public with romance
During her interview with Ellen Meghan revealed she went to a Halloween party in disguise with Prince Harry before going public.
Meghan said she attended the bash with her now-husband and Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack.
Meghan claimed she wanted "one fun night on the town" as a foursome before they revealed their romance to the world.
- Louis Allwood
Explained: Lord Mountbatten
Lord Mountbatten was born Prince Louis of Battenberg in Windsor on June 25, 1900.
During the First World War Lord Mountbatten served at sea with the Royal Navy.
He later commanded the destroyer HMS Kelly when it was sunk off the coast of Crete by Nazis during the Second World War.
Lord Mountbatten was then appointed Chief of Combined Operations and was responsible for the botched Dieppe raid of August 1942.
- Louis Allwood
Inside Lord Mountbatten & Edwina’s ‘bed-hopping’ marriage
When Louis and Edwina Mountbatten made their way down the aisle in 1922, it was the society wedding of the decade.
Despite this, behind closed doors, their 38-year marriage was far from perfect – with Lord Mountbatten once admitting: “Edwina and I spent all our married lives getting into other people’s beds.”
However, rumours that Mountbatten was secretly bisexual have now resurfaced in a £600,000 court battle between the Cabinet Office and historian Andrew Lowrie.
Andrew is fighting for the release of letters and diaries he believes will back the claims.
Yesterday he told a tribunal three of Mountbatten's lovers are still alive, including Oscar-winning actress Shirley MacLaine and an unnamed woman prominent in royal circles.
He also demanded the release of private letters to Edwina, which he believes could contain evidence of bisexuality, and reiterated claims that Lady Mountbatten had a long affair with former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
- Louis Allwood
'Stay away'
Harry and Meghan have been told by fans on social media to stay away from the “grey island” this Christmas, with one Twitter user saying a UK trip would only make sense if “they opt for sadness”.
Twitter fan account Meghan Daily opened up a debate for its nearly 4,000 followers, writing: “I don’t see H & M with the kids going to the grey island for Christmas.
“Meghan and the kids are unsafe in that cesspool island.”
Fellow fans quickly joined the conversation.
One said: “For me, it’s even not an option! Meghan and her kids will never be safe and this for a while in shutter island!”
Another wrote: “Can’t be anything worse than sitting next to your in-laws having Christmas dinner knowing they don’t want you there.
“I would sooner stay home with a microwave meal than put myself through all that ****.”
- Louis Allwood
‘End of her credibility’ after lawsuit
Royal commentator, columnist and reporter Angela Mollard appeared on Sunrise Australia to share the latest events surrounding Meghan Markle’s legal case against Associated Newspapers.
He has claimed Meghan Markle could see the “end of her credibility” after her lawsuit with Associated Newspapers over a letter she penned to her father begins to unravel.
Ms Mollard echoed concerns that Meghan’s credibility had been destroyed by the lawsuit.
She told the programme: “Look, I think that there’s a massive twist.
“I mean, some commentators are saying that this is really the end of Meghan’s credibility.”
- Louis Allwood
No more defending Meghan
Susanna Reid today revealed she can no longer defend Meghan Markle over her “endless media”.
The surprise appearance on Ellen DeGeneres talk show comes just months after Meghan gave her explosive Oprah interview and follows her and Prince Harry’s repeated calls for privacy.
But Susanna Reid, who continued to defend the royals from Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain, told audiences she is now finding their pleas “hard to defend”.
Speaking about Meghan’s latest media chat, Susanna said: “I find it’s getting increasingly hard to defend.
“But their explanation is they didn’t want the kind of media coverage, the kind of endlessly critical media coverage, they were getting with the undertones that Meghan and Harry said there was around it.
“They wanted almost to take back control.”
- Louis Allwood
‘Tackling misinformation’
Harry has recently released a report on “tackling misinformation” in technology, media and social media.
It comes as last week he blasted sections of the media as “pirates with press cards”.
He said he had warned the boss of Twitter of a potential “coup” the day before the attack on the US Capitol.
- Louis Allwood
‘Rude’ Meghan ‘will spark DREAD at Palace’
Meghan’s interview with Ellen “will spark dread” at the palace following in the path as her reveal all interview with Oprah, a royal expert has warned.
The Duchess of Sussex was a barrel of laughs as she joked candidly about life before joining the Royal Family in a sneak-preview clip of her appearance on the Ellen Show – set to air today.
But Angela Levin blasted “ruthless” Meghan as “desperate for publicity” for carrying out the interview amid the Queen’s latest health scare.
The 95-year-old monarch has cancelled four public appearances in just one month – including this year’s Remembrance Sunday service.
Angela said it is not the first time Meghan’s interview choices have been questionable, after the “extraordinarily bad timing” of her bombshell Oprah tell all.
- Louis Allwood
Ellen previously mocked Meghan
Ellen DeGeneres had previously poked fun at Meghan Markle for being a Deal or No Deal briefcase model.
In an unearthed skit the comedian mocked the former actress during a stand-up routine shortly after she got engaged to Prince Harry in 2017.
Ellen took a playful swipe at Meghan as she revealed that she was once a briefcase model on game show Deal or No Deal.
“Her name is Meghan Markle, she’s from Los Angeles, she’s an actress, she’s been on General Hospital, she’s been on CSI New York,” she told the crowd.
“And this is true – she was once the holder of case 24 on Deal or No Deal.”
As the audience erupted into laughter, Ellen added: “Which means if Harry had picked the other model could have gotten $1million. So, darn it.”
- Louis Allwood
Princess Anne knight's former Olympian
Veteran track runner, Sir Brendan Foster was given his knighthood yesterday from the Princess Royal.
He said it was a “real honour” to receive the royal accolade at Windsor Castle, where he was reunited with Anne.
The 73-year-old became European champion at 5,000 metres in 1974, and was made BBC Sports Personality the same year.
Sir Brendan, from Hebburn, South Tyneside, went on to win 10,000-metre bronze at the Montreal Olympics, Great Britain’s only track-and-field medal at the event, and took gold at the 1978 Commonwealth Games.
He was knighted for services to international and national sport and to culture in north-east England.
Speaking to the PA news agency at Windsor, he said: “It’s a real honour to be knighted today.
“It was particularly exciting for me to receive it from Princess Anne.
“We go back a long way. We were both on the Olympic team in 1976, we were both BBC Sports Personality of the Year in the 70s.
“It was lovely to see her and it was great to receive the honour from her.”
- Louis Allwood
Man charged with trespassing at Buckingham Palace
A MAN has been charged with trespassing at Buckingham Palace while allegedly carrying cocaine and a knife.
Cameron Kalani, 44, is accused of entering The Royal Mews at the Palace on May 10 this year.
On Friday he is sue to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court to face a charge of trespass on a protected site.
He was allegedly carrying a kitchen knife in Buckingham Palace Road on the same day, and allegedly had cocaine in his possession.
- Louis Allwood
Susanna Reid makes brutal ‘private jets’ dig at Meghan Markle
Susanna Reid today made a brutal dig at Meghan Markle ahead of her Ellen DeGeneres interview.
The mother-of-three introduced a clip from Ellen's interview with Meghan, saying: "Well, shall we have a little listen to what Meghan says? They have released one clip.
"You would imagine that they would put out a clip perhaps about Harry, or perhaps her feelings about the Royal Family, or perhaps about everything that has happened in the wake of that…
"But no, we go right back to her humble, hard-working roots. Let's have a look."
Susanna and Ben, 46, then viewed the clip from the upcoming interview, in which Meghan speaks about previously visiting the same set Ellen is filmed on to audition for acting roles.
She also talked about how she used to drive an old Ford Explorer, which had a driver's side door that often stopped working, meaning she'd enter the car through the boot.
"The drive in today was very different," Meghan concluded to the talkshow host.
As the cameras panned back to the GMB studios, Susanna said: "There we go – let's never mind the private jets."
- Louis Allwood
Stories you may have missed
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ‘WONT join Queen for her first Christmas’ without Philip
- Meghan Markle’s daughter Lilibet could be baptised with holy water ‘collected from Jordan by Prince Charles’
- Prince Andrew gifted £1.5million by a controversial businessman to pay off a loan
- Meghan Markle’s Ellen interview has everyone saying the same thing
- John Hall
'Harry & Meghan too busy for Xmas with Queen'
A royal expert has claimed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not return to visit the Queen for Christmas because they are too busy with other project.
Speaking on the Royally Us podcast, royal author Stewart Pierce suggested the Sussexes will be absent at Christmas with the Royal Family this year.
“Harry and Meghan won’t be able to because of their own particular arrangements, because they’re very very busy with the next project – or the series of projects they’re involved in,” he claimed.
“But certainly all the family will be coming together to see the Queen at Sandringham. Particularly because Philip will no longer be there.”
- John Hall
Meghan & Harry urged to avoid UK this Xmas
Harry and Meghan have been told by fans on social media to stay away from the "grey island" this Christmas, with one Twitter user saying a UK trip would only make sense if "they opt for sadness".
Twitter fan account Meghan Daily opened up a debate for its nearly 4,000 followers, writing: "I don’t see H & M with the kids going to the grey island for Christmas.
"Meghan and the kids are unsafe in that cesspool island."
Fellow fans quickly joined the conversation.
One said: "For me, it’s even not an option! Meghan and her kids will never be safe and this for a while in shutter island!"
Another wrote: "Can't be anything worse than sitting next to your in-laws having Christmas dinner knowing they don't want you there.
"I would sooner stay home with a microwave meal than put myself through all that ****."
- John Hall
Meghan ‘plans to become most famous princess in world’
Meghan Markle “plans to become the most famous princess in the world”, claims a political commentator.
Speaking to Sky News, Calvin Robinson said it was “absolutely shocking” that the couple continues to use their titles, despite being “political”.
He said: “We saw, only this week, they were at an event and they introduced themselves as royalty.
“The Royal Family need to say: ‘if you’re going to be political, if you’re going to keep selling yourselves to Netflix and Disney and all of the Hollywood industry, you need to take away the titles’.
“It’s not just a British institution, it’s a global institution…
“I think we’re all being pulled down by Meghan Markle’s plan to become the most famous princess in the world.”
- John Hall
Meghan and Harry 'finding it quite hard on their own'
A royal expert has claimed that despite Prince Harry and Meghan's move to the US nears two years ago, the Sussexes have not "found their feet" in California yet.
Russell Myers has claimed on Pod Save the Queen: "They’re so far from doing that at the moment.
"They just seem to be fighting so many battles on so many levels.
"They’re still trying to work out where they are. It’s a tricky business."
- John Hall
Stories you may have missed
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ‘WONT join Queen for her first Christmas’ without Philip
- Meghan Markle’s daughter Lilibet could be baptised with holy water ‘collected from Jordan by Prince Charles’
- Prince Andrew gifted £1.5million by a controversial businessman to pay off a loan
- Meghan Markle complained Royal Family controlled every part of her life but one in her bombshell emails
'Significant questions need to be asked about Andrew’s business dealings'
In 2018, property boss and financier David “Spotty” Rowland and his family had front-row seats at Princess Eugenie’s wedding at Windsor Castle.
During a trip to Balmoral, the businessman also met the Queen and Prince Charles.
In return, it is reportedly said that Andrew used his pal's luxury private jet at least five times while on official royal business.
Due to this, Ex-Home Office minister Norman Baker has now called for a full investigation.
He said: “The Rowlands are hard-headed businessmen.
"They won’t have given Andrew that money out of the goodness of their hearts — they will want something in return.
“Significant questions need to be asked about Prince Andrew’s business dealings and his association with some characters. Parliament should investigate this matter with some urgency.”
- John Hall
Meghan & Harry have not visited the UK together since 2020
Meghan and Harry have not visited the UK together since 2020, meaning the Queen is yet to meet her great-granddaughter Lilibet.
Commentators on the Royally Us podcast noted that this year will be a particularly “tough Christmas” for the monarch.
- John Hall
Meghan & Harry 'may be approached for Oprah top-up interview'
Royal expert Neil Sean has claimed Oprah Winfrey’s team might be keen to do a second interview.
This interview could see Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's open up to their responses in their first interview, and explore them more.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, royal expert Neil Sean said: “They’re wondering whether they now need to do a top-up interview.”
He continued to say: “But of course Oprah Winfrey is a very powerful mogul in television, and would no doubt like to get a top-up version; their side of the events as to what’s happened over the last six to nine months.
“This has been discussed at great lengths over in the US with CBS TV and Harpo Productions.”
- John Hall
Prince William was furious after he faced criticism for holiday
The Cambridges' recent family holiday has reminded royal commentators of the time when Prince William found himself in the centre of a media storm.
He missed a Commonwealth Service to go skiing at a Swiss resort in 2017, and was scrutinised because he was the only senior royal to miss the event at Westminster Abbey
.In an interview with the Sunday Times in March 2021, a friend of William's explained the Duke did not take the criticism well: "That p****d him off."
He was leaving home at 5.30am, getting home after dark and saving lives in between, but people were still being critical of his commitment to his [other] job."
- John Hall
Preston granted 'Champion City' status ahead of Queen's Jubilee
The city of Preston has been granted "Champion City" status by the Queen's Green Canopy initiative to celebrate Her Majesty's 70 years on the throne next year.
The award was announced yesterday, with 13 cities across the UK selected to play a lead role in planting millions of trees for the Platinum Jubilee.
Belfast, Edinburgh, Cardiff and York are amongst the others chosen to take part in the mass planting, starting during National Tree Week later this month.
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