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Sandringham’s Royal Safari attracts history lovers and bird watchers alike, but it’s those who know the stories behind palace walls who really bring the sweeping Victorian estate to life

As we hop aboard one of Prince Philip’s iconic green Land Rovers, our Sandringham safari guide paints a rip-roaring portrait of how the late Duke of Edinburgh would kick off a drive – complete with plenty of sharp banter over who in the family was the worst shot.

It’s the first of many fond anecdotes about the Royal Family, the undisputed “bosses” of the tight-knit Norfolk community. Here, the quaint tenant cottages with their duck-egg blue front doors are just as quintessentially Sandringham as the extraordinary country house, where The Firm gathers for Christmas lunch – a tradition that, year after year, wins out against gossip, scandal, and in recent times, utter mortification.

It is the loyal staff members, chatting cheerfully around the vast, beautiful estate, who know what really goes on behind palace walls. It is they who sit at the back of the ornate ballroom turned family cinema room during cosy movie nights, and who learned to keep well out of the way when the elderly Prince Philip would come charging down the bumpy country roads in his carriage.

As our good-humoured guide puts it, with a slight twinkle in her eye: “They know more than the history books.”

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Our jeep zips along the lanes of Wolferton, passing by Park House – the turbulent childhood home of Princess Diana – which was once used as a sanctuary for unmarried women to avoid any “shenanigans” between the sexes. Its male counterpart, situated much closer to the main house, is York Cottage, historically known as the ‘Bachelor’s Cottage.’ Built as an overflow for shooting guests, it was a clever way for the family to keep a watchful eye on energetic, scandal-prone singletons.

Royal scandal is baked into the very soil here. Wolferton boasts an old-world charm straight out of an Enid Blyton book, but it was also the historic site where Queen Victoria’s caddish son – the future King Edward VII, then known as ‘Dirty Bertie’ – would smuggle mistresses and actresses over from London, by way of the now closed but perfectly preserved Wolferton Royal Station.

Dismayed by her eldest son’s playboy reputation, Victoria had hoped that building a home for Bertie and his wife, Princess Alexandra of Denmark, would curtail his brothel frequenting. Unfortunately, the wild house parties that ensued became infamous. Victoria would later blame Bertie’s indiscreet behaviour for heaping too much stress on Prince Albert, resulting in his tragic death at 42. As our guide later shrugged beside a decidedly unamused portrait of Victoria: “Families!”

While Sandringham House was famously despised by the late Princess Diana, who told biographer Andrew Morton that festive breaks there were “highly fraught” and “terrifying”, in May, it makes for an undeniably gorgeous drive. The intense green of the estate is broken by vivid purple splashes of rhododendron.

Unlike his mother before him, the green-fingered King Charles III cannot bear to cut back the pretty hedgerows, which are home to everything from the waddling red-legged partridge to the swooping Marsh Harrier. Sandringham’s teeming wildlife attracts keen bird watchers, and there is plenty of happy chatter and exclamations from our jeep.

Much of the unfolding story of Sandringham lies in the estate’s array of residences and their ever-changing purposes. At one point in our tour, the guide stops to direct our gaze across the fields to the secluded Wood Farm. Although not visible from the road, the location illustrates just how private this family “bolthole” actually is. For King Charles, the first monarch to earn a degree, it holds carefree student memories of weekends off from Cambridge, offering the young prince and his pals a peaceful retreat from campus life.

A delicious afternoon tea follows the three-hour tour at the relaxed and airy Sandringham Courtyard Restaurant. Here, we enjoy an array of savoury finger sandwiches – my personal favourite is the Isle of Skye smoked salmon. Warm scones with jam and cream followed, after which I still find room for a bit of cake. Don’t sleep on the excellent lemon drizzle, which was the perfect palate cleanser on a warm spring day.

All this is washed down by, as you’d expect, a very decent cup of tea. The quality of the ingredients here really is superb, with many of the seasonal produce sourced straight from the estate itself, including Sandringham’s signature honey, with its floral notes reflecting the sweet-smelling local wildflowers, and famed avenues of zesty lime trees.

You’ll be pleased to know you can pick up a pot from the marvellous gift shop, which also sells bottles of gin, replica royal wedding rings, and a bucketload of cuddly toy corgis.

I walk off my lunch with a stroll around some of the house’s ground-floor rooms. While the outer edges of Sandringham feel much like any other accessible outdoorsy attraction, the area surrounding the main house is guarded by an ironclad, around-the-clock security presence.

Regardless of safety precautions, Sandringham House doesn’t feel like a fortress, and neither does it feel like a museum frozen in time. Under the King’s guidance. Sandringham House offers a glimpse into the Windsors’ domestic life, with family photos, chocolate boxes, half-finished jigsaws and board game stacks, alongside Goya artworks and priceless china.

Festive menus are set out in the dining room, set out with candles and roses just as it was at the King’s New Year’s Dinner, where guests included the King of New Year’s himself, Jools Holland, who, of course, dashed out a tune or two on the piano. While it’s perhaps not the most relatable family home, it does have a lived-in feel.

Romantic souls will also be pleased to know that you can can a turn in the lavish ballroom, where glittering chandeliers sparkle overhead. While it may not be as lively as in Bertie’s day, it doesn’t take much imagination to imagine the orchestra striking the first note of the evening, or the rustle of fabric against the dancefloor. But it’s the little conversational details that bring Sandringham to life. Staff are on hand throughout to share fascinating historical facts and personal memories alike, reminiscing over how the late Queen, as a young mother, would dress the tree in the drawing room with her children, and how, while not a “disco girl”, she was a dab hand when it came to a traditional Scottish jig.

This is the family that those who’ve worked for the royals truly know. Some staff members, whose parents lived here before them, would even play with Prince Edward and Andrew as children, childhoods intertwined. There is genuine affection here for the bosses and their various eccentricities. But as with all families, certain rooms are strictly off-limits to guests.

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com

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Sometimes there’s no need to hop on a plane when you have the picture-postcard landscapes of the UK, and during a stay at a charming UK hotel, I was whisked away to Italy in a secluded oasis

A beautiful hotel and pub, with only eight bedrooms, felt as though I was somewhere else entirely, not least the rolling UK countryside.

In the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside, encircled by picturesque towns and quaint villages, is The Killingworth Castle, an historic pub with numerous culinary recognitions and eight luxurious bedrooms. Its idyllic grounds with honey-coloured stone buildings and pristine gardens filled with seasonal flowers were enough to transport me to scenes in Italy, as I blissfully settled into what felt like a home away from home.

Set against its beautiful green terrace and peaceful grounds, overlooking traditional stone buildings, proved the perfect spot to enjoy a drink outside on one of the inn’s many inviting benches. Certainly an oasis during the summer months, it’s easy to see why The Killingworth Castle has been recognised as having one of the best pub gardens in the UK, by Enjoy Travel.

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Nestled in Wootton, the hotel affectionately dubbed ‘The Killy’, is perfectly positioned as a gateway to explore the Cotswolds and is just a 30-minute drive from the historic city of Oxford. Its location is an undeniable draw with access to some of the most beautiful parts of the UK, like Burford, Bourton-on-the-Water and Bibury, but the charming town of Woodstock, just a stone’s throw away, also warrants a visit and is home to the iconic Blenheim Palace.

The Killingworth Castle is run by husband and wife Jim and Claire Alexander, who are at the heart of the operation. From the moment I arrived, I felt at home, with a warm welcome from their dedicated staff, the inviting blend of farmhouse charm and boutique-hotel comfort, and a scenic setting that felt like I was living my Italian dream, albeit in the heart of the Great British countryside.

When I wasn’t exploring the Cotswolds or Oxfordshire, ‘The Killy’ was the perfect oasis for a quintessential country retreat, and while it may be small, it proved even more reason to stay.

Bespoke luxury rooms

I checked into one of their eight luxurious rooms in the stable block, which felt as though it was tucked inside a storybook house, with exposed beams, exposed brick and slanted walls. It felt like my very own hidden retreat.

There was a grand, rustic oak four-poster bed adorned with a quilted throw, a stylish seating area of leather chairs and courtyard views, and a roll-top bath in a corner nook beneath a skylight that blissfully welcomed the tapping of spring rain.

While there were all the usual amenities for a comfy stay, every room also welcomes the addition of complimentary English sherry on arrival – definitely a perk for those pre-dinner drinks or evening nightcaps. All the rooms are individually designed with handpicked rustic antique furniture, and my delightful stay in room eight offered a blend of old-world architecture with bespoke luxury.

Tasty delights

Once I had settled in my room, which took no time at all, I strolled over to the main building with the pub. There’s a bar selling local beers on top, alongside a cosy area with darts and a pool table, armchairs snuggled around a log burner and the main dining room, with a timeless countryside ambience, vaulted timber ceilings, exposed stone walls, and framed photos.

The pub offers an à la carte menu, a set lunch, a Sunday menu, or a tasting menu under the helm of head chef Rob Mason, and has garnered prestigious acknowledgement for its offerings. The Killingworth Castle has been continuously recommended in the Michelin Guide, awarded their third AA Rosette, and has been featured in the UK’s Top 50 Gastropubs list for 2026.

It’s safe to say that before I had even browsed the menu, I was excited for what I was going to taste as an avid foodie. So I opted for the tasting menu, partly so I could savour as many flavours as possible, but really, once I saw the menu, it was hard to resist.

I was treated to a plethora of mouthwatering flavours that were as much a feast for the eyes as they were for my taste buds! Even the treacle bread was an exceptional start, presented on a bed of wheat and barley.

I went on to devour the delicate flavours of Evesham asparagus, gribiche sauce, cracklebean egg yolk and sourdough with a welcoming burst of wild garlic, before tasting the roasted hand-dived scallop, pork jowl, apple and cider butter sauce, which really was a tantalising combination.

Yet my favourite course was the wild sea bass Grenobloise, with brown butter sauce, capers, lemon, and parsley. The last savoury course of the menu was the succulent Cotswold lamb, braised neck, peas, broad beans, goat’s cured and malt vinegar, that melted in the mouth.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

Just when I thought I hadn’t been spoiled enough, I was given my first sweet course of vanilla and rhubard, which proved the perfect palate cleanser, before a delight of chocolate delice, Hukambi milk chocolate, hazelnut, and Cruz del Mar raisins. It was certainly a journey of flavours I won’t forget in a hurry.

The tasting menu at The Killingworth Castle is £95 per guest, with the option to add a wine flight for an additional £55 per person. Otherwise, guests can enjoy a three-course meal from the à la carte menu for £65 per person.

The charm of ‘The Killy’

The food at breakfast was just as exceptional, with the brightest orange egg yolks I’ve ever been lucky enough to consume on my eggs Benedict, with a side of bacon. And the benefit of the hotel only bearing eight rooms was certainly felt at breakfast. There was no morning rush in which you’re left fighting for the last slice of pineapple or queuing for 15 minutes to get your hands on a fresh omelet.

Instead, my day began with a warm welcome from owner Jim, a warming cup of coffee, and the gentle hum of fellow guests against the inviting, traditional charm of ‘The Killy’. I could have easily stayed for longer as I melted into my surroundings.

Rooms at The Killingworth Castle start from £169 per night during the week, and from £205 during the weekend, with breakfast included in each rate. For more information or to book your country escape, visit The Killingworth Castle website.

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Rooms at Killingworth Castle cost from £169, with breakfast included. Visit www.thekillingworthcastle.com/

WASHINGTON — In the latest escalation of a fight over the use of paid social media creators, Tom Steyer’s campaign for governor filed a complaint Tuesday accusing influencers who posted content supportive of Xavier Becerra’s campaign of failing to disclose that they had been paid, which is required by California law.

The complaint, filed with California’s Fair Political Practices Commission, accuses Jay Gonzalez of producing at least 14 pro-Becerra posts on Instagram and Facebook in late April and early May, after he was hired by the campaign, and only belatedly editing the posts to acknowledge they had been sponsored by the campaign.

The complaint also said that a social media creator named Maggie Reed, who posts under the username mermaidmamamaggie, created four pro-Becerra posts on Instagram and had previously offered to create paid posts for another gubernatorial campaign, though the complaint doesn’t specify how the campaign knows Reed was paid.

Reed and a talent agency that represents her did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Becerra campaign maintained that it has not paid influencers who have created posts in support of the campaign.

“All of the content you see online is entirely and purely organic,” said Becerra spokesman Jonathan Underland.

Becerra and Steyer have been the top two Democratic candidates in recent polling for the governor’s race, with Becerra consistently maintaining a slight edge in those polls.

The complaint by Steyer’s campaign comes after two influencers who support Becerra filed a complaint last week accusing social media creators hired by the Steyer campaign of failing to disclose that they had been paid to produce their posts.

The campaign of the billionaire candidate for governor had previously disclosed payments to some influencers with large audiences, including one creator with the user name zayydante, who has 1.8 million followers on TikTok, and another with the user name littleyeg, who has nearly 350,000 followers on TikTok. The complaint filed last week said that both of these influencers failed to disclose that they had been paid by the campaign to produce content.

The complaint also highlighted several accounts created by user who don’t appear to live in California who created posts promoting Steyer and, in at least one case, posted elsewhere that they had been paid by the campaign.

The influencers who filed the original complaint said they saw the newly filed complaint as an attempt by Steyer’s campaign to deflect criticism.

“All he’s done is attack his opponent instead of taking accountability for violating the law,” said Kaitlyn Hennessy, one of the two influencers who filed the complaint against Steyer’s campaign. Hennessy and the other influencer who filed the complaint both said they have not been paid by the Becerra campaign.

In a post on Substack, Steyer defended his campaign’s use of paid social media influencers and said that it had been transparent about their use.

“Every creator we compensate has been and will be publicly disclosed as required by law,” he wrote.

Under a California law passed in 2023, social media creators who create paid content on behalf of a political campaign are required to disclose in their post that the material was sponsored and who paid for it.

The onus is on creators to provide the disclosure, but campaigns are required to notify influencers they hire of the requirement.

Violation of the rules doesn’t trigger criminal, civil or administrative penalties but the FPPC can take alleged offenders to court and ask a judge to force compliance with the law.

Welcome to Bunker Talk. This is a weekend open discussion post for the best commenting crew on the net, in which we can chat about all the stuff that went on this week that we didn’t cover. We can also talk about the stuff we did or whatever else grabs your interest. In other words, it’s an off-topic thread.

This week’s caption reads:

Sleeping accommodation in the Clapham deep shelter, London. Four thousand beds at three shillings a night, deep beneath London, are being offered to Festival of Britain visitors. The beds, together with dining accommodation, are in Clapham’s deep shelter, now taken over by the London County Council. The deep shelter is a mile long, runs 45 feet beneath the underground railway. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)

Prime Directives:

• If you want to talk politics, do so respectfully and know that there’s always somebody that isn’t going to agree with you. 
• If you have political differences, hash it out respectfully, stick to the facts, and no childish name-calling or personal attacks of any kind. If you can’t handle yourself in that manner, then please, discuss virtually anything else.
• No drive-by garbage political memes. No conspiracy theory rants. Links to crackpot sites will be axed, too. Trolling and shitposting will not be tolerated. No obsessive behavior about other users. Just don’t interact with folks you don’t like. 
• Do not be a sucker and feed trolls! That’s as much on you as on them. Use the mute button if you don’t like what you see.  
• So unless you have something of quality to say, know how to treat people with respect, understand that everyone isn’t going to subscribe to your exact same worldview, and have come to terms with the reality that there is no perfect solution when it comes to moderation of a community like this, it’s probably best to just move on. 
• Finally, as always, report offenders, please. This doesn’t mean reporting people who don’t share your political views, but we really need your help in this regard.