Royal Family

From royal romances and golfing greats to medieval ruins and legendary fudge doughnuts, this coastal town is one of the most captivating towns in Britain

There are few places in Britain that carry quite as much history, charm and quiet prestige as St Andrews. Perched on the rugged Fife coastline of Scotland’s east coast, this small seaside town has been drawing in royalty, scholars, golfing legends and curious travellers for centuries – and once you’ve visited, it’s very easy to understand why.

Home to one of Britain’s oldest universities, St Andrews on Scotland’s east coast is genuinely special.

It’s a place I’ve visited countless times, but each trip reveals something fresh to discover. During a weekend escape to Lower Largo, a small village in Fife, we dropped into St Andrews for the afternoon. From Edinburgh it’s around an hour and a half’s drive, while from Glasgow it’s an hour and three quarters.

A town steeped in history

The town’s story stretches back well over a thousand years. St Andrews became a major centre of Christianity in Scotland during the medieval period, largely thanks to the legend that the relics of Saint Andrew – Scotland’s patron saint – were brought here by a monk named St Regulus in the 4th century.

It’s also a town that has never been far from the corridors of power. Mary Queen of Scots was a frequent visitor, and the town played a key role during the Scottish Reformation of the 16th century.

Where William met Catherine

Fast forward a few centuries and the town’s most famous modern love story unfolded here. It’s where King Charles III’s eldest son, now known as Prince William, first crossed paths with Catherine Middleton while both were studying at the University of St Andrews in the early 2000s. The pair went on to marry in 2011.

The university itself, founded in 1413, is the third oldest in the English-speaking world and the oldest in Scotland. Its ancient cobbled streets and honey-stoned buildings give the whole town an air of class.

The home of golf

Whether you’re passionate about it or not, most people are probably aware that St Andrews is also famous for its golfing heritage. The Old Course, one of the world’s most famous, features an iconic landmark that calls for a photograph regardless of how often you’ve visited. Our first stop on this trip was the Swilcan Bridge, built over 700 years ago and situated on the course’s 18th hole.

The list of golfing greats who have walked across that modest stone bridge reads like a who’s who of the sport – Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer and Seve Ballesteros among them. Setting foot on the green yourself feels bizarre, and the bridge provides the perfect photo opportunity. You’re bound to encounter other tourists, so you might have to wait a moment for your snap, but it’s well worth it.

It’s also popular with non-golfers, as country superstar Luke Combs was even spotted hitting a few balls there recently.

The Jigger Inn

Just a two-minute stroll away lies the fantastic Jigger Inn pub, which was our next destination for something to eat. Dating back to the 1850s, the Jigger Inn is a warm, inviting pub with crackling fires that looks out over the golf course.

There’s an excellent range of drinks at the bar, or you can settle down and order from the menu, which is precisely what we decided to do. No one will persuade me there’s a finer pairing than a Caesar salad, chips and wine, and the Jigger Inn served up all three superbly.

Exploring the town

Properly fed and watered, it was time to explore the town itself. It’s not the biggest, with most shops and attractions scattered across roughly three main streets, but you could easily wander for hours without getting bored. The medieval history is clearly evident as you walk through its streets – in fact, St Andrews retains much of its original medieval street plan, with the three main thoroughfares of North Street, South Street and Market Street dating back to the 12th century.

One of the town’s standout attractions is the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral, situated near the waterfront. Built in 1158, it was once the largest church in Scotland and a truly awe-inspiring structure.

There’s so much to take in around St Andrews that you could almost forget the sea is right on your doorstep. Just beyond the Old Course lies the renowned West Sands Beach, which famously featured in the iconic opening scene of the 1981 film Chariots of Fire. Had the weather been a bit better, it would have made for a perfect seaside stroll, but with the wind battering us from all sides, we decided to continue exploring the town.

Shopping in St Andrews

St Andrews is packed with fantastic shops, ranging from well-known high street names such as H&M and Jo Malone to independent boutiques and one-of-a-kind retailers you won’t find anywhere else.

As an avid bookworm, I was particularly eager to visit Topping and Company, a beloved family-run bookseller with a small number of stores dotted across the UK.

A whole table of signed first editions greeted visitors at the entrance, while the shelves seemed to stretch endlessly upwards and deep into the shop. It’s the sort of place where you could effortlessly lose hours browsing.

Just one final destination remained, and if you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’ll want to pay attention. No visit to St Andrews would be complete without popping into Fisher and Donaldson.

Founded in Fife in 1919, this beloved family-run bakery is known for one thing above all else: its fudge doughnuts. Widely considered the best in Scotland, these gloriously indulgent treats are packed with fresh custard and finished with an irresistible fudge icing. We picked up a few to enjoy with a coffee later, and predictably, they vanished in no time.

St Andrews is just a wonderful destination for a day trip or even a weekend break if you fancy a more leisurely pace. It’s charming whatever the weather, but on a bright summer’s day, it’s unbeatable.

This Morning presenter Alison Hammond caused quite a stir online after she met Prince Harry for the countdown of the Invictus Games

Things took an awkward turn during the latest instalment of This Morning as Alison Hammond called Prince Harry, “babes”.

The ITV show was back with another jam-packed show on Friday (July 10), as presenters Dermot O’Leary and Angela Scanlon took the reins in the studio. Meanwhile, Alison was in Birmingham for the countdown to the Invictus Games.

Founded by Prince Harry, the Invictus Games is a global sporting competition that began in 2014 for military personnel and veterans who have been wounded, injured, or become ill during their service. The name Invictus, which means “unconquered” in Latin, reflects the resilience, determination, and strength of participants.

Trying her best to interview the founder, presenter Alison was thrown into a race. But she did manage to steal a hug from him wheh he spotted her and she referred to him as “babes” leaving viewers very unimpressed with one labelling it “a car crash”.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, in their droves, fans of the ITV show shared their thoughts. One viewer said: “I’m just waiting for her to call him ‘Babes’. She didn’t disappoint.”

Another fumed: “Alison, what on God’s Earth are you doing? Absolutely embarrassing behaviour! Are you 6 years old?!” A third viewer chimed in and wrote: “What a car crash and a bloody noise.”

A fourth added: “Hammond….just an embarrassment.” While another agreed, saying: “This is embarrassing.”

However, some viewers loved Alison’s approach, with one writing: “Howling at Alison. You go girl.” Another added: “Harry always has some spare time for Alison.”

Prince Harry’s appearance on This Morning came as rival daytime show Morning Live announced on Friday that it is now taking a break for the summer.

At the beginning of the live BBC broadcast, host Gethin Jones revealed that Morning Live would be taking a break and wouldn’t return for some time throughout the summer months.

It’s not yet known when Morning Live will be back on air, but from next week, the slot will be filled by fresh episodes of Animal Park, which will air straight after BBC Breakfast from 9.30am until 10.15am.

The documentary programme is also scheduled to air from the following Monday (July 20) as well.

Kate Humble and Ben Fogle will mark 25 years of Animal Park next week, looking back at unforgettable animal tales and their lasting bond.

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.

Jennie Bond was BBC Royal Correspondent for 14 years and struck up a friendship with Lady Diana.

Jennie Bond’s illustrious journalism career stretches back over five decades, during which she has covered a vast array of remarkable stories.

In 1989, she took on the role of Royal Correspondent for the BBC, a position she held for 14 years before stepping down in 2003 to dedicate more time to her family and pursue freelance work.

During her time as a royal reporter, however, she forged a close friendship with Lady Diana, which she discussed with Raj Bisram during her appearance on Celebrity Antiques Road Trip. A repeat of that episode aired this evening (June 20) on BBC Two.

The BBC antiques expert quizzed her on just how close their relationship was, to which she responded: “I was a journalist that she got along with and shared confidences with.

“You know, ‘There were three of us in this marriage,’ all this sort of stuff.”

“Then, at the end, annoyingly, she’d say, ‘Of course, Jennie, this is just between you and me and these four walls.’ I’d think, ‘Ugh!’ So I kept it that way.”

Raj then asked which interview throughout Jennie’s career had left the greatest impression on her, reports Devon Live.

She answered: “I suppose, when I challenged her in Angola on the land mine mission, when she was trying to get an international ban on land mines.

“I said, ‘Ma’am, you’ve been accused of being a loose cannon,’ and she was very shocked and said, ‘I’m just trying to be a humanitarian. That’s it.'”.

“That was pretty momentous. It made an awful lot of news.”

At the time, Lady Diana was described as a ‘loose cannon’ by a junior government Cabinet minister who condemned her position on landmines.

The tense exchange, which took place in 1997, was captured in a documentary of the time, showing Lady Diana’s response to Jennie’s pointed question.

She said: “I’m only trying to highlight a problem that’s going on all around the world. That’s all.”

She was subsequently filmed climbing into a waiting car, visibly moved by Jennie’s remark, as she told the camera team: “I might really burst into tears now. Who said I’m a loose cannon?”

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

EXCLUSIVE: A new book charts the extraordinary history of British Airways, inclduing its unusual first passenger flight, its unique link to Marmite, royal fans, and some questionable fashion

British Airways has been flying for 107 years, connecting Britain to the world across more than a century of aviation history.

From a single biplane lifting off from a grass field in west London to a fleet serving destinations across the globe, the story of the world’s favourite airline is told in a new history by Captain Al Bridger – taking the story of BA in 100 objects, which encompass everything from Neville Chamberlain to Marmite.

British Airways traces its roots to 1919, when Aircraft Transport and Travel (AT&T) launched the world’s first international scheduled passenger service from Hounslow Heath to Paris.

This pioneering line later fed into Imperial Airways, which became BOAC in 1939 for long-haul routes, while BEA was formed in 1946 for European services; the two finally merged in 1974 to create modern British Airways.

But it began on August 25 1919 when a modest biplane was prepared on the grass at Hounslow Heath, a few miles from what is now Heathrow Airport. Captain Al said: “The world’s first international scheduled passenger was piloted by Lieutenant Bill Lawford.

“It carried one passenger, some newspapers, fresh grouse bound for the British Ambassador to France and Devonshire clotted cream. In challenging weather, Lawford skilfully completed the trip in 2 hours and 30 minutes.”

Five years later, in March 1924, the British government formed Imperial Airways, at the futuristic Croydon Airport. The art deco structure had a first-class restaurant, canteen for staff and a viewing gallery. The network expanded and flights could reach Delhi in seven-and-a-half days.

The Argosy aircraft, which first flew a passenger service on July 16 1926, gave early travellers a taste of luxury that would define the airline’s ambitions for decades to come. Captain Al said: “A white-coated steward served twenty passengers incredible four-course meals with drinks, providing true luxury for those lucky enough to afford it.

“The aircraft were also used for very popular weekend ‘Tea Flights’, offering afternoon tea while enjoying fabulous views over the capital.”

Among the collection’s most striking objects is a signed photograph of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, stepping from a British Airways Lockheed 10A after his famous Munich meetings and the declaration of “peace in our time”.

The 1950s brought a fresh start. “The Jet Age was officially launched with the introduction of the Comet in 1952, placing the UK at the very forefront of aviation,” said Captain Al, “The Rolls-Royce-powered Boeing 707 was a truly iconic symbol of the 1960s, and Sydney in Australia was now within reach in just 33 hours with four stops on the way. A true symbol of the iconic 1960s, the Boeing 707 was a triumph, shrinking the world overnight.”

The collection’s menu cards speak to a more glamorous age of flying. A BEA Silver Wing menu signed by Sir Winston Churchill on 26 April 1955 sits alongside one signed by Muhammad Ali on 10 May 1979

The 1960s brought experimentation of a more flamboyant kind. BOAC introduced cabin crew uniforms that became one of aviation’s most memorable fashion footnotes.

“While famously described as paper dresses, they were in fact sensibly made of a fireproof fabric that resembled paper and could be cut to the required length,” said Captain Al. “Incredibly, they were discarded after each flight.” They lasted a year.

The airline was also reaching out to its youngest passengers. On 26 March 1957, BOAC launched the Junior Jet Club, and Captain Al said: “The club was a huge success and had over 2 million members in its twenty-seven years of existence. Cabin crew would hand young travellers an envelope containing a registration form, a logbook and a Junior Jet Club badge.”

No history of British Airways would be complete without Concorde. The aircraft first flew on 2 March 1969 and entered service with British Airways on 21 January 1976. Captain Al said: “Concorde was to become the flagship of the fleet, bringing supersonic travel to everyone for the first time. Able to carry 100 customers in total luxury at speeds in excess of Mach 2 (more than 1,300 mph) the aircraft could cross the Atlantic in under 3 hours, with the record set on 7 February 1996 at 2 hours and 52 minutes.” The aircraft operated its last service on 24 October 2003.

While Concorde was redefining long-haul travel, the airline was also transforming life on board for ordinary passengers. A BOAC packing checklist pamphlet from the 1960s shows the formality of travel at the time. “For gentlemen, the list mentions the necessity of a dinner jacket, shirt collars and hair tonic,” said Captain Al. “For ladies, a bed jacket, hat and stole were essentials when travelling abroad.”

A photograph of the Beatles from the same era shows the Fab Four carrying BEA travel bags. Captain Al said: “Note how the Beatles are carrying BEA(TLES) travel bags, much like the more common BOAC bags. Clearly the band were travelling light.”

The 1980s brought fresh challenges and fresh ambition. In 1995, as part of a £500 million investment, the airline introduced the world’s first fully flat bed seat in First Class. Captain Al said: “Scientifically proven to give a much better night of sleep, it represented a huge leap forward in airline comfort.”

The airline’s inflight magazine, High Life, had been charting the journey since 1973. Captain Al said: “It truly is BA’s wingman. Through the years there have been some amazing contributors, from Jilly Cooper to Morecambe and Wise.”

Smoking had been part of airline life since the very beginning, but by March 1998 it was over. “When BEA was formed in 1946 over half of the British public smoked, with two-thirds of adult males recorded as smokers,” said Captain Al. “It wasn’t until 1998 that British Airways introduced a complete smoking ban on all flights.”

The modern era brought its own landmark moments. On 18 May 2012, a gold-liveried Airbus A319 named Firefly carried the Olympic flame into Culdrose Naval Airbase in Cornwall. Captain Al said: “Safely contained in four miner’s lamps, the flame was taken from the aircraft by Anne, the Princess Royal, accompanied by Lord Coe, the chairman of the London Olympics Organising Committee and football superstar David Beckham.”

The airline’s centenary in 2019 produced one of the collection’s most unlikely objects. “To celebrate the airline’s centenary, British Airways and Marmite teamed up and created a limited-edition jar that could be purchased on board,” said Captain Al.

“Apparently Marmite is the most confiscated brand at airport security, so the centenary jar was made to be just 70 grams, conveniently sized to fit within the liquid allowance to get it safely through airport security.”

Few objects in the collection carry more weight than the Royal Flights book, its pages bearing the signatures of those who have trusted the airline across the decades. The first entry dates from November 1983.

Captain Al said: “The book was beautifully inscribed with superb calligraphy and the signatures of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Late Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. Fittingly, the final signature is again that of Her Late Majesty after her visit to the British Airways Headquarters on 23 May 2019 to celebrate the airline’s centenary year.”

From a grass field in Hounslow to the signature of a queen, British Airways has carried the nation and the world for 107 years.

As Captain Al writes of the airline he has served and loves: “It has seen great highs and led the world through some very challenging times, and I know it will continue to give the best it can in the coming years, generating many more wonderful objects along the way.”

British Airways in 100 Objects by Al Bridger is published by Amberley, £17.99

BA in numbers

46.3 million passengers carried in 2025.

Fleet of 254 aircraft serving 215 destinations across six continents.

40,000 employees worldwide.

Revenue of £14.6 billion in 2024.

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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