Archive December 14, 2025

The Prince and Princess of Wales are settling into their first Christmas at their new home of Forest Lodge – and an expert believes it could be a very special one

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With just days to go before Christmas, preparations are in full swing up and down the country – including for the royals. The majority of the Firm will be spending the festive season, as is tradition, with King Charles at his private Sandringham estate.

But before then the Prince and Princess of Wales will be enjoying the start of the Christmas period at their brand new home, Forest Lodge. The big move from the smaller Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor estate comes after a tumultuous few years for the Wales family, with Kate’s cancer diagnosis and subsequent cancer treatment followed by the news she is now in remission.

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However, their fresh start has caused some disquiet among some locals as security measures around Forest Lodge mean that people living nearby can no longer access vast swathes of oak-studded open fields surrouding the property.

A detour has also been put in place for those wanting to visit he yearly Christmas Tree Shop in nearby Windsor Great Park. But for former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, these small issues will soon be forgotten about.

She told the Mirror : “This will be a special year for the family in their new home, Forest Lodge. Putting up Christmas decorations is always exciting, but decorating a new house is doubly so.

“I’m sure they’ll also be putting up decorations at Anmer Hall in Norfolk, but I wonder whether they will spend a bit more time than usual in their Windsor home during the school holidays? It must still be fresh and new to them.

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“William and Catherine must be aware that there is some local disquiet about the diversion around their house. But it was only to be expected – and I’m sure people will soon get used to the longer route and understand the need for security.”

Meanwhile, preparations won’t just be going into decorations, Jennie believes Kate will also be carefully selecting Christmas presents for the children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

But even though they could have anything their hearts desire, there could be a catch. Jennie explained: “As for their own children, I doubt whether William and Catherine will be able to resist the temptation to spoil them, just as all young parents enjoy spoiling their children – if they are fortunate enough to have the money.

“I imagine George will be hoping for some more video games – William has revealed that is elder son is very keen on computer games. Charlotte will probably be happy with anything sporty. She loves her soccer and gymnastics and horse riding. She’s also very keen on dance.

“As for Louis, he is very enthused about the trampoline – so maybe a small indoor trampoline would go down well. But I’m sure their parents will come up with all sorts of fun surprises for the kids.”

Whether you want your own home to smell festive this holiday period, or want to gift the scent of Christmas to a loved one, you can’t go wrong with this on-sale Yankee Candle

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Creating the perfect festive atmosphere goes beyond your average Christmas decorations; shoppers are keen to add a seasonal scent to their homes to cap off the holiday feel. And what better way to do that than with this Yankee Candle that “smells just like Christmas”? Plus, it won’t break the bank either, as it’s currently up for grabs for a nifty 20% less.

Boasting traditional holiday scents of a warm hearth, sugared plums, and candied fruits, this Yankee Candle would normally cost £29.99, but Debenhams shoppers can currently pick up the 567g candle for the lower price of £23.99.

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Touted as a refreshing take on Yankee Candle’s iconic Jar Shape, this candle is designed to create the best experience to date. This is the largest Jar Candle in the collection at 567g, ensuring plenty of festive aromas to last through the season, and for many more to come.

Armed with two wicks and a premium soy-wax blend, this candle is designed to create a beautiful ambience for your home throughout the Christmas period. Finished with a hand-illustrated label and boasting a vibrant wax colour that is perfectly matched to Yankee Candle’s signature exclusive, featuring tried-and-true fragrances that create an inspired addition to your home.

Plenty of shoppers have been quick to sing this scent’s praises, with 5-star reviews pouring in. One thrilled buyer beams: “Love this , reminds me of so many Christmas holidays, beautiful scent that really fills the room, long, even burn.”

Another happy shopper shares: “Love love love this scent! Christmas is in the air (quite literally) when it’s lit. Stunning! Recommend!”

Further adoration comes from this customer, who writes: “Always have these burning around the house at Christmas. Infuses the house with a warm seasonal fragrance.”

One buyer does note one mild disappointment, saying: “Very subtle, it didn’t give a huge amount of fragrance.”

Though plenty of others have been quick to comment on the scent, with one shopper enthusing: “Beautiful smell, very strong, one of my favourites.”

And another buyer gushing: “Smells just like Christmas as a child. Aroma completely fills your room.”

French telly favourite Fred Sirieix opens up on life, love and ‘rows’ with wife ‘Fruitcake’, his Christmas plans and the intriguing twist in new show First Dates Beach Club

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First Dates star Fred Sirieix is on fine form as we catch up on a video call, where he speaks to us from the study of his South East London townhouse. The French accent, the twinkle in his eye and the innate confidence are a heady mixture, and they’ve helped make him a household name here in his adopted country.

The straight-talking Limoges native chats happily about life with the woman he affectionately calls “Fruitcake”. They tied the knot in an idyllic ceremony at the Pattoo Castle in Jamaica in February, and judging by the smile on his face, married life is clearly suiting the 53-year-old.

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“It’s going really well – we’re having a good time,” he says. “There are lots of fun conversations – and lots of silly arguments. They might be about me not wiping the counter properly, or not sweeping the floor – even though I was planning on doing it later. These kinds of things.”

Domestic disputes aside, Fred and Fruitcake work – he’s just not entirely sure why, he laughs. “We are very different,” he explains. “We’re chalk and cheese in our characters and our approach to life. But we enjoy each other’s company – and the stupidity of our own jokes! Oh, and we don’t mind farting in front of each other. That’s important.”

Fred’s now gearing up for Christmas, and his parents are flying over from France to be with him and the family. And his plans sound wonderfully decadent – just how you’d imagine the maître d’ extraordinaire to be spending Christmas Day. “It will be Champagne from 10am with breakfast,” he declares. “But you don’t want to overdo it, you’ve got to last all day.”

As for what he’ll be rustling up in the kitchen, Fred says the jury’s still out. “Perhaps a fish feast on the barbecue,” he says. “Or something more traditional, like a boeuf bourguignon. I’ve done turkey the last three years, so I think I’m going to move away from that.”

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But before the festivities, Fred’s new show, First Dates Beach Club, will be here to bring some sunshine to those dreary winter nights.

Explaining the concept, Fred says, “The beauty of it is, it’s totally First Dates but instead of being in a restaurant, it’s in a beach club. It’s the essence of the show that everyone loves, the matchmaking, but there are new twists and turns.”

He adds, “If you realise someone else at the bar is more your type, you can go and speak to them. But then if you go on a date with the person you’re matched with and it’s not quite right, you go back to the guy at the bar. It’s fascinating!”

Bartender Merlin Griffiths is also back, mixing up all the best cocktails, and Fred says his friend is doing well following his health battle (Merlin was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in 2021, but thankfully was given the all-clear in 2023).

Fred’s been dishing out relationship advice on First Dates since 2013 – and jokes that he wants to beat the late Cilla Black’s 18-year stint with Blind Date. “We’ve got to at least match Cilla!” he jokes. “She was the OG. I wish I’d met her.”

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So, what’s the most important thing Fred has learned over the years about love? “I’ve learned that in love, everything and anything goes,” he says. “If it works for you, that’s enough. It’s not trying to create the relationship that you ‘think’ you should have, or that you’ve seen somewhere else. We’re only here for a short time, so you’ve got to do you.”

People come to Fred “all the time” for relationship advice. “These are the very same conversations I was having constantly when I was 16, 17 in catering college, about love, sex, girls, boys… it’s like a continuation of that – it’s part of who I am,” he explains.

Another key part of who Fred is, is a traditional Frenchman – never happier than with some bread and cheese, washed down with a glass of “vin”.

To this end, he’s partnered with French cheese brand Boursin for its Christmas campaign, including reenacting some cheesy romcom scenes – and says it’s a real trip down memory lane. “I’ve been in the UK since 1992 – longer than I’ve been in France,” he reveals.

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“To partner up with Boursin is like going full circle. It was, still is, in my parents’ house in France. After every meal, it comes out. It’s such a fun brand, one I grew up with – it’s nostalgic for me. The French are nostalgic anyway, and we all remember that ad in the 70s, ‘Du pain, du vin, du Boursin!’”

The star was in the I’m A Celebrity jungle in 2023 – the third campmate to be eliminated. And Fred is back on the small screen in January, for the second series of Tour De Fred, travelling between Waterford and Cork.

He was so enthralled by playing road bowling in Cork, he now plans to take his 78-year-old dad back there with him next September, to represent France in the next Kings and Queens of the Road. “He’s excited, he’s telling everybody,” Fred says.

So, does Fred have any New Year ’s resolutions himself? “I’m going to carry on! My resolution is always the same. Work hard, work harder – have fun, then have more fun,” he shares. “In my life, I’m quite obsessed with having a good time. What are we here for, otherwise?”

Don’t miss Fred’s cheesy rom-com debut this Christmas on the @boursinuk Instagram account

Alan Carr has addressed growing speculation that he could be in line to take over presenting duties on Strictly Come Dancing.

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Alan Carr has broken his silence on speculation linking him to one of the most coveted jobs on British television.

Rumours are swirling around about who could replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as frontrunners to host Strictly Come Dancing, and the 49-year-old comedian and broadcaster has been mentioned as one of the standout contenders.

“I know my name’s been bandied about,” he told the Daily Mail. “It’s nice to be in the running, but no one approached me.”

“It’s such big shoes to fill, and everyone loves it,” he added, recognising the audience’s affection for the long-running show.

If chosen for the role, Alan could be stepping into a position previously filled by one of the industry’s most recognisable presenting duos.

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Tess has fronted Strictly since its launch in 2004, initially alongside Sir Bruce Forsyth, and Claudia joined her in 2014. The duo announced they would step down from the position in a joint statement in October.

Alan’s hesitation, he jokes, appears rooted in nerves. Reflecting on his recent win on Celebrity Traitors, he admitted that even minor moments would leave him flustered.

“Traitors has reawoken something playful in me. It’s what I do best, but I am a bit flustery.”

“I got nervous going down for breakfast in the castle, eating a croissant after murdering Celia,” he added.

“[So] imagine me doing Strictly live on a Saturday night. Would I be good on it, or would my wings be a little bit clipped? Let’s see what happens.”

Alan is reportedly one of ten people shortlisted by BBC bosses to take on the role, in one of the show’s biggest “shake-ups” to date.

Executives are said to be testing potential duos on chemistry rather than focusing on presenters’ solo skills, and Alan has been boosted by his recent TV appearances, sold-out live shows and renewed interest from the audience.

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Friends star, Jennifer Anniston, has found love with life coach and hypnotist, Jim Curtis, after calling it quits with her ex-husband, Justin Theroux, in 2018

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Jennifer Anniston’s Christmas plans have been revealed following the star’s heartbreaking divorce from Justin Theroux. The pair called it quits in 2018 after three years of marriage, with Justin insisting they parted ways amicably.

Friends star, Jen, 56 – who is yet to reveal why she and the Wanderlust star split – is notoriously protective over her private life. However, in the summer she went public with her new, “quite extraordinary” boyfriend, Jim Curtis – who she will be spending the festive season with.

Jennifer speaks highly of the hypnotist and life coach – who she was first linked to in July – after her divorce from Justin. The actor, 54, who is documentary maker, Louis Theroux’s cousin, is preparing to welcome his first baby with new wife, Nicole Brydon Bloom. However, Jennifer is looking forward to spending Christmas with Jim as a source close to the actress revealed their plans.

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Speaking to People magazine, they said: “The holidays are when she slows down, truly enjoys her house and spends time with the people she loves. She’s very happy to be spending it with Jim this year. They have a trip to the snow planned and a sunny trip for New Year.”

Jennifer, who reportedly ‘loves Christmas’ and gets a real tree each year, was initially just friends with Jim before things turned romantic.

Claiming that the Rachel Green star was “cautious” at first, the source continued: “When it all took a turn to something more romantic, she was cautious at first. Now, she’s excited that she just went for it. It feels like kismet, she truly loves Jim. He’s brought so many good things into her life.”

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After confirming the relationship in August when she posted a photo of the couple together on Instagram, Jennifer gushed about her “extraordinary boyfriend” and praised him for helping people to ‘heal’.

Speaking to Elle magazine, she said: “Hypnotism is one of the many things that he does. He’s quite extraordinary and helps many, many people.

“He’s very special, very normal, and very kind, and wants to help people heal, move through their trauma and stagnation into clarity.”

Meannwhile, Wanderlust star, Justin, who was married to Jennifer from 2015 to 2018, is about to become a dad with his new wife, Nicole.

The couple announced their pregnancy while attending the premiere of Prime Video’s Fallout season two, which Justin guest stars in. The actor’s mother, Phyllis-Grissim Theroux, was also in attendance.

Nicole, a fellow actor most recently known for her role in Paradise, and Justin were first seen together back in February 2023 at celebrity hangout, Zeron Bond in New York City.

They later made their Instagram hard launch in December, when Nicole shared a carousel of photos, one including Justin, from her twin sister’s wedding, plus their red carpet debut at the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party in March.

Jennifer has not revealed why she and Justin divorced, however the dad-to-be insisted they went their separate ways without any hostility.

Speaking to the New York Times in September, Justin said: “The good news is that was probably the most — I’m choosing my words really carefully — it was kind of the most gentle separation, in that there was no animosity.”