Jan. 1, 2026

Royal Superfans, Pub Plaques and a Pivotal Year Ahead for the Monarchy

Show Notes
Transcript

Prince William made a personal gesture during the Sandringham Christmas walk by greeting a familiar royal superfan and introducing him to his children, as crowds gathered for the traditional festivities. The moment was also acknowledged by King Charles, who recognised the man’s ever-growing badge collection.

The episode also revisits lighter royal moments, including Prince William’s modest shopping habits, a Windsor pub installing a commemorative plaque after a royal visit, and Kate enjoying a low-key theatre outing with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in Norfolk.Looking ahead, two thousand and twenty six is shaping up to be a significant year for the Royal Family, with health milestones, Prince George’s transition to secondary school, possible overseas travel and growing expectations around the next generation.

We also turn briefly to Norway, where the upcoming trial of Marius Borg Høiby is expected to place renewed scrutiny on Europe’s royal households, as senior members of the Norwegian Royal Family speak publicly about the strain of the case.

Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.

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WEBVTT

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Calorogus Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue, and

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wishing you all a very happy new Year. I'm your host,

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Mark Francis. Prince William made a point of greeting a

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familiar face among the crowds gathered at Sandringham on Christmas Day,

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spotting what has been described as Princess Diana's biggest super

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fan and introducing him to his children. The Prince recognized

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John Lowry, seventy, from Wadsworth in southwest London, calling him

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up by name before introducing him to Prince George, Princess

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Charlotte and Prince Lewis. Lowry, wearing a hat covered in

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royal pins and carrying gifts for the children, wished the

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family a merry Christmas and told Prince George Diana would

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be proud of you. The children thanked him politely for

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the gifts, with Princess Charlotte saying thank you very much.

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That so Caine. Lowry's presence was also acknowledged by King

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Charles the Third, who remarked on his extensive badge election

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while greeting well wishes outside Sandringham estate. You've collected more

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badges since last year the King said as he shook

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hands with him. Lowry said he arrived at Sandringham at

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nine o'clock on Christmas Eve and spent the night on

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a fold up chair outside the gates, making him first

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in line. On Christmas morning, he told the Daily Mail

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it was cold, but I had heat pads inside my

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jumper and hand warmers. He also brought Prince William a gift,

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a portrait of himself painted in twenty twelve in honor

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of Diana, Princess of Wales. The work by artist Rebecca

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Francesca Cartwright de Fontenelle, was previously featured in an exhibition

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by the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. I have met

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him several times before, Lowry said of Prince of Wales.

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I last saw William at the center Point Homeless Charity

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a few weeks ago and told him I would bring

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a special gift for him to Sandringham. Celebrity stylist Dean

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Aslett has recalled accompanying the Prince of Wales on a

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shopping trip, saying he was struck by how modest and

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practical the future king's tastes appeared to be. As it

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said that during the outing Prince William selected mostly everyday items,

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including DVDs and fragrances, and even picked up a small

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gift for Queen Elizabeth. Speaking to The Daily Mail, Aslet

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described the unusual arrangements ahead of the trip, saying it

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started with a call from a special branch. It was

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all very cloak and dagger. They called my home number.

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I supposed to check I wasn't a member of the IRA,

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He added. There was nothing bling about anything William wanted.

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It was DVDs, fragrances, little trinkets. Aslet said he was

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particularly amused by one purchase intended for the late Queen,

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adding I was tickled by that because I was a

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doctor who fan too, but you don't think of the

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Queen watching it. A popular Windsor pub has marked a

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recent royal visit by installing a commemorative plaque at the

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table where the Prince of Wales once enjoyed a drink.

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The Two Brewers Pub has honored a visit by Prince William,

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who stopped by the venue in September alongside actor Eugene

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Levy while filming the Apple TV plus series The Reluctant Traveler.

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During the visit, the pair shared at pine of inches,

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a cider and a guinness inside the small historic micropub.

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Since the visit, the pub has seen a surge in interest,

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with visitors traveling from around the world, particularly from the

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United States, to sit at the table, now nicknamed the

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Future King's Corner. In response, the pub has installed a

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plaque and displayed photographs to commemorate the occasion. The pub's landlord,

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Stewart O'Brien, said it was a pleasure to welcome the Prince,

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adding that staff had been amazed by how many people

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have since visited the pub just to have a drink

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at the Future King's Corner. He described the Prince as

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absolutely lovely and said the pluk would allow guests to

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hear the story of the royal visit for years to come.

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The Two Brewers, one of Windsor's smallest pubs, dates back

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to seventeen ninety two, with parts of the building believed

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to be even older. Located on Park Street near the

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Long Walk and Windsor Great Park, it has a long

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history of a stopping point on what was once a

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busy stagecoach route between Windsor and London. With just nine

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indoor tables, the pub is known for its intimate atmosphere

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and its folk on English beer's, traditional wines and seasonal

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food source from local suppliers. Twenty twenty six is shaping

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up to be a pivotal year for the royal family,

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marked by health milestones, major transitions for the next generation,

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and the prospect of significant overseas travel. Attention remains on

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the health of King Charles the Third, who announced in

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December that his cancer treatment would be scaled back in

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the new year. Kate also reached a turning point, resuming

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a fuller public role, including high profile state visits, while

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continuing to pace herself as she balances recovery with family life.

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The Prince and Princess of Wales begin twenty twenty six

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settled into a new chapter at Forest Lodge in Windsor

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Great Park, having moved there in the autumn. Royal historian

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Amanda Foreman said the move signals a different kind of lifestyle.

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It's very centered on their children. The homes expected to

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remain their base even after Prince William eventually becomes king.

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One of the biggest changes ahead concerns Prince George. He

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turns thirteen on July twenty second, and will begin secondary

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school in the autumn, a major milestone for the future king.

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Speculation continues over whether he will attend Eaton College, where

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his father was educated, or Marlborough College, his mother's former school.

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No official decision has been announced. Secondary school may also

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bring George his first mobile phone, something William has hinted

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could happen, though with limits. Travel is also expected to

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feature prominently in twenty twenty six. The Prince and Princess

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of Wales have a standing invitation to visit Australia, potentially

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where all three children the family has not returned there

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since twenty fourteen. The year also marks the two hundred

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and fiftieth anniversary of US independence. In nineteen seventy six,

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Queen Elizabeth visit to the US for the bi centennial,

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and there are speculation senior royals could attend the commemorative events.

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A visit could also coincide with the FIFA World Cup

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hosted across North America, with the final schedule for July

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nineteen at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. William has long

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been a visible supporter of football and of England's national

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team across the Atlantic. Prince Harran Megan Markel are also

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looking ahead to a busy year. They recently announced the

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renaming of their charity to Artwell Philanthropies, signaling an expanded

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global focus that will include their children. The organization said

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the change would allow the family to broaden their global

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philanthropic efforts with meaningful reach and maximum impact. The Duke

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and Duchess of Sussex are also continuing their creative work.

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Meghan returned to acting in late twenty twenty five with

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a small role playing herself in an Amazon MGM film,

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and the couple have extended their partnership with Netflix, including

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production on a screen adaptation of the novel The Wedding Date.

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Taken together, twenty twenty six promises to be a year

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of transition for the monarchy, defined by recovery, renewal in

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the gradual emergence of the next generation more palacing just

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a moment. One story we will be following is the

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trial of Marius borg Hoiby, the son of Norway's Crown

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Princess Meta Marid from a previous relationship, who faces thirty

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two charges, including the alleged rape of four women, domestic

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abuse against the former partner, threats acts of violence, and

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traffic offenses. He is currently free pending trial. In an

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interview with The Times, Crown Princess Meta Marite, Crown Prince Harkon,

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King Harold and Queen Sonya addressed the case and the

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scrutiny surrounding it. Speaking alongside her husband, Meta Marit described

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the strain of the situation, while also rejecting claims that

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she had warned her son ahead of his arrest. She said,

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I think it's been quite a strain to be accused

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of such serious things, which of course I did not do.

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The thing that perhaps upsets me most is being criticized

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for how we've handled it as parents, that we didn't

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take it seriously. I find that hard. She added that

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the family had sought professional help for her son, saying,

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so it feels a little unfair to claim that we

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didn't take the situation seriously, because I think we have.

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Being a parent is the most vulnerable thing you can do,

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and I think all parents will recognize that there is

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an incredible amount of self blame involved. The Crown Princess

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said the family had chosen to speak out because of

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the intensity of the claims in public speculation. Our view

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has always been that this matter must be dealt with

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in the legal system. That is where it belongs. Which

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to comment on the case itself or on private matters

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until the legal system has dealt with it. We can

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comment later if it is natural for us to do so,

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but I don't think that gives people the right to

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make untrue claims. King Harold has said it was not

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possible to prepare for the trial, adding now it is

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in the hands of the court, then we will take

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what comes. Queen Sonia said it's not exactly something you

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look forward to. The King also said the family would

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attempt to continue with business as usual, while expressing sympathy

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for those affected, adding we feel for them and hope

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they will be okay and get better after the trial.

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Owhige and prosecutors have confirmed that Hoyby will stand trial

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on multiple serious charges, including rape and violence and close relationships.

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Oslo State Attorney Stirler herricks Bo said the case is

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very serious, adding that Hoyby's royal connections would not affect

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how the matter is handled, stating that he should be

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treated neither more lightly nor more severely than others. The

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trial is expected to begin in mid January and could

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last around six weeks and there you have it. If

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you'd like to email, USHO are just as the Palace

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intriguet email dot com. Please follous, Spotify, Apple, We're on Facebook, Instagram,

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all the social media hubs. Come by and say hi.

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Wishing you all a very very happy New Year from

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everyone here at Palace Intrigue. I'm Mark Francis. Thanks to

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John McDermott. This is Palace Intrigue and good terms

Royal Superfans, Pub Plaques and a Pivotal Year Ahead for the Monarchy

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