Dec. 2, 2025
William Skips Christmas (Again) As Kate Preps For Carols & Charles Plans A Manure Lagoon
Prince William is reportedly set to avoid Christmas lunch with the King for the third year running, as insiders insist there’s “no controversy”—just a difficult year for the Waleses. Meanwhile, Kate’s interior design eye is on full display as Forest Lodge takes shape, complete with a dining table big enough for 24. But holiday harmony hits a snag when Charles pushes plans for a two-million-gallon manure lagoon near Anmer Hall, leaving locals—and likely the Waleses—holding their noses. We preview a packed week of royal duties, from William’s tech stop to the German state visit to Kate’s Christmas carol service. Plus: William’s “better wife” quip in Wales, his surprise pub lunch (and £25 tip), and King Charles finally stripping Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his last remaining honours as Tina Brown reveals the palace’s fears about what Andrew might do next.
Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.
Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.
👑 Follow our hit series Crown and Controversy! Season 1 is fully available now for everyone. Season 2 has new episodes every Sunday on the regular feed. GET THE FULL SEASON 2 BEFORE REGULAR LISTENERS as a subscriber! Hit that "UNINTERRUPTED LISTENING" Banner on the top of the Apple player. AND listen to Crown and Controversy "NORWAY'S ROYAL REBELS" here and get the full season as a premium subscriber now.
👑 The Palace Intrigue Social Hub is Live! Join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram or click the links to start your royal journey!
WEBVTT
1
00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:10.599
Caloroga Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Pallace Intrigue. I
2
00:00:10.599 --> 00:00:13.800
gave your host Mark Francis. In The Royalist, Tom Sykes
3
00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:17.320
reports Prince William's planning on skipping Christmas Lunch with Charles
4
00:00:17.320 --> 00:00:20.640
once again, making it three years in a row. A
5
00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:23.640
source told The Royalist William and the family will do
6
00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:26.600
their duty and go to church with big smiles pasted on,
7
00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:29.760
but they are not expected for Christmas Lunch at the
8
00:00:29.800 --> 00:00:33.399
Big House. It has been an extremely difficult year for
9
00:00:33.479 --> 00:00:36.679
William and Catherine Royalist source as a friend of the
10
00:00:36.759 --> 00:00:38.960
King who shut down the notion of a controversy. Of
11
00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:41.159
course William is invited. Of course he's free to do
12
00:00:41.240 --> 00:00:45.920
his own thing without anyone being remotely upset. Kate stopped
13
00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:48.920
by Marina Mills in September as part of a round
14
00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:53.039
of engagements with local artisans. The family run workshop in
15
00:00:53.159 --> 00:00:56.479
Cuxton has a long history of providing hand printed furnishings
16
00:00:56.520 --> 00:01:00.439
for royal residences including Buckingham Palace and Clarence House, making
17
00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:03.240
it entirely plausible that she may have selected ideas or
18
00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:06.799
samples during her visit. According to Mayol Online, Forest Lodge,
19
00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:10.079
the new home the Wales family recently moved into is
20
00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:13.840
expected to feature an expansive antique dining table large enough
21
00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:17.000
to seat twenty four guests. As William and Kate planned
22
00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:20.519
to remain at the property even when William eventually becomes king,
23
00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:23.519
the piece is expected to serve as a central gathering
24
00:01:23.560 --> 00:01:28.760
point for family dinners and celebrations For many years. Kate's
25
00:01:28.760 --> 00:01:31.159
interest in interiors has been shaped over the course of
26
00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:34.480
several moves through royal homes, supported by her background in
27
00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:37.599
art history from the University of Saint Andrews. Her eye
28
00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:41.239
for design even earned praise from Prince Harry in Spare.
29
00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:45.319
Reflecting on the decor, Harry wrote, the wallpaper a ceiling trim,
30
00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:49.400
the walnut bookshelves filled with volumes of peaceful colors, priceless
31
00:01:49.400 --> 00:01:54.879
works of art, magnificent like a museum. Another royal controversy
32
00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:57.959
is brewing. Why does the King want to place manure
33
00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:01.280
next to one of the homes of William and According
34
00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:03.840
to the Express, His Majesty's proposal would see a pull
35
00:02:03.959 --> 00:02:07.519
sized lagoon designed to hold more than two million gallons
36
00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:11.360
of liquid manure, placed less than a mile from Amner Hall,
37
00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:14.439
the Georgian property given to the couple by Queen Elizabeth.
38
00:02:15.719 --> 00:02:18.680
The project is said to form part of wider agricultural
39
00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:21.960
plans for the estate. Fortunately, this is just the royals
40
00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:25.759
holiday place and not their main residence. The suggestion has
41
00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:29.360
caused considerable concern among local residents. One neighbor told The
42
00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:32.439
Daily Mail, We're all used to farmyard smells around here,
43
00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:34.960
but this lagoon will be enormous. Everyone is worried it
44
00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:38.199
will create a massive stink. Goodness knows what William and
45
00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:40.560
Kate think about it. It is a bit ironic that
46
00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:44.319
the landowner responsible for the plans is William's father, the King.
47
00:02:45.800 --> 00:02:48.240
It's a busy week for William, who spent Monday visiting
48
00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:52.479
a leading technology company and highlighting the role innovative industries
49
00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:56.240
play in Britain's future. The war for retention heats up
50
00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:59.520
this week, with both Megan's holiday special tomorrow and William
51
00:02:59.560 --> 00:03:02.719
and Kate help helping the King host the German President
52
00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:05.800
and his wife during their state visit. Then on Friday,
53
00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:09.520
it's Kate's fifth annual Christmas Carol service at Westminster Abbey.
54
00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:12.199
While Prince William is expected to take part in the
55
00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:16.639
concert presentation, Kensington Powerace has not confirmed which other royals
56
00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:19.800
will attend. In previous years, the Prince and Princess of
57
00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:22.159
Wales have brought their three children, and members of the
58
00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:27.319
Princess's own family have joined them as well. Westminster Abbey's
59
00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:30.319
choir will lead the congregation in many of the traditional carols,
60
00:03:30.360 --> 00:03:32.759
and guests will be welcomed by eight young musicians from
61
00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:36.560
the charity Future Talent, founded by the late Catherine, Duchess
62
00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:39.919
of Kent and Nicholas Robinson. Organizers say the theme for
63
00:03:39.960 --> 00:03:43.319
this year is Love in all its forms. In a statement,
64
00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:47.000
Kensington Palace said the service will bring people together to
65
00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:50.520
celebrate love in all its forms, whether it's love within families,
66
00:03:50.680 --> 00:03:54.319
through friendships across communities, or even through powerful moments of
67
00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:57.280
connection with strangers. In a world that can often feel
68
00:03:57.360 --> 00:04:00.960
fragmented and disconnected, love is the four that reconnects us
69
00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:06.439
all spanning generations, communities, cultures and faiths. The Palace added,
70
00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:09.319
as we approach the Christmas season, we are reminded of
71
00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:13.039
the power of togetherness. The evening will highlight the transformative
72
00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:17.439
power of investing in one another with compassion, presence and joy.
73
00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:21.439
William praised the support he receives from Catherine the Princess
74
00:04:21.480 --> 00:04:23.879
at Wales during a visit to North Wales, remarking them,
75
00:04:24.079 --> 00:04:28.040
behind every average man there is an even better wife.
76
00:04:28.199 --> 00:04:31.560
Prince William made the comment during an engagement at Youth Shards,
77
00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:34.439
where he met young people involved in the community project
78
00:04:34.439 --> 00:04:37.560
and heard how the initiative helps them cope with challenges
79
00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:41.759
at school and feelings of isolation. Scott Jenkinson fifty two,
80
00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:44.839
the founder of Youth Shareds, guided the Prints through the
81
00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:49.439
center's weekly activities, which included cooking, gaming, podcasting and three
82
00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:52.519
D printing. William then spoke with mister Jenkinson and his
83
00:04:52.600 --> 00:04:57.319
wife Sean about the role of a supportive partner. Were
84
00:04:57.319 --> 00:04:59.480
you there with Scott when he turned his life around?
85
00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:02.519
He asked Sean, after hearing of Scott's earlier struggles with
86
00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:06.079
homelessness and addiction. He has done well to turn his
87
00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:10.399
life around. Sean replied he has, he really has. Scott added,
88
00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:13.480
with my wife behind me, you know that. William nodded
89
00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:15.800
and said, this is it. Behind every average man, there
90
00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:19.000
is an even better wife. Later in the day, William
91
00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:21.839
took part in the comedy workshop led by Welsh comedian
92
00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:26.879
Kerrie Prichard McLean. The Prince of Wales made an unannounced
93
00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:29.079
stop at a country pub in wilt Chair, setting in
94
00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:31.439
for a working lunch and leaving behind a twenty five
95
00:05:31.480 --> 00:05:35.920
pound tip. William popped into the Walnut Tree Inn, where
96
00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:39.120
his three security officers took seats at one table, while
97
00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:43.040
the Prince joined five colleagues at another. Two regulars Gary
98
00:05:43.079 --> 00:05:45.680
and Nick eventually approached the Prince to request a photograph.
99
00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:48.680
He agreed, posing with Lisa James, the member of staff
100
00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:51.879
who had looked after his table. The pub's owner, William
101
00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:54.720
Friend James said the party's bill reached two hundred and
102
00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:57.160
fifty pounds, with the Prince adding a ten percent gratuity.
103
00:05:57.560 --> 00:05:59.720
He explained, we took a booking about a week ago
104
00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:02.160
for no people on two separate tables, but didn't know
105
00:06:02.199 --> 00:06:04.360
who it was, so everyone was a bit shocked when
106
00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:08.839
the Prince of Wales walked in. According to mister friend James,
107
00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:12.240
the Prince chose a homemade burger with fries and a lemonade,
108
00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:16.040
while others ordered dishes, including the pubs pie and sea bass.
109
00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:19.399
He added that although security initially declined a photo request,
110
00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:22.759
the Prince later agreed when approached privately, saying it was
111
00:06:22.759 --> 00:06:26.000
a great pleasure to host him. The group remained for
112
00:06:26.040 --> 00:06:28.959
around ninety minutes, with the security team settling the bill
113
00:06:29.079 --> 00:06:38.079
before leaving more palacy just a moment. Andrew Mount Batton
114
00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:41.399
Windsor has now been formally stripped of his final remaining
115
00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:44.639
royal honors, as the King confirmed the cancelation of his
116
00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:49.560
last titles amid continuing delays to Andrews's departure from Royal Lodge.
117
00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:52.519
The announcement published in the London Gazette confirms that the
118
00:06:52.600 --> 00:06:55.279
King has ordered Andrew's appointments to the Order of the Garter,
119
00:06:55.879 --> 00:06:59.399
long regarded as Britain's most prestigious order of chivalry, to
120
00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:03.040
be canceled. His membership of the Royal Victorian Order has
121
00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:08.160
also been revoked. The entry reads, the King has directed
122
00:07:08.199 --> 00:07:11.160
that the appointment of Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mount Patten
123
00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:13.439
Windsor to be a Knight Companion of the Most Noble
124
00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:16.079
Order of the Garter, dated twenty third April two thousand
125
00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:19.399
and six, shall be canceled and annulled, and that his
126
00:07:19.480 --> 00:07:22.720
name shall be erased from the Register of the said Order.
127
00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:26.600
A second entry reads, the King has directed that the
128
00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:29.279
appointment of Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mount Patten Windsor to
129
00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:31.399
be a Night Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
130
00:07:31.480 --> 00:07:35.079
dated nineteen February twenty eleven, shall be canceled and annulled,
131
00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:36.839
and that his name shall be erased from the Register
132
00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:40.920
of the said Order. Andrew had previously agreed to relinquish
133
00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:43.839
his Garter membership. His coat of arms had already been
134
00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:47.759
removed from Saint George's Chapel at Windsor. With these honors
135
00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:51.800
now withdrawn, the disgraced former royal retains just one formal distinction,
136
00:07:52.040 --> 00:07:55.360
his rank of Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy. Although
137
00:07:55.360 --> 00:07:57.839
the government has pledged to remove that honor at the
138
00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:02.800
King's request, it has not yet been acted upon. Royal
139
00:08:02.839 --> 00:08:05.920
biographer Tina Brown has shed new light on the king's
140
00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:09.199
private worries about his younger brother, writing, Charles, I am
141
00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:11.839
told is not looking to punish his pampered brother to
142
00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:14.879
the point he says that he can't cope. If Charles
143
00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:17.079
were not to pay his brother's bills and ensure a
144
00:08:17.079 --> 00:08:19.720
certain level of comfort, then he may only have one
145
00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:23.199
thing left to do. Andrew would have only his secrets
146
00:08:23.279 --> 00:08:26.600
to sell. William is demanding Andrew be given a limit
147
00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:29.160
in line with the living expenses of a commoner, since
148
00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:31.600
that is what he is now. Andrew scoffs at the
149
00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:35.519
idea of that, and they have it. Fact. Email us.
150
00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:38.000
He addresses the Palace intric at Gmail, on dog com,
151
00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:41.120
please follow us on Spotify, Apple, Facebook, Instagram and all
152
00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:43.759
the social media hubs. I Mark Francis my thanks to
153
00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:47.000
John McDermott. This is Dallast intrigue and good terms.
1
00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:10.599
2
00:00:10.599 --> 00:00:13.800
3
00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:17.320
4
00:00:17.320 --> 00:00:20.640
5
00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:23.640
6
00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:26.600
7
00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:29.760
8
00:00:29.800 --> 00:00:33.399
9
00:00:33.479 --> 00:00:36.679
10
00:00:36.759 --> 00:00:38.960
11
00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:41.159
12
00:00:41.240 --> 00:00:45.920
13
00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:48.920
14
00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:53.039
15
00:00:53.159 --> 00:00:56.479
16
00:00:56.520 --> 00:01:00.439
17
00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:03.240
18
00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:06.799
19
00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:10.079
20
00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:13.840
21
00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:17.000
22
00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:20.519
23
00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:23.519
24
00:01:23.560 --> 00:01:28.760
25
00:01:28.760 --> 00:01:31.159
26
00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:34.480
27
00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:37.599
28
00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:41.239
29
00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:45.319
30
00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:49.400
31
00:01:49.400 --> 00:01:54.879
32
00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:57.959
33
00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:01.280
34
00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:03.840
35
00:02:03.959 --> 00:02:07.519
36
00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:11.360
37
00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:14.439
38
00:02:15.719 --> 00:02:18.680
39
00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:21.960
40
00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:25.759
41
00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:29.360
42
00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:32.439
43
00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:34.960
44
00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:38.199
45
00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:40.560
46
00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:44.319
47
00:02:45.800 --> 00:02:48.240
48
00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:52.479
49
00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:56.240
50
00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:59.520
51
00:02:59.560 --> 00:03:02.719
52
00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:05.800
53
00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:09.520
54
00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:12.199
55
00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:16.639
56
00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:19.800
57
00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:22.159
58
00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:27.319
59
00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:30.319
60
00:03:30.360 --> 00:03:32.759
61
00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:36.560
62
00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:39.919
63
00:03:39.960 --> 00:03:43.319
64
00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:47.000
65
00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:50.520
66
00:03:50.680 --> 00:03:54.319
67
00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:57.280
68
00:03:57.360 --> 00:04:00.960
69
00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:06.439
70
00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:09.319
71
00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:13.039
72
00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:17.439
73
00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:21.439
74
00:04:21.480 --> 00:04:23.879
75
00:04:24.079 --> 00:04:28.040
76
00:04:28.199 --> 00:04:31.560
77
00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:34.439
78
00:04:34.439 --> 00:04:37.560
79
00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:41.759
80
00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:44.839
81
00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:49.439
82
00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:52.519
83
00:04:52.600 --> 00:04:57.319
84
00:04:57.319 --> 00:04:59.480
85
00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:02.519
86
00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:06.079
87
00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:10.399
88
00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:13.480
89
00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:15.800
90
00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:19.000
91
00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:21.839
92
00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:26.879
93
00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:29.079
94
00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:31.439
95
00:05:31.480 --> 00:05:35.920
96
00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:39.120
97
00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:43.040
98
00:05:43.079 --> 00:05:45.680
99
00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:48.680
100
00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:51.879
101
00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:54.720
102
00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:57.160
103
00:05:57.560 --> 00:05:59.720
104
00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:02.160
105
00:06:02.199 --> 00:06:04.360
106
00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:08.839
107
00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:12.240
108
00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:16.040
109
00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:19.399
110
00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:22.759
111
00:06:22.759 --> 00:06:26.000
112
00:06:26.040 --> 00:06:28.959
113
00:06:29.079 --> 00:06:38.079
114
00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:41.399
115
00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:44.639
116
00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:49.560
117
00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:52.519
118
00:06:52.600 --> 00:06:55.279
119
00:06:55.879 --> 00:06:59.399
120
00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:03.040
121
00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:08.160
122
00:07:08.199 --> 00:07:11.160
123
00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:13.439
124
00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:16.079
125
00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:19.399
126
00:07:19.480 --> 00:07:22.720
127
00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:26.600
128
00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:29.279
129
00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:31.399
130
00:07:31.480 --> 00:07:35.079
131
00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:36.839
132
00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:40.920
133
00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:43.839
134
00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:47.759
135
00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:51.800
136
00:07:52.040 --> 00:07:55.360
137
00:07:55.360 --> 00:07:57.839
138
00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:02.800
139
00:08:02.839 --> 00:08:05.920
140
00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:09.199
141
00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:11.839
142
00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:14.879
143
00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:17.079
144
00:08:17.079 --> 00:08:19.720
145
00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:23.199
146
00:08:23.279 --> 00:08:26.600
147
00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:29.160
148
00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:31.600
149
00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:35.519
150
00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:38.000
151
00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:41.120
152
00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:43.759
153
00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:47.000
