The quiet countess who stole the queen’s heart

Merrie couldn’t find her husband anywhere. The day before Christmas Eve was always busy and at 9.30am she’d expect to find him in the warehouse, checking on packing and loading and last-minute orders.

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ISOBEL could tell her six-year-old pupil Angela hadn’t been practising. Having clomped her way through her scales, she was stumbling painfully through her pieces. Isobel tried to think of some encoura

At 94, my gran was the hear t of our family. But hours after chatting to her, I got a shocking phone call and my world crumbled. By Brian Kirk, 50

Follow our easy plan to get your feast on the table using just one oven… THE DAY BEFORE ■ Prepare the turkey, butternut squash, stuffing balls, gravy stock, sprout gratin, and trifle (except cream lay

We’ve teamed up with Slimming World to bring you this fabulous eating plan