King Charles and Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf use 117-year-old spade with special meaning to plant 'beautiful' oak in Windsor
The Swedish Oak is a gift from the Scandinavian sovereign to celebrate the British royals' coronation in May 2023 - two years on Tuesday.
Quercus robur, to use its Latin name, is taking up residence in Home Park on the Windsor Estate.
It has come from the Royal Nursery at Sollidan Palace, the Swedish Royal Family 's summer residence, and will be twinned with a Swedish oak which will be planted at the Royal Djurgarden in Stockholm.
The two kings, accompanied by Queen Camilla, walked companionably down from the castle together, while Queen Silvia - who was using a crutch following surgery on her foot - arrived separately by car.
Charles and Carl immediately began chatting to staff from the Crown Estate and their Swedish equivalents so enthusiastically that Queen Camilla was eventually forced to go up and give her husband a slight pat on the back to encourage him to come and help dig as they had another reception to go to.
Laughing he eventually followed his wife to the spot where the tree was waiting to have the last few spades of soil dug in.
The King told his friend and fellow monarch that he was 'busy planting lots of trees across the estate' and then invited him to take up a spade once used by his great-grandfather, King Gustavus V, to plant another oak tree in Windsor Great Park in 1908, which still survives today.
A member of Crown Estate staff said: 'This spade was used to plant a tree by the king's great-grandfather in 1908 in Windsor Great Park and we went to see it the other day. It is doing very nicely.'
After digging in several spades full, Charles said: 'I think that will probably do it. It may have some lumps in it.'
King Carl started pushing the earth down with his foot, telling Charles: 'You know what's it like. The trick is to do this. You know the drill!'
'You do it well,' said Charles.
Both kings also gave the tree a little shake for good luck. 'I am so glad you do that as well,' the king smiled.
It was then the turn of the queens to be given a watering can each to finish off the job.
'There we are,' said Camilla, 'we are going to give it a good splash of water.'
'Put the whole lot in,' she said encouragingly to Queen Silvia.
Charles and Carl appeared animated as they planted the tree in the Home Park of Windsor Castle
'On this side, darling, this side,' said King Charles. King Carl joined in : 'Yes, here, behind.'
Carl was particularly glad to see the spade had been used by his great-grandfather. '1908!' he said delightedly.
'Can you see the tree from here?' Charles asked his staff, referring to the previous oak.
There was even more tree-talk amongst the two sovereigns, with Charles assuring his Swedish counterpart: 'I shall keep a very good eye on it. If we are very lucky it will take to the soil and we will keep it watered. Thank you very much, you are so kind. Have you planted my tree?'
He added, pointing to the castle: 'Don't worry, I can keep an eye on it from over there for you! '
As he turned to leave, Charles said as an aside: 'The good thing is that it is near the Pope's tree.' Staff explained that had been given as a gift by the late Pope Francis five years ago.
The King thanked the Swedish royal family's gardeners for the tree, and Camilla said it was beautiful.
Today was a jam-packed day for Charles and Camilla because, after the tree-planting, they dashed off to attend a Reception for the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association at Windsor Castle alongside the Prince of Wales.
Prince William appeared in high spirits at the event, having just returned from his anniversary trip to the Isle of Mull with Kate.
After meeting locals and visiting the location's tourist hotspots, William and Kate enjoyed a romantic getaway at a rented and isolated self-catering cottage for two - 14 years after they tied the knot at Westminster Abbey in 2011.
Meanwhile, Sweden's longest-reigning King has had an equally busy past few days since he marked his 79th birthday at the Royal Palace in Stockholm yesterday.
Celebrating among them was the newest member of the Swedish royal family, Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip's baby, Princess Ines Marie Lilian Silva.
The occasion saw Princess Sofia of Sweden and Prince Carl Philip's newborn daughter, Princess Ines Marie Lilian Silvia, make her first public appearance on her grandfather King Carl XVI Gustaf's birthday.
On the same day over in the UK, King Charles made a poignant message about his experience with cancer.
In the message, the King described the 'daunting' and 'frightening' experience of being told you have cancer.
In what has been described as his most 'poignant' and 'deeply personal' words about the illness fifteen months after his own diagnosis, the monarch also revealed he had taken inspiration from the late Dame Deborah James.
She urged sufferers, he said, with moving magnificence to 'find a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope.'
His Majesty opened up in a message to fellow sufferers as they were invited to Buckingham Palace yesterday to recognise the incredible work of community-based cancer organisations.
The King is himself still undergoing regular treatments as someone 'living with cancer', although aides say his recovery continues in a 'very positive direction, as reflected with the very full national and international diary programme' he is undertaking.
The personally-penned message has added significance given that his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, was also diagnosed with cancer within weeks of his own last year and underwent preventative chemotherapy.
In his message, Charles took pains to personally thank those who so 'selflessly' work giving care, comfort and reassurance to the 390,000 people who receive a new cancer diagnosis across the UK each year - more than 1,000 a day -as well as those working to treat the disease, research cures and fundraise for them do do so.
'Each diagnosis, each new case, will be a daunting and at times frightening experience for those individuals and their loved ones,' he wrote.
'As one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity,' he wrote.
'It has certainly given me an even deeper appreciation of the extraordinary work undertaken by the remarkable organisations and individuals gathered here this evening, many of whom I have known, visited and supported over the years.
'And it has reinforced what I have long observed during these visits - that the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion.'
He added with added poignancy: 'You have my whole family's deepest admiration and gratitude.'
The King was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in January last year following routine surgery for an enlarged prostate.
Buckingham Palace have not confirmed what form he has, but have ruled out it being connected with his prostate issue.
They have also not disclosed what treatment he is still undertaking.
But there is little doubt that Charles has been more open about his diagnosis and medical treatment than any other monarch in history.
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Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I tested best fish and chips in capital of British national dish – winner was succulent and flaky and only cost £10.50
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By trying as many establishments as I could in the town centre in one day. And along the way, I found out just how the chippy makes the meal like nowhere else — and why it's more important than ever to make a point of supporting your local. As it turns out, the dish had made quite the journey to end up in the UK. Sephardic Jews in 15th Century Portugal enjoyed traditional fried fish on the Sabbath. Cooking on the day itself was forbidden, so they would wrap the fish in batter to preserve it. But when they were banished in 1497, many fled to England, bringing the dish with them — and the tradition of eating it on a Friday soon caught on. By the Victorian era, fried fish was firmly established as a working-class staple, being cheap, nutritious and easy to ship across the country thanks to the arrival of the railways. 'Fried fish warehouses' even featured in the Charles Dickens classic Oliver Twist. Britain's £65 Fish & Chips So Big NO ONE Can Finish It Alone But the title of Britain's first fish and chip shop is hotly debated. A southerner may tell you the first one was opened in Bow, East London, by a Jewish immigrant called Joseph Malin in about 1860, while a northerner might claim it was John Lees, who opened a market stall in Mossley, Lancs, around 1863. Wherever that marriage of fried fish and fried chips was first made, it wasn't long before there was a shop on just about every corner. The dish even escaped rationing during World War Two. 'Prices are rocketing' 'It just worked so well, and it's great nutrition,' says Andrew Crook, President of the National Federation of Fish Friers. The numbers don't lie either. According to UK Fisheries, UK fans scoff around 382million meals from chippies every year and spend £1.2billion on fish and chips annually. Even Queen Elizabeth was a devotee — although she didn't eat fish off a newspaper, instead preferring haddock cut into small squares and covered in breadcrumbs. So how did we come to love fish and chips so much? 'It's a comfort thing,' reckons Andrew. 'People go on holiday, and the first meal they have when they get back is fish and chips. 'Everyone has their favourite chippy — you see so many arguments on social media about which one's better than the other. But as long as it sells and people love it, you're doing alright.' But the good old fish and chip shop is under threat. Although there are still more than 10,500 shops left in the country, they now find themselves under pressure just like other small businesses. 15 Fish and chips shops are under pressure from many different market factors in 2025 Credit: Richard Walker 'Fish prices are rocketing, while staff wages and national insurance contributions have increased,' says Raymond Fusco, a third-generation fish fryer and the owner of Winking Willy's, a fish and chip shop right on the harbourside in Scarborough. He adds: 'Gas price increases were massive too, because of the Ukraine war. All that has to be taken into account.' Reduced cod fishing quotas in recent years have also driven costs upwards. But despite these challenges, Raymond still feels confident about the future. He says: 'The good shops will continue to thrive. You can't imagine a Britain without fish and chips.' Andrew, meanwhile, wants the Government to recognise the problems smaller shops face. He says: 'We've got a great product and people rightly love fish and chips. 'We just need the Government to start engaging with this more closely, because if they don't I fear for many small businesses.' But to really understand fish and chips, I would have to get behind the counter and find out how it is made. Raymond explains the vital parts of the process. The oil will soak in if the batter is too thin — and chips must always be at least double fried. When it comes to the fish, keeping the oil clean is what matters most, and it must be regularly sieved to remove scraps and impurities. 15 Tom was invited behind the scenes to check out how fish and chip shops operate Credit: Richard Walker 'Crispy on outside' It's also why what you get down the chippy is so different to what you get in pubs. Raymond reveals: 'We always say, the busier we are, the better the fish, because you're constantly turning over the oil. 'Pubs don't generally do the same amount of volume.' I was now ready to go back to the customer side of the counter and see what Scarborough had on offer — but what should I be looking for in good fish and chips? Andrew, who also judges the National Fish and Chip awards, says: 'You want to be looking at the batter first. 'I'd always break a fish in half and make sure it's not too gooey underneath. You want a nice thin batter that's crisp, and you want a little bit of lift on it, usually a bit spiky.' Haddock rather than cod is the preferred offering in Scarborough, but a good fish will always be ice white and flakey. And for the chips? Andrew says: 'Crispy on the outside and soft in the middle.' But he added that as it was new potato season, they would likely be on the softer side. For these reviews, I have taken into account flavour and value for money to give each a mark out of ten. Here, I reveal what happened when I put Scarborough — and my arteries — to the test. Winking Willies: £10.50 15 Family-run Winking Willies stood out with terrific taste to score a 9/10 rating Credit: Richard Walker THE batter at this family-run shop certainly delivered a great crunch. The chips also had a good amount of softness on the inside without sacrificing the bite on the outside – no doubt thanks to the fact it is cooked in beef tallow. But it was the fish itself that really stood out, with a succulent flavour and great degree of flakiness. SCORE: 9/10 Harbourside: £11.20 15 Harbourside charged a high price, and thankfully the taste was worth it Credit: Richard Walker Like Willy's, this takeaway on the far end of the seafront also keeps things traditional by frying everything in beef dripping. Taste wise, it's worth it, and the chips had a great colour. I was also impressed by the size of the fish – though at £11.20 I wouldn't expect anything less. The fish was slightly greasy, but the batter was crisp. SCORE: 7/10 The Anchor: £11.30 15 The Anchor has featured on television and the portion sizes were impressive Credit: Richard Walker WITH it featuring on TV's The One Show, I went into The Anchor with high expectations – and it almost met them. The portion size was good, and there was clean separation when I broke away the fish, indicating good batter. But I found the chips to be somewhat undercooked with too much fluff – though having beers on draught almost made up for it. SCORE: 6/10 Bamford's: £10.60 15 Bamfords had a unique taste, leaving the fish skin on - which won't be for everyone Credit: Richard Walker THIS small shop on the front had one of the best coloured chips on offer. The fish also delivered on taste. In its favour, for me, was the fact that the skin was still left on. Though I can appreciate not everyone is a fan of this, I think it adds a nice variety to the flavour, especially when you're tucking into it by the sea. SCORE: 7/10 Tunny Club: £8.95 15 The Tunny Club had another unusual approach, serving a fish and chip wrap Credit: Richard Walker I WAS impressed by this award-winning takeaway's unique twist on the classic dish – a fish and chip wrap, featuring battered haddock, chips, and tartar sauce all bundled together. It came in at a very reasonable price, and I was pleasantly surprised by the innovation, which made a pleasant change from your usual takeaway tray. SCORE: 8/10 Fish Pan: £9.85 15 Old-school seafront restaurant The Fish Pan drew a mixed response from Tom Credit: Richard Walker Established in 1960, this old-school seafront take- away unfortunately left me disappointed. I enjoyed the chips, and the batter looked and tasted good, too. However, the fish itself was far too greasy for me to enjoy, and was too tough as well, lacking the flakiness I had been told by the experts to be on the lookout for. SCORE: 5/10 Papa's: £10.18 15 Boasting to be Britain's Best Fish and Chips, Papa's did not quite live up to the claim Credit: Richard Walker SITTING in a prime position on the seafront, a giant sign announces this as Britain's Best Fish and Chips. Unfortunately, it wasn't on the day I visited. Although the chips were decent, the fish was oily and not as good as many of the others nearby. But at £10.18 for a regular meal, it was one of the better value shops along the front. SCORE: 5/10 Carol's Plaice: £9 15 Carol's Plaice is hidden away from the seafront and was once visited by a top soap star Credit: Richard Walker A FEW streets away from the beach in a more residential area, this small family-owned shop is not chasing the tourist crowd – but it offered plenty of bang for my buck. The chips were generously portioned and the batter was a standout. It's no wonder that Gary from Coronation Street – actor Mikey North – once paid a visit. SCORE: 8/10 Rennards: £9.15 15 The fish outperformed the chips at town centre restaurant Rennards Credit: Richard Walker THE offering from this town centre chippy was a decent size for the price, and the fish itself was tasty. The batter wasn't too bad either, though it could have done with crisping up a little bit more. Unfortunately, the chips were the let-down here, as they were pale, undercooked and overall of poor quality. SCORE: 5/10 Wackers: £10 15 There were no complaints with taste at Wackers, despite the very untraditional looking store Credit: Richard Walker THE understated plain brick frontage of this takeaway just off the main shopping street didn't fill me with buckets of hope. But at a tenner a portion, I couldn't complain. The batter had a good golden colour to it, and the chips tasted great with a lovely crispness on the outside. Top whack! SCORE: 8/10 North Bay Fisheries: £12.50 15 There was a queue for North Bay Fisheries despite the price, and the taste showed why Credit: Richard Walker THE large queue snaking out of the door proved why this establishment, situated on the opposite side of town, is one of the highest-rated chippies in Scarborough. The batter and chips all scored top marks, and the fish was tasty too with a more meaty texture. By far the most expensive takeaway I visited but the portion size was very generous. SCORE: 9/10 Catch 55: £10 15 Catch 55 delivered on taste, and could have scored higher with a bigger portion Credit: Richard Walker JUST one road back from the seafront, this smart establishment offered a regular meal for a reasonable tenner. The batter was some of the best I'd had, and the fish was also tasty. But although the chips were great, they were let down by the fact that there were not as many in my box as other shops had served me. SCORE: 7/10
STV News
16 hours ago
- STV News
British brother and sister who drowned off beach in Spain named
A British brother and sister who both drowned off a beach in Spain have been named in reports, with more than £24,000 donated to a fundraising page set up in their honour. Ameiya and Ricardo Junior Del-Brocco, aged 13 and 11 respectively, died after getting into difficulty in the sea during a family holiday in Salou, near Tarragona, on Tuesday evening. Their father, Ricardo, had also entered the water but was rescued alive by emergency services and taken to hospital after being pulled from the water unconscious, according to local media reports. A GoFundMe page was set up on Thursday by a friend of the family, Holly Marquis-Johnson, and a relative, Macalia Del-Brocco, to help cover the cost of bringing the children's bodies home to the UK and 'ease the financial burden' of the family – and has so far raised around £25,000. Ms Marquis-Johnson paid tribute to 'Maya and Jubs', the children's nicknames, writing: 'Maya was intelligent, thoughtful, and growing into a strong young woman. 'Ricardo Junior was playful, kind, and always smiling. 'They brought so much love, laughter, and energy into the lives of everyone around them. 'Their absence has left an unbearable silence not just for their parents, but for their whole family, who were incredibly close and shared an unbreakable bond.' She said the siblings' mother and father were 'absolutely heartbroken'. Ms Marquis-Johnson wrote: 'Their mum and dad, Shanice and Ricardo, are absolutely heartbroken. 'But they're not grieving alone. Their siblings, cousins, aunties, uncles, grandparents, and close friends are all devastated by this loss. 'Maya and Jubs were surrounded by a family who adored them, and who are now left trying to make sense of life without them. 'This fundraiser has been created to help ease some of the financial burden the family is now facing, covering the costs of bringing Maya and Jubs home to the UK, giving them the dignified farewell they deserve, and supporting their parents and loved ones during this incredibly painful time.' Emergency services were called to Llarga beach in Salou, near Tarragona, shortly after 8.45pm local time on Tuesday evening, Catalonia's Civil Protection agency said. Local police, medical and fire services all attended the incident, while a team of psychologists were also at the scene to assist the victims' family. At a news conference on Wednesday, Jose Luis Gargallo, the head of the local police force in Salou, told reporters: 'There were three people who were having serious difficulty getting out of the sea. 'There was a father with his son and daughter, of British nationality. 'When they got out, both of them, the boy and girl, aged 11 and 13, showed no signs of life. 'Attempts were made to resuscitate them with CPR, but they were unsuccessful. 'The father, fortunately, was able to be saved. He had swallowed a lot of water, he was exhausted, very fatigued, but the father was able to be saved thanks to the emergency services.' A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of two British children who have died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Leader Live
17 hours ago
- Leader Live
British brother and sister who drowned off beach in Spain named
Ameiya and Ricardo Junior Del-Brocco, aged 13 and 11 respectively, died after getting into difficulty in the sea during a family holiday in Salou, near Tarragona, on Tuesday evening. Their father, Ricardo, had also entered the water but was rescued alive by emergency services and taken to hospital after being pulled from the water unconscious, according to local media reports. A GoFundMe page was set up on Thursday by a friend of the family, Holly Marquis-Johnson, and a relative, Macalia Del-Brocco, to help cover the cost of bringing the children's bodies home to the UK and 'ease the financial burden' of the family – and has so far raised around £25,000. Ms Marquis-Johnson paid tribute to 'Maya and Jubs', the children's nicknames, writing: 'Maya was intelligent, thoughtful, and growing into a strong young woman. 'Ricardo Junior was playful, kind, and always smiling. 'They brought so much love, laughter, and energy into the lives of everyone around them. 'Their absence has left an unbearable silence not just for their parents, but for their whole family, who were incredibly close and shared an unbreakable bond.' She said the siblings' mother and father were 'absolutely heartbroken'. Ms Marquis-Johnson wrote: 'Their mum and dad, Shanice and Ricardo, are absolutely heartbroken. 'But they're not grieving alone. Their siblings, cousins, aunties, uncles, grandparents, and close friends are all devastated by this loss. 'Maya and Jubs were surrounded by a family who adored them, and who are now left trying to make sense of life without them. 'This fundraiser has been created to help ease some of the financial burden the family is now facing, covering the costs of bringing Maya and Jubs home to the UK, giving them the dignified farewell they deserve, and supporting their parents and loved ones during this incredibly painful time.' Emergency services were called to Llarga beach in Salou, near Tarragona, shortly after 8.45pm local time on Tuesday evening, Catalonia's Civil Protection agency said. Local police, medical and fire services all attended the incident, while a team of psychologists were also at the scene to assist the victims' family. At a news conference on Wednesday, Jose Luis Gargallo, the head of the local police force in Salou, told reporters: 'There were three people who were having serious difficulty getting out of the sea. 'There was a father with his son and daughter, of British nationality. 'When they got out, both of them, the boy and girl, aged 11 and 13, showed no signs of life. 'Attempts were made to resuscitate them with CPR, but they were unsuccessful. 'The father, fortunately, was able to be saved. He had swallowed a lot of water, he was exhausted, very fatigued, but the father was able to be saved thanks to the emergency services.' A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of two British children who have died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.'
