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Telegraph
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Schoolgirl, 12, ‘punished' for wearing Union flag dress
A 12-year-old girl was put into isolation for wearing a union flag dress to her school's culture day, her father has said. 'Straight A' student Courtney Wright wore the Spice Girls-esque dress and wrote a piece about British history and traditions as part of the celebrations on Friday. She was later told the dress was 'unacceptable', and was hauled out of lessons and made to sit in reception until her father collected her. Her father Stuart Field, 47, said he was surprised to learn she had been segregated from her peers due to her choice of attire at Bilton School in Rugby, Warks. Mr Field, who works in marine restoration, said: 'Courtney was so embarrassed and couldn't understand what she'd done wrong. 'She should not be made to feel embarrassed about being British. 'And she shouldn't be punished for celebrating being British - nobody else I've spoken to can quite get their heads around it. 'Somebody at the school has politicised a Union Jack dress even though that was clearly not Courtney's intent. Courtney didn't do anything to be political. 'It's about being British, the Spice Girls and even the freedom at being able to wear a dress. This is just what being British means to her.' In a permission letter sent to parents, it said the day was 'designed to promote inclusion, understanding, and appreciation of different backgrounds, traditions and heritages'. But Mr Field said the school's actions went against the message and other pupils with St George's flags and Welsh flags were also turned away from the school gates. He added: 'It's the school who have made it political and it went against everything the event was being held for. 'All the kids there are British in my eyes, I like to think I'm a tolerant person but this was just not right. 'I wanted an answer as to why they thought this was acceptable - and nobody could give me a straight answer, I wanted to know how they had justified it. 'I spoke to her head of year, and he said he wasn't the best person to talk to about it, so I can only assume he didn't really agree with it either. 'It obviously came from above him but I don't know for sure who made the decision.' A spokesman for Stowe Valley Trust said: 'At Bilton School, we are proud of the diversity of our students and the rich heritage they bring to our community. We are committed to fostering an environment where every pupil feels respected, valued, and included. 'On Friday 11th July, an incident occurred during our Culture Celebration Day that caused considerable upset to one of our pupils, her family, and members of the wider community. 'We deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our sincere and unreserved apologies. 'We have since spoken directly with the pupil and her family to listen to their concerns and reflect on how this could have been handled better. 'We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring that every student feels recognised and supported when expressing pride in their heritage. 'As a school, we are reviewing our policies and strengthening staff training to ensure our practices reflect our values of inclusion, respect, and understanding for all.'
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Travel + Leisure
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
This British Country Garden Estate Is Less Than an Hour From London—and Is a Favorite of Meghan Markle's
Few places can rival the traffic jams you find in central London. Truly, the bumper-to-bumper roadways around commuting time could easily drive someone to madness. On a recent journey to the British city, I was in one such jam—only this time I didn't have a care in the world. Because in under an hour, I'd be in a place where the flowers bloom, the lawn is sprawling, and fresh air abounds. In early spring of 2025, I made my way to the UK on a girls' trip, specifically to the Cliveden House, a five-star luxury spa retreat in Berkshire, England, which we heard about after Meghan Markle stayed there with her mother the night before her wedding. However, it's not just the Duchess' stay that makes this place special. It's also its 350-year history and its surprising proximity to the center of London that make it utterly magical. For those who love historical British drama, there are both salacious and sophisticated components to the mansion's storied past, like a high-profile affair involving a conservative member of Parliament, a 19-year-old dancer, and a Russian spy that led to a major government scandal in the 1960s. The current house was built in 1851 after the original manor from 1666 and its replacement in 1824 were destroyed in fires. It's a spot so grand that it's hosted every British monarch from George I onward, and to honor its lineage of important guests, Cliveden House's 47 rooms are each named for one. First home to British nobility and then New York's version of royalty, the Astor family, Cliveden House (pronounced "Cliffden" after the cliffs on which it's built) relishes in romantic charm, similar to Bridgerton filming locations and Downtown Abbey' s famous Highclere Castle, which happens to be about an hour away (Cliveden was even mentioned in Downton Abbey once). It's as easy to imagine the glamorous parties that once took place here, with notable visitors like Winston Churchill and Charlie Chaplin, as it is to enjoy the present-day glamour. Inundated with rich materials and rugs, buttery gold trimming, imposing bookshelves, antique furniture, crystal chandeliers, oil paintings, and lush patterned drapes, the ornate rooms drip in English country chicness, transporting you somewhere that feels centuries away from where you came. Take in the garden views while enjoying afternoon tea. Overlooking a formal parterre garden, 376 acres of National Trust gardens, and the River Thames, the views from the perches at the back of the mansion are showstopping. Look out while sitting windowside at the old library bar, Aperol spritz in hand, for the perfect vacation moment. From the hotel, guests can walk down to the riverbank on a tree-shaded path or by a long staircase carved into the gently sloping hill. But the best way Cliveden House helps guests enjoy the River Thames is via special boat trips and picnics, which can be arranged at your convenience. There are a few vintage boats to choose from, depending on the size of your group, and you have several menu options, including afternoon tea, Champagne and light bites, or a more robust meal to bring with you on your ride. You can charter the boats for an hour up to a whole day—the longer trips taking you for more extensive sightseeing or even to a nearby town, like Henley or Windsor. Sail down the River Thames on one of their vintage boats. My group chose to idly cruise down the River Thames on the 33-foot Belmont, a restored 1930s slipper with glossy wood paneling, for a very happy hour before dinner at the hotel's upscale Cliveden Dining Room. On the boat ride, we had a clear view of Cliveden House atop its high vantage point, making it the only thing popping out above the dense green tree line. This experience was, especially to three Americans, authentically quaint and unexpectedly secluded. We had the stretch of the River Thames almost exclusively to ourselves, getting a quiet reprieve, which was unusual for three city dwellers. This was our collective favorite part of the weekend, merging many of Cliveden House's best attributes: living history, picturesque landscape, and British leisure culture. While we stayed overnight, Cliveden House is a go-to day trip for people in the London area or for a pampering stopover for those coming to or from Heathrow, which is only about 20 minutes away by car. Featuring an outdoor pool and two hot tubs (a rarity in the U.K.), Cliveden's spa is a dreamy place nestled behind rustic brick walls to lounge on a balmy Saturday or Sunday. The outdoor swimming pool at the Cliveden Spa. Inside the home's window-lined spa, which opened in 2017, treatments are offered in the light-hued, tranquil space, where there's also an indoor pool and Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, and gym. The spa is open to both day and hotel guests and also offers a membership plan. Other activities offered on site include tennis courts, afternoon high tea, fitness classes, country sports, falconry, and, of course, exploring the expansive grounds dotted with sculptures and ornate fountains. Whether you have a day or an entire weekend for a fit-for-British-royalty countryside experience, Cliveden House is easy to access by car or train, with the nearest stops at Taplow and Burnham, and well worth the short journey for what feels like a far-away escape.
