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Lord Peter Mandelson has said it is a “great honour to serve the country” as the Prime Minister confirmed he had appointed him the next British ambassador to the US. Labour grandee Lord Mandelson, who served in the cabinets of Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, becomes the UK’s top diplomat in Washington DC as US President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to the White House. “It is a great honour to serve the country in this way,” Lord Madelson said. He added: “We face challenges in Britain but also big opportunities and it will be a privilege to work with the Government to land those opportunities, both for our economy and our nation’s security, and to advance our historic alliance with the United States.” Lord Mandelson will take up the role in early 2025. Sir Keir Starmer said that he was “delighted” to appoint Lord Mandelson, and he will bring “unrivalled experience to the role”. In a statement, the Prime Minister said that “the United States is one of our most important allies and as we move into a new chapter in our friendship, Peter will bring unrivalled experience to the role and take our partnership from strength to strength”. He also thanked outgoing ambassador Dame Karen Pierce for her “invaluable service” and “steadfast support” she has given him personally since his election in July. Sir Keir added: “She made history as the first woman to serve as UK Ambassador to the US and she has been an outstanding representative of our country abroad. I wish her all the very best in future.” The political appointment comes as Mr Trump will return to the White House in January. Lord Mandelson’s trade experience is seen as a strength amid concerns over what the second Trump presidency could mean for the UK. Mr Trump has pledged to introduce wide-ranging tariffs on the first day of his new administration, which starts on January 20, with experts predicting damaging consequences for Britain’s goods trade with the US. A source previously described Lord Mandelson as having “unrivalled political and policy experience, particularly on the crucial issue of trade,” and on Friday a Cabinet minister suggested he would be a “really good fit” for the position. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described him as “an individual of very significant international standing”. She told Sky News: “We need someone as the next ambassador to the US who is going to be able to promote our economic and security interests with one of our closest allies, and so I think he is a really good fit for the job.” Lord Mandelson was one of the architects of New Labour, helping to restore the party to power in the 1990s. He served as trade secretary and Northern Ireland secretary under Sir Tony but stood down as an MP in 2004 to become a European Commissioner. He returned to government in 2008 when Mr Brown awarded him a peerage and appointed him business secretary. More recently, Lord Mandelson stood to be the next chancellor of Oxford University but lost out to former Conservative leader Lord William Hague. Published: 20/12/2024 by Radio NewsHub

Sue Gray, the partygate investigator who went on to become Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, has been named among 30 new Labour peers. Downing Street announced a raft of new appointments to the House of Lords on Friday afternoon, which also included former shadow cabinet minister Thangam Debbonaire and Conservative Liz Truss’s deputy prime minister Dame Therese Coffey. Overall, 38 new appointments were announced, with six from the Tories and two from the Liberal Democrats, as well as the 30 from Labour. Ms Gray came to prominence in 2022 with the report into Downing Street parties, and then became Sir Keir’s chief of staff in opposition before following him into Number 10. She quit the role in October after a series of internal rows. Toby Young, the founder and director of the Free Speech Union, is among those who has been made a Conservative life peer, while former MP Luciana Berger who resigned from Labour in 2019 over the antisemitism scandal before rejoining in 2023 will sit on the Labour Lords benches. The six nominations from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, include Dame Therese as well as former housing minister Rachel Maclean, Oxford professor Nigel Biggar, former deputy mayor of London Roger Evans and Joanne Cash, a barrister and co-founder of Parent Gym. Mike Katz, the national chairman of the Jewish Labour Movement and Anne Longfield, who served as the Children’s Commissioner for England between 2015 and 2021 will also be made life peers. Among the other Labour names on the list put forward by Sir Keir are former MPs Ms Debbonaire, Julie Elliott, Lyn Brown, Steve McCabe and Kevin Brennan, as well as former Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones. Ms Debbonaire had served as Labour’s shadow culture secretary but lost her seat at the general election to the Green Party. Ms Gray is not the only member of Sir Keir’s inner circle to be nominated, with Deborah Mattinson, his former director of strategy, also getting a nod. There are also two nominations from the leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey, including Mark Pack who has been president of the party since 2020. Labour has pledged to reform the House of Lords and has already moved to get rid of hereditary peers. The announcement will boost Sir Keir’s numbers in the upper chamber, which sat at 187 Labour peers compared to 273 from the Conservatives. A Labour source said that the Conservatives had created an “imbalance” in the Lords that needed to be “corrected”. They said: “⁠The Tories stuffed the House of Lords, creating a serious imbalance in the chamber. This needs to be corrected to drive through the Government’s plan for change and deliver on our mandate from the British people. “We are committed to an overdue programme of reform and have already laid legislation to remove the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the Lords.” Published: 20/12/2024 by Radio NewsHub

The King joked that he was “still alive” during a visit with the Queen to Walthamstow after August’s peaceful anti-racist protest in the area. The couple attended a reception in celebration of community cohesion at Waltham Forest Town Hall in east London on Friday, and greeted crowds who had gathered outside. Asked “How are you?” by Sikh faith representative Harvinder Rattan, the King smiled as he replied: “I’m still alive.” The royal couple waved at the crowds outside the town hall and went on a walkabout after meeting representatives from different faith communities in the listed building. During the visit, Camilla donated 25 toys to Citizens UK, to be passed on to children living in asylum hotels, and a donation to a food bank was left on the King’s behalf. The donation included Waitrose cartons of long-life milk, Christmas puddings, custard and mince pies. After listening to a performance by a children’s choir, A Little Choir of Joy, Charles told them: “I do hope you have a very happy Christmas.” He then joked that the children in the choir, made up of eight to 12 year-olds from schools in the borough, should “make the most of it” for the “poor teachers”. Charles was presented with a Christmas card from the choir, with messages written inside which included “Your majesties, thank you so much for visiting us today” and “hope you enjoyed our singing”. Refreshments for the reception were provided by Haven Cafe, whose owner Usman Khalid is a former asylum seeker who trains refugees to be baristas. After disorder across some parts of the UK, thousands of people gathered in Walthamstow for a counter-demonstration on August 7, and those planning to protest outside an immigration centre failed to turn up. The area in north-east London was one of hundreds of locations earmarked for protests, and there with fears of widespread unrest. Instead, at least 5,000 counter-protesters gathered outside the immigration centre, taking a stand, they said, against racism and violence. Among those greeting the royal couple in the town hall was Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy, who said the visit “means a lot”. Speaking after the royals departed, the Labour MP told the PA news agency: “The far-right are very active in our local community, and they continue to come and protest here. “That means that we as a community have to be constantly vigilant and it means a lot that the King has recognised the community, the grassroots activism. “We never want to get to a place again where people are having to challenge the far-right on our streets.” Buckingham Palace said August’s peaceful protest demonstrated the “true community spirit of the borough, coming together to keep people and communities safe”. Waltham Forest was officially recognised as a Borough of Sanctuary by the national charity City of Sanctuary in December 2023. Published: 20/12/2024 by Radio NewsHub

Lord Peter Mandelson is a “really good fit” to become the next UK ambassador to the US, a Cabinet minister has said as the Labour grandee is expected to be named to the post. Lord Mandelson, who served in the cabinets of Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, is poised to be the UK’s next top diplomat in Washington, in a political appointment as Donald Trump returns to the White House. The tenure of Dame Karen Pierce, the current office holder, is expected to come to an end in early 2025 and Lord Mandelson had been widely tipped as the person next in line for the job. Lord Mandelson is “an individual of very significant international standing” and an experienced politician, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said. His trade policy experience, including as an EU trade commissioner, would be “really important” at a time when Mr Trump has threatened to introduce new tariffs, she said. “We need someone as the next ambassador to the US who is going to be able to promote our economic and security interests with one of our closest allies, and so I think he is a really good fit for the job,” Ms Alexander told Sky News. A source said that the move shows how important the UK sees “our relationship with the Trump administration” and described Lord Mandelson as somebody with “unrivalled” political experience. The source said: “The fact the Prime Minister has chosen to make a political appointment and send Lord Mandelson to Washington shows just how importantly we see our relationship with the Trump administration. “We’re sending someone close to the Prime Minister with unrivalled political and policy experience, particularly on the crucial issue of trade. He’s the ideal candidate to represent the UK’s economic and security interests in the USA.” The move would come as Mr Trump is set to be inaugurated for the second time, with questions over what a second Trump presidency could mean for the UK. Mr Trump has pledged to introduce wide-ranging tariffs on the first day of his new administration, which starts on January 20, with experts predicting damaging consequences for Britain’s goods trade with the US. On Thursday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that the UK would “have to make sure that we avoid tariffs” as he faced questions on his approach to the incoming US president. He told the Commons Liaison Committee he was “alive to the danger of tariffs” but would not “speculate as to what the incoming president might do”. He said: “I am not a fan of tariffs and, therefore, we have to make sure that we avoid tariffs.” Former British ambassador to the US Lord Kim Darroch told BBC’s Newsnight that he thought it was a “good appointment”. Speaking to the programme, he said: “I’ve been saying for a long time ever since the election outcome that I thought Peter Mandelson was the right man for the job and I’m glad that it’s been announced.” Lord Darroch was in post during Mr Trump’s first presidency but quit his stateside role in 2019 after messages he wrote criticising the administration were leaked to the press. The Times reported Lord Mandelson was chosen ahead of former foreign secretary David Miliband, ex-development secretary Baroness Amos and Baroness Ashton of Upholland, who served as European trade commissioner. In November, Lord Mandelson, the former MP for Hartlepool, told the BBC that he would be “very interested” in giving advice on trade to whoever got the job. Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, Lord Mandelson said he was “more in favour of a new relationship rather than a special one” with the US. He said at the time that nobody had spoken to him about the job. Lord Mandelson was one of the architects of New Labour, helping to restore the party to power in the 1990s. He served as trade secretary and Northern Ireland secretary under Sir Tony but stood down as an MP in 2004 to become a European Commissioner. He returned to government in 2008 when Mr Brown awarded him a peerage and appointed him business secretary. More recently, Lord Mandelson stood to be the next chancellor of Oxford University but lost out to former Conservative leader Lord William Hague. Published: 20/12/2024 by Radio NewsHub

Sir Keir Starmer has urged councils to “get on with the job” of fixing pothole-plagued roads. The Prime Minister said damaged roads “can risk lives and cost families hundreds if not thousands of pounds on repairs”. He made the comments as the Department for Transport (DfT) announced how much each local authority in England will receive to maintain roads in the next financial year. The funding allocations include: – More than £327 million for the North West, North East and Yorkshire and Humber. – More than £372 million for the East Midlands and West Midlands. – More than £244 million for the East of England. – More than £378 million for local authorities in the South East and London. – More than £300 million for local authorities in the South West. The Treasury announced in the Budget in October that total local road maintenance funding in 2025/26 will be nearly £1.6 billion, representing a £500 million uplift compared with the previous 12 months. The increase is estimated to be enough to fix around seven million potholes. Sir Keir said: “Broken roads can risk lives and cost families hundreds if not thousands of pounds on repairs. “That’s a cost that can easily be avoided by investing properly in our roads. “Through our Plan for Change we’re determined to put more money back into the pockets of hardworking people and improve living standards. “That’s why we’re giving councils funding to repair our roads and get Britain moving again – with a clear expectation that they get on with the job.” The cost of bringing pothole-plagued local roads in England and Wales up to scratch has been estimated at £16.3 billion. RAC figures show drivers encounter an average of six potholes per mile on roads in England and Wales and the cost per incident of pothole damage to vehicles is around £500. The AA found tackling the issue is a priority for 96% of motorists. The DfT said it will make sure highway authorities “spend the money wisely”, collect accurate data and deliver “proactive maintenance” before potholes start to form. A quarter of the increased funding will be held back until authorities have “shown that they are delivering”, the DfT added. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed confidence that the “really significant investment” will result in drivers noticing an improvement in road conditions. She told the PA news agency: “This is massive. “It’s up to councils how they use the money. They can fill potholes, they can resurface roads, they can improve pavements, they can repair bridges. “We will be asking councils to report back to us about how they spent that money. “I’m confident that the public will start to see an improvement in the state of the roads. “We’ve had a decade of underinvestment and a decade of decline really, so it’s imperative that we take action.” AA president Edmund King described the funding as a “significant cash injection”. He said: “With most journeys starting and ending on local roads, it is vital to restore the structural integrity of the streets we live on. “We urge councils to focus on permanent and innovative repairs rather than adopting a ‘patch and run’ approach.” RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “This is the biggest one-off road maintenance funding settlement councils in England have ever been given. “So we have high hopes it’s the turning point that ends the degradation of our roads and finally delivers fit-for-purpose, smooth surfaces for drivers and all other road users. “What’s particularly positive is that this announcement comes with the important caveat of using the money wisely by carrying out preventative maintenance to stop more potholes appearing in the future.” Ms Alexander also announced a crackdown on disruptive street works to further ease journeys, with plans to double fines for utility companies which fail to comply with rules. Responding to the Government’s announcement, Cllr Adam Hug, transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: “This extra £500 million for local roads is helpful, but we would ask government to reconsider its decision to hold back a quarter of this funding, in order to give councils the greater certainty they need. “Councils already spend considerably more on maintaining their highways than what they receive from central government. “Fully funding councils will enable them to far more effectively plan for and invest in preventative treatments which keep surfaces in better condition for longer and prevent potholes, which are more expensive to repair. “Greater long-term investment is needed if we are to reduce the £16.3 billion repair backlog and next year’s Spending Review provides an opportunity to give councils this funding certainty.” Published: 20/12/2024 by Radio NewsHub

But no police officers will face charges over their role in the incident, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. Footage of fracas was shared online in July and prompted protests after it appeared to show a Greater Manchester Police officer assaulting a man as he lay on the floor. The altercation, in the airport’s Terminal Two, allegedly happened after an earlier confrontation between passengers on a Qatar Airways flight which arrived at 7.20pm on July 23. On Friday, the CPS said Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, of Rochdale, had been charged with two offences of causing actual bodily harm, one charge of assaulting an emergency worker and one charge of common assault and Muhammed Amaad, 25, also from Rochdale, also is charged with causing actual bodily harm. The men will appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on January 16. Prosecutors said experts had concluded there was “no realistic prospect of conviction” of any police officers. Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “We have reviewed all the available evidence, including witness statements, video footage, expert reports and other material related to police use of force, to make an independent and objective assessment about whether it is appropriate to present charges for the court to consider. “Based on a careful consideration of this evidence, we have concluded that two men should be charged with offences including assaults on police officers. “We have concluded no charges should be brought against any officers. We examined potential offences of actual bodily harm, and common assault, and reviewed expert evidence in the form of an independent report from an expert in the use of police force, to inform this decision. “We always ensure police training is also taken into account in the context of these decisions, and in this case the combination of evidence, and the expert opinion meant there was no realistic prospect of conviction. “We acknowledge that in this case as in any other, the strength of feeling has been high. Our specially trained prosecutors are often at the forefront of dealing with high-profile cases subject to intense public and media scrutiny and will always make independent and objective decisions based on all available evidence.” Two men and their mother alleged they had been assaulted during the incident and police said three officers received injuries, including a broken nose. Four men were arrested at the scene for affray and assault on emergency service workers. Parallel investigations have been carried out by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). GMP said it submitted a “comprehensive file” to the Crown Prosecution Service in August. Published: 20/12/2024 by Radio NewsHub

An estimated four million people in the UK are preparing to spend the Christmas and new year period overseas, according to a travel trade organisation. Abta said Sunday will be the busiest day for departures between Friday and January 2, with Christmas Day the quietest. It identified the most popular destinations for winter sun holidays as the Canary Islands, southern Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Dubai. The ski resorts of France, Austria, Switzerland and Scandinavia lead the way for holidaymakers seeking snow, while the most popular city break destinations include Amsterdam, Budapest, Dublin, Paris, Prague and Vienna. Heathrow airport expects this will be its busiest December on record for passenger numbers, exceeding the previous high of 6.7 million in 2023. Around half a million departing passengers are expected at both Manchester and Stansted airports over the Christmas and new year period, with 400,000 at Luton, 200,000 at Birmingham and 175,000 at Bristol. Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “Christmas and new year are one of the busiest times of year for overseas travel with millions heading off to spend quality time with family and friends. “Holidaymakers are either looking for some winter sun or guaranteed snow, as well as the opportunity for everyone to relax and enjoy themselves with someone else doing the hard work of cooking and clearing up after the festivities. “We’re encouraging people to plan ahead when making their journeys. Public transport and the roads will be very busy, so always leave plenty of time to arrive at your departure port to avoid any difficulties.” EasyJet said it is expecting its busiest-ever Christmas and new year period, with up to 4.1 million passengers boarding departures from airports across Europe. Friday is expected to be the UK’s busiest day on the roads for festive travel. The AA said an estimated 23.7 million journeys are planned for the day. That is more than the busiest Christmas getaway day of any year since the organisation began recording data in 2010. It has identified several likely congestion hotspots, including: – The M4/M5 interchange near Bristol – The M25 near Heathrow airport, west London – The M5/M6 interchange near Birmingham – The M4 around Cardiff and Newport – The M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow The AA said Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday may help spread festive journeys this year, but could also mean more days of long delays as getaway journeys on Friday are followed by last-minute shopping trips and visits to friends and family. Rail engineering work will lead to more pressure on the roads with several lines closed, affecting services to and from stations such as London Liverpool Street, London Paddington, Crewe, Cambridge and Harpenden. Storm damage means the Port of Holyhead in North Wales is closed to ferries until January 15, forcing many people who planned to travel to and from Ireland by boat to find an alternative route. Published: 20/12/2024 by Radio NewsHub

Teachers should be given powers to compel parents of disruptive children to engage with them – tackling the “burgeoning crisis of behaviour” in schools, a report has said. Schools should be able to escalate concerns to other agencies on “safeguarding grounds” when parents refuse to co-operate, according to a paper from the think tank set up by Sir Tony Blair. The report from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) came amid warnings of challenging behaviour in classrooms following the pandemic. It has called for a “reset” of the parent-teacher relationship in England’s schools, warning that poor behaviour is “crushing learning outcomes” and driving teachers out of the profession. The Government should make fixing the behaviour crisis in schools an “urgent priority”, the paper from the former Labour prime minister’s think tank said. The report said: “Schools should be given the power to compel families to come to the table and agree an action plan when a pupil’s behaviour becomes severely disruptive. “Where families refuse to engage, teachers need to be dealt a stronger hand. “If parents fail to attend disciplinary meetings or engage with an action plan, schools should be able to escalate concerns to other relevant agencies on safeguarding grounds. “The Government should consider if any legal powers similar to those used to address repeated absence without a good reason should apply when parents refuse to co-operate repeatedly and without substantive grounds. “Schools should also be given a stronger statutory role in driving multi-agency working, with powers to convene, co-ordinate and lead meetings where appropriate.” Parents in England face higher fines if they take their children out of class without permission this year as part of a Government drive to boost attendance since the pandemic. But the report said teachers currently cannot compel parents to attend meetings if they have concerns about their child’s behaviour. Alexander Iosad, acting director of government innovation at TBI, said: “Today’s report shows that teachers are powerless and unsupported to tackle a rising epidemic of disruptive and dangerous behaviour. “We must shift the balance of authority back in favour of teachers and give them the support they need.” He added: “Let’s be clear; this is not just a challenge, it is a safeguarding issue. “Schools should therefore become statutory partners in safeguarding and should have the authority to compel parents and other agencies like the police, NHS and social services to come together and agree an action plan. “Only by giving teachers the power to address poor behaviour not just in the classroom but at its source will we be able to keep teachers in the profession.” Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said many schools are “experiencing challenging behaviour” from students and the issue appears to have worsened since the pandemic “when normal behaviours and routines were disrupted”. He added: “The idea of giving teachers a statutory authority to force parents to engage is certainly novel, but we would be concerned that such a policy would create a significant additional burden on schools and exacerbate tensions with parents. “Instead, we need to be looking to create conditions that allow schools to work together constructively with parents, as well as external agencies where necessary, in the best interests of children and young people.” Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union the NAHT, said: “Whilst no doubt well-meaning, many of the recommendations presented in this report are misguided and unworkable. “Furthermore, some of the alarmist language used is unhelpful – we must not lose sight of the fact that the large majority of children are well behaved and engage with school positively.” He added: “There is a real risk that the approach advocated here would not only damage relationships between schools and parents, but also massively increased the workload of teachers and leaders. “Rather than pushing more responsibility onto schools, the focus should be on rebuilding those agencies that have become depleted and recognising that improving behaviour is a responsibility for everyone.” A Department for Education spokesperson said: “The surge in challenging behaviour in schools has been left to spiral out of control, leading to countless days of lost learning and devastating children’s life chances. “As we deliver our Plan for Change, we will break down barriers to opportunity and tackle the root causes of poor behaviour. “We’ve already announced a significant £1 billion investment in Send, committed to providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every school, and set out plans for new regional improvement teams which will work with schools to ensure the highest standards of behaviour across our classrooms. “But we know there is more to do, and we will continue to work closely with teachers on how we can further support them to drive-up standards for all our children.” Published: 20/12/2024 by Radio NewsHub

The Scottish Government has been urged to reduce the cost of rail travel after a price comparison found it was cheaper to fly from Edinburgh to London than commute from the Scottish capital to Glasgow by train. Research by Scottish Labour found a return flight from Edinburgh to London Stansted could cost as little as £29.98 – less than the £31.40 price of a peak-time ScotRail ticket between Glasgow and Edinburgh. The party also said it was either the same price or cheaper to book one-way flights to locations such as Dublin and Belfast than it was to buy a one-way peak fare from Edinburgh to Glasgow. Peak fares returned to ScotRail services in September after a Government pilot scheme ended. The trial’s end meant a rail ticket from Glasgow to Edinburgh during peak times – when most people go to work – nearly doubled to more than £31. The price can be brought down to £20.90 for those who buy a railcard, but not everyone is entitled to one. Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the programme, which saved some commuters thousands of pounds, cost the Government around £40 million a year. She said while the pilot saw a “limited increase” in passenger numbers, “it did not achieve its aims of encouraging a significant modal shift from car to rail”. In response, ScotRail, which was brought under public control in 2022, said it would discount all season tickets by 20% for 12 months from September. It also said the number of journeys offered on its Flexipass tickets will increase from 10 to 12, while super off-peak fares will also return. Labour transport spokes woman Clare Baker said low fares are key to getting consumers back on trains. She said: “This is perhaps a light-hearted comparison but one which reveals a serious truth – it’s costing commuters more than a mini-break to travel between Scotland’s biggest cities. “Affordable rail fares are the key to getting people back on to trains and ending the spiral of decline facing ScotRail, while transport infrastructure underpins economic growth. “Scottish Labour will continue to press the SNP Government to tackle expensive fares and deliver more reliable rail services.” A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “These figures are misleading as they completely overlook the 20% discounts available on all season tickets and flexipasses, including between Edinburgh and Glasgow. “This means regular passengers using a season ticket four times a week will pay just £18.52 and those using flexipasses £21.25 for each return journey. “This demonstrates this Scottish Government’s commitment to keeping fares lower for those passengers who have no option but to travel at peak times, while also encouraging more people to help Scotland cut carbon emissions from transport by choosing to travel by train.” Published: 20/12/2024 by Radio NewsHub

The King will speak about his commitment to heritage crafts as part of a BBC Christmas special of Countryfile. The festive programme, filmed at Charles’s Highgrove home in Gloucestershire, will showcase the work of the King’s Foundation’s education programmes, including painting, millinery and embroidery crafts. Countryfile hosts Matt Baker, Margherita Taylor, and Adam Henson met staff from Charles’s charity for the programme while the royal residence was transformed into a festive wonderland in a sustainable way – another of the King’s passions. Baker talked to Highgrove’s head gardener to harvest Charles’s Brussels sprouts and met students crafting things with timber. He and Charles also had a “conversation about his commitment to the preservation of heritage crafts”. The Countryfile Christmas At Highgrove episode will also feature Henson meeting a farmer moving his sheep to Highgrove’s meadow for grazing, and the royal chef preparing a Christmas feast. The King’s Foundation offers education courses for almost 15,000 students annually, health and wellbeing programmes for nearly 2,000 people each year, and spearheads placemaking and regeneration projects in the UK and overseas to revitalise communities and historic buildings. It acts as the custodian of Highgrove Gardens, home to education programmes in traditional and heritage crafts, including the Snowdon School of Furniture and the Metiers d’Arts Fellowship in partnership with Chanel and le19M. Earlier this month, the King attended the royal residence for the annual Crafts at Christmas event, where he was presented with creations from the students. The Countryfile episode follows on from Charles taking part in a 2023 special of The Repair Shop, where he showcased the work of the students – when the charity was called the Prince’s Foundation – as well as speaking about heritage crafts. Countryfile Christmas At Highgrove airs on BBC One on December 22 from 5.30pm. Published: 20/12/2024 by Radio NewsHub