When it was revealed last week that Queen Ending ‘sleepless nights’ Prince William Flying his wife and their kids around in a helicopter, it was surprising why she had become so anxious.
Now, however, a source close to the Emperor has revealed the secret reason for her fears: she is still haunted by a helicopter crash that killed the captain of the Queen’s flight and three others.
‘It completely turned him off,’ the source told me. ‘So she is very concerned for William and his family.’
The source says that the queen, who is Windsor Castle, will ‘talk’ with the Duke of Cambridge when he returns from Norfolk, where he is spending Christmas With Catherine and their three children.
The Queen had ‘sleepless nights’ that Prince William was flying his wife and their children around by helicopter
The Queen is reportedly still haunted by a helicopter crash that killed the captain of the Queen’s flight and three others
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge visit two Airbus helicopters
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge look as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge disembark from a squirrel helicopter as they visit the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford
In December 1967, Air Commodore John Blount, the captain of the Queen’s Flight, was killed while flying in a Westland tornado that crashed near Newbury, Berkshire. Three other members of the aircraft were killed.
An inquiry blamed metal fatigue in the gearbox. There was no royal on board but Prince Philip was flying the same plane recently. The queen was so upset that she refused to consider Rotary air travel altogether.
As a result, he did not set foot in a helicopter, after all, he had no choice.
During the Silver Jubilee of 1977, as my colleague Robert Hardman reveals in his book Our Queen, she was determined to visit all parts of her kingdom.
Her ministers told her that if she wanted to travel to Northern Ireland, the only safe way out was in a helicopter. He obliged, but with a heavy heart.
And to this day, she dislikes them, especially in winter, and will not climb one after dark.
Blount was from a prestigious RAF family. But by the time their relationship, James, was choosing his career, he chose Cena before a career in pop music – when he dropped the ‘o’ from the family name.
Kate a singing star? Wouldn’t that be a lover!
The impressive piano from the Duchess of Cambridge, who played with rock singer Tom Walker at Westminster Abbey last week, has left royal audiences wondering if we might even be listening to her song anytime soon.
They’re sharing a video of the future queen singing Wouldn’t It Lover? During the making of his prep school musical My Fair Lady.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s impressive piano with rock singer Tom Walker at Westminster Abbey last week has left royal audiences wondering if we might be hearing her sing too soon
At the age of 11 and wearing a shawl on stage at St Andrew’s School in Pangbourne, Berkshire, she can be heard giving a Cockney accent as flower girl Eliza Doolittle, who dreams of a better life and just about anyone. Sings in ‘Warm and gentle as can be, who takes good care of me’.
Her leading man Andrew Alexander, who played Sir John Bullock of Downton Abbey, once recalled: ‘Kate played the role with passion and steely conviction.
‘I always like to think, though I would never be king, at least I was his first prince.’
A great surprise for Sienna’s sister
Hollywood star Sienna Miller’s sister Savannah just got the perfect Christmas gift: an engagement ring.
The divorced fashion designer, who turns 43 today, was presented with a sparkler and a proposal by boyfriend James Whewell, 40, heiress of the 800-acre Wiresdale Park estate in Lancashire.
‘I didn’t think this Christmas could get more special,’ she says.
‘Yet, in classic Magic Gym fashion, I received the best gift I could ever wish for: the promise of a life full of love and joy and this man.’
She started going out with Whewell last summer after the collapse of her 15-year marriage with Nick Skinner, a bushcraft teacher in Devon, with whom she has three children.
Conveniently, Savannah makes bridal gowns, while Whewell runs a wedding business out of her family seat, promoting trendy eco-weddings where guests stay in yurts.
The Duke of Wellington mourns his niece who died the day before Christmas, the day before her 15th birthday.
Skye Wellesley was diagnosed one age with the genetic disorder, Rett syndrome. Her sister Eleanor, 25, says: ‘Our lives just won’t be the same. I will cherish all my memories and will keep them safe forever. We miss you very much.’
Footballer Wayne Rooney’s wife Colleen lost her 14-year-old sister, Rosie, to the condition in 2013.
Zara Tindall spoke about how ‘excited’ she was to take her nine-month-old son Lucas to Australia for the first time.
But I have heard that the Queen’s granddaughter has now canceled her trip to the Magic Millions equestrian event on the Gold Coast next month due to uncertainty over the pandemic.
‘Zara and I have made the difficult decision to postpone our trip until January 2023,’ confirmed her husband, former England rugby captain Mike Tindall.
Strictly Come Dancing Nadia Bychkova and Dan Walker as they leave the BBC Breakfast Studio in Media City, Salford
Dan Strictly Stocking Filler
Although He’s no longer strictly cha-cha-cha-ing on the dance floor, with BBC star Dan Walker eager to express his gratitude to his professional partner, Nadia Bychkova.
The married father-of-three says, ‘Many people have asked me if I’ve got Strictly and/or Nadia a gift at the end of Christmas.’ ‘the answer is yes”.’
The 44-year-old broadcaster shared this photo of 33-year-old Nadia along with a personal painting from Sheffield artist Alan Pennington. Let’s hope he bought wife Sarah something equally thoughtful.
,