Insiders reveal the food King Charles has BANNED from French state visit banquet – and the reasons why (but mushrooms are on the menu because they remind him of Queen Elizabeth II)

• Charles provided a strict list of culinary demands for meal at Palace of Versailles

By Peter Allen In Paris

Published: 03:03 EDT, 20 September 2023 | Updated: 04:56 EDT, 20 September 2023

Kate Middleton was seen kneeling down to speak children as they handed her flowers during a seaweed farm visit on the anniversary of the Queen’s death. 

The Princess of Wales, 41, was joined by Prince William as they visited Câr-Y-Môr Seaweed Farm – the first ‘regenerative ocean farm’ in Wales – this afternoon.

Before they left Kate was presented with a posy by four-year-old Isla Evans-Kohler, the daughter of deputy coxswain Judd Kohler and crew member Ellen Evans.

While William was given a jar of St Davids wild honey by her younger brother Albie Evans-Kohler, aged two, who was wearing a Welsh rugby shirt.

Kate asked Isla if she had been on the lifeboat. The little girl shook her head and her mother explained she had been on the boat but not out on the water, while Albie interjected and said: ‘Me.’

Kate then asked him: ‘Have you been on the boat? It goes very fast, and your daddy has got a very cool job.’

Albie then started mimicking the boat’s siren and the princess said: ‘I didn’t hear the siren, but it was a lovely day on the water. Thank you very much for coming to see us.’

William told Albie he ‘loved’ his rugby shirt as the boy gave him the honey.

‘Do you like honey? It is very yummy. Do you like rugby too? First game on Sunday,’ William said.

The couple met with staff and volunteers at the farm, learning about the impact their work has on the ocean environment.

They then took a boat out onto the farm to see the seaweed lines. 

The Prince quipped that seaweed produced at a seaweed farm off the Welsh coast tasted salty when asked what it was like to eat.

William made the comment to veteran royal photographer Arthur Edwards, saying: ‘What did the seaweed taste like?’

He replied: ‘Salty.’

The company also supports the local community through job creation, supply of fresh local seafood and environmental restoration. 

In June 2022, following two years of research, the company installed a three-hectare ocean farm where various species of seaweed, mussels, native oysters, and scallops are grown. 

Notpla, which produces plastic-free consumer packaging made from seaweed and plants, is a key investor in Câr-Y-Môr. 

Among its innovations, Notpla replaces plastic-lined takeaway boxes and other disposable plastic items such as cutlery. 

The London-based start-up won the 2022 Earthshot Prize in the ‘Build a Waste-Free World’ category and received a visit by The Prince of Wales in May 2023. 

Kate opted for a £350 Troy London parker for the occasion, recycling a piece she was first seen in six years ago during the couple’s royal tour of Canada.

She paired the trendy jacket with a white t-shirt and her £96 G-star Cargo trousers, which have also been a favourite of hers in recent years.

Earlier in the day, the Princess had opted for a smart burgundy coat from London-based designer Eponine.

The Princess opted for natural makeup for the outing today to the sea farm, and swept her hair up into an intricate updo, revealing a pair of gold hoop earrings.

The royal finished off her outfit with a pair of casual white Veja trainers which she has worn on a number of occasions.

After the tour of the farm, the Royal couple transferred from the barge onto the St Davids Lifeboat where they returned to shore to meet members of the lifeboat station crew.

Queen Elizabeth II was patron of the RNLI from 1952 until her death last year.

Earlier in the day, Kate made a sweet tribute to the late Queen as she sported her earrings to a memorial service to mark the first anniversary of her death.

Kate, 41, paired the diamond and pearl drop earrings with a burgundy coat from London-based designer Eponine for the church service at St Davids Cathedral in Pembrokeshire. 

She added to her eco-credentials with a recycled Mulberry bag she’s worn several times since 2017 and Gianvito Rossi heels, which are also a repeat wear. 

The royal wore the coat to her Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey in London in 2022, while she’s worn the earrings to pay tribute to Her Majesty before, including during a Remembrance Sunday service in 2020.  

Both Kate and the Queen have chosen the earrings before to wear on particularly special occasions, with the Duchess choosing the set to leave the Lindo Wing with Prince Louis in 2018.

The Queen sported the earrings for a service of thanksgiving and carriage procession during her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012.

And Kate chose them for a day of engagements in The Netherlands in 2016, her first official solo overseas visit without Prince William.

Kate stepped out with her husband Prince William to mark the one year anniversary of Her Majesty’s death.

Elsewhere, Prince Harry made a shock and secret visit to the Windsor church where the Queen was laid to rest.

A number of members of the Royal Family are understood to have visited the chapel today. Harry remains close to his cousins Beatrice and Eugenie but it is not yet known if they and others paid their respects together.

The King and Queen today attended a special service at Crathie Kirk to commemorate the life of the late Queen Elizabeth – and appeared moved by warm-wishes from crowds who also gathered to mark the anniversary of her death.

Charles and Camilla made the short journey by car from the nearby Balmoral Estate to the Scottish church, where successive monarchs have worshiped since Queen Victoria.

The couple spoke to crowds outside afterwards who shared their condolences and handed them bouquets and cards. The King told them that the flowers were ‘wonderful’ and joked with children about getting back to school.

Other royals were also at the service, including the Queen’s great nephews Samuel and Arthur Chatto, sons of Lady Sarah and Daniel Chatto, who also went. And staff from Balmoral, the beloved Scottish home of the Queen where she died, also attended, walking to and from the service in the September sunshine.

The Prince and Princess of Wales travelled to St Davids Cathedral in Pembrokeshire – exactly a year since the nation’s longest-reigning monarch died at Balmoral aged 96.

Crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of their arrival in the grounds of the cathedral from dawn, but they had to wait in the sunshine after fog nearby meant the couple’s helicopter had to be rerouted and their arrival delayed by more than an hour.

William and Kate had been due to arrive at 12.25pm, but eventually turned up around 1.30pm and greeted well-wishers before walking inside for the ten-minute service. One well-wisher could be heard shouting towards William: ‘You’re doing a great job!’

During the service, the Very Revd Dr Sarah Rowland Jones, Dean of St Davids, said: ‘It is particularly poignant to welcome you here, Your Royal Highnesses, on Accession Day, the first anniversary of the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

‘She came here four times: the only monarch to sit in the Sovereign’s stall, the seat of a Chapter member which came into the possession of the Crown at the Reformation.

‘Today countless numbers will be remembering her with both sadness and with great affection, giving thanks again for her long life of dedicated service – as we do here.’

Kourtney Kardashian is doing ‘better’ and has now returned home following a short hospital visit.

An insider told People the reality star, 44, is ‘back home now with her kids’ after she was pictured departing a Los Angeles-area hospital with her husband Travis Barker. 

‘She is feeling better. She is happy to have Travis back home too,’ the source added.

On Friday, Travis’ band Blink-182 announced the postponement of some European tour dates because of an ‘urgent family matter’ that forced him to dash home.

The following day, Kourtney, who went public with her pregnancy in June, was seen leaving the hospital with Travis and clambering into an SUV.

Neither Travis nor Kourtney has disclosed why they were at the hospital, but based on the appearance of her bump as she left, she did not appear to have given birth.

Kourtney was seen walking unassisted as she and her husband surfaced on Friday, piling into a gleaming black Range Rover and heading off.

The reality star, who has not publicly divulged her due date, was decked out in a silver maternity top and matching trousers.

On Friday, Blink-182 announced via Insta Stories that they would have to delay their upcoming concerts on account of Travis’ family emergency.

‘Due to an urgent family matter, Travis has had to return home to the States,’ the band revealed on social media. ‘The Glasgow, Belfast, and Dublin shows are being postponed. More information in regards to his return to Europe and rescheduled dates will be provided as soon as available.’

The Blink-182 tour in Europe was meant to commence Friday night in Glasgow, which is where Travis was when the announcement was made.

Travis then fired up his own social media and cryptically posted pictures of the prayer room at the Glasgow Airport.

Just last week, he and his pregnant wife had been spotted soaking up the sunshine together during a romantic stroll on the beach.

As Travis raced home to Kourtney, his ex-wife Shanna Moakler confirmed that the children she herself shares with him are ‘safe and sound.’

Shanna and Travis welcomed Landon, 19, and Alabama, 17, together, and Travis was also crucial in helping raise Shanna’s daughter Atiana De La Hoya, 24, whom she had with the former professional boxer Oscar De La Hoya.

Meanwhile Kourtney shares three children – Mason, 13, Penelope, 11, and Reign, eight – with her ex-fiancé Scott Disick, whom she dated on and off for nearly a decade.

Kourtney ecstatically revealed to the world in June that she is expecting a baby by Travis, whom she tied the knot with last year.

She dropped the bombshell during a Blink-182 concert, standing in the audience and holding up a sign that read: ‘TRAVIS I’M PREGNANT’ – a mischievous nod to a similar scene in the music video for the band’s song All The Small Things.

Her breathtaking news came over a year after Kourtney pulled the brakes on her IVF journey, which had subjected her to a raft of health issues including depression.

On a 2022 episode of her reality show The Kardashians, Kourtney spoke candidly about the ‘awful’ experience she was having with IVF.

She claimed in a confessional that the ‘medication that they have been giving me, they put me into menopause, literally into menopause.’

Kourtney theorized: ‘I think because I’m so clean and careful about what I put into my body, it’s just like having the complete opposite reaction and working as a contraceptive instead of helping us.’

She explained: ‘I have everything in the world to be happy about. I just feel a little bit off and not like myself. Super moody and hormonal, like I am a lunatic half the time.’

In December of that year, a few months after her wedding, she told the Wall Street Journal that she had stopped her IVF treatments 10 months earlier.

Kourtney, who tied the knot with Travis that May, shared that she ‘took a break to just focus on our wedding and getting married.’

On a subsequently aired episode of The Kardashians, she said: ‘We would love a baby more than anything but I just really believe in what God has in store for us.’

She also spilled that she had ‘seven frozen eggs from years ago before Travis’ – a step she had taken when she was nearing the age of 40.

‘When I was 38 or 39 everyone was like pushing me to do that and most of mine didn’t survive the thaw because eggs are one cell and none of them made it to an embryo,’ the eldest Kardashian sister said.

‘All the thing that came with IVF took a toll on me physically. My health is still impacted because it’s hormones. And also mentally it took a toll,’ she said.

‘So, I think just being happy is most important and being a good parent to my kids. We are just embracing that whatever is meant to be will be.’

The launch of an exciting mission that will confirm if an asteroid near Mars is worth an unimaginable amount of money is now just two months away.

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft has had its two jumbo solar arrays attached as engineers put the finishing touches on it ahead of its targeted October 5 lift-off date.

The orbiter is due to explore an asteroid called 16 Psyche which scientists think may be packed full of precious metals with a value in excess of $10,000 quadrillion (£8,072 quadrillion).

Others dispute this and say it is just hard rock, but NASA should be able to tell either way when its Psyche spacecraft gets to the asteroid in July 2029. 

Engineers in California are getting the orbiter ready to journey 2.5 billion miles (4 billion kilometres) to 16 Psyche, which sits in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

After passing a deployment test, Psyche’s twin solar array wings were re-stowed and will remain tucked away on the sides of the orbiter until the spacecraft leaves Earth. 

At 800 square feet (75 square metres), the five-panel, cross-shaped solar arrays are the largest ever deployed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. 

With the arrays unfurled in flight, the spacecraft will be about the size of a tennis court. 

Although they will produce more than 20 kilowatts of power when the spacecraft is near Earth, the solar arrays are primarily designed to work in the low light of deep space. 

The asteroid Psyche is so far from the sun that even these massive arrays will generate just over 2 kilowatts of power at that distance, which is only a little more power than a hair dryer uses.

Psyche is due to piggy-back into space on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket which is scheduled to lift off from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida no earlier than 10:38 ET (15:38 BST) on October 5.  

NASA hopes that as well as establishing how metal-rich the object is, scientists will also be able to learn more about planetary cores and how planets form.  

The US space agency recently completed a test campaign of the probe’s flight software and installed it on the spacecraft, clearing the hurdle that kept Psyche from making its original 2022 launch date.

‘The team and I are now counting down the days to launch,’ Psyche’s project manager Henry Stone said last month.

‘Our focus has shifted to safely completing the final mechanical closeout of the spacecraft and preparing the team for operations. 

‘The team is conducting numerous training activities to ensure that we are prepared and ready. 

‘It’s a very busy time, but everyone is very excited and looking forward to the launch.’

Once it has escaped Earth’s gravity, the spacecraft will use solar electric propulsion to complete its six-year journey to the Psyche asteroid of the same name.

Scientists think the space rock, which measures about 173 miles (279 kilometres) at its widest point, may be part of a core of a planetesimal — the building block of an early planet. 

It could also provide a unique opportunity to study how planets like our own Earth formed.

Scientists believe that rocky planets have dense metal cores at the centre of the magma beneath their surfaces, but because these lie so far beneath the mantle and crust of such worlds, they’re difficult to measure and study directly.

Once NASA’s orbiter reaches 16 Psyche it will spend at least 26 months orbiting the asteroid.

While there, the spacecraft will take countless pictures and gather data that will tell scientists more about its history and what it is made of.  

They hope the information will include the asteroid’s topography, its gravitational properties, and the way different elements are distributed throughout the object.  

If 16 Psyche is in fact loaded with precious metals, it could be worth a huge amount of money, according to Dr Linda Elkins-Tanton, a space scientist at MIT. 

She has calculated that the iron in 16 Psyche alone would be worth $10,000 quadrillion (£8,072 quadrillion). 

Assuming the market for asteroid materials is on Earth, this could cause the value of precious metals to plummet, completely devaluing all holdings including those of governments, and all companies involved in mining, distributing and trading such commodities.  

Ultimately, it could lead to the collapse of the entire economy. 

Speaking to Global News Canada, Dr Elkins-Tanton said: ‘Even if we could grab a big metal piece and drag it back here … what would you do?

‘Could you kind of sit on it and hide it and control the global resource – kind of like diamonds are controlled corporately – and protect your market?

‘What if you decided you were going to bring it back and you were just going to solve the metal resource problems of humankind for all time? This is wild speculation obviously.’

The Psyche spacecraft has been described by engineers as being ‘slightly bigger than a Smart Car and about as tall as a regulation basketball hoop’, while if you include the solar panels that will power its movement, it is about as large as a tennis court. 

The mission has been in the phase known as assembly, test, and launch operations since March 2021. 

Luis Dominguez, the systems and electrical lead for assembly, test, and launch operations, said of the preparations: ‘We are moving forward and we’re confident that when we’re on the pad, we’ll be ready to hit the button. 

‘For all of us, we’ll be excited to launch this bird.’

A fascinating reworked world map reveals the European holiday destinations that are the most popular globally – and it’s the Greek island of Santorini that’s No.1, followed by the Mediterranean island of Ibiza in second place and the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife in third place.

On the map – generated using Google search data – country names have been supplemented with their residents’ most-searched-for European holiday spots. Researchers studied the past 12 months of Google data in 185 countries to find out which EU holiday destinations are being Googled the most using phrases like ‘destination + holiday’ or ‘destination + vacation’.

Santorini tops the list, generated by CV Villas, thanks to being the most popular European spot in 47 countries around the world, including the U.S, Finland, Colombia, Bolivia, India, Australia and New Zealand.

CV Villas says: ‘Famous for its golden sunsets, warm temperatures and jaw-dropping scenery, it comes as no surprise that Santorini ranks so highly as a must-visit hotspot.’

Ibiza earns second place because a total of 29 countries – including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Kenya, Mexico, Jamaica and Portugal – appear to be searching for holidays there above any other European destination.

CV Villas says: ‘Ibiza has long been a popular tourist destination thanks to its scorching summer weather, exotic scenery, and stunning beaches.’

Third-place Tenerife is described by CV Villas as offering ‘plenty for tourists to explore, including the infamous Mount Teide volcano’. From there ‘incredible’ views of the island, the largest of the Canaries, are available.

CV Villas adds that Tenerife is a top winter holiday destination, with an average high in the colder months of 20C.

The Spanish spot is the No.1 European getaway destination for 12 European countries, including Spain, the UK, Germany and Belgium.

Rounding out the top five is the Italian island of Sicily in fourth and Corfu in Greece in fifth.

Further down the top 10, Greece continues its winning streak with destinations such as Kos, Mykonos and Crete all making the cut for the most-searched European vacation spots.

CV Villas also produced a series of regional maps to show the breakdown of the results more clearly across the globe.

A separate map for the U.S shows how Sicily is the most popular European destination in 29 states, Santorini is top in 16, and Tuscany is top in four states.

In Africa, Santorini is No.1 in 15 countries and Ibiza in eight.

Pete Brudenell, General Manager from CV Villas, commented: ‘We wanted to inspire travellers to embark on unforgettable journeys by showing how much Europe has to offer: from breathtaking landscapes to vibrant nightlife and beach retreats.

‘Looking at the results, it’s great to see how European travel is admired around the globe, as well as witness the ongoing curiosity for hidden gems within Europe.

‘Whilst many of social media’s favourite destinations dominate the results – such as Santorini and Ibiza – it is satisfying to see destinations from all over the European continent getting the attention they deserve.’

More information can be found at: www.cvvillas.com/blog/archive/worlds-most-popular-eu-destinations.

With temperatures set to soar this weekend, there’s only one place to be – the beach. 

Thankfully, the UK coastline is peppered with an array of gorgeous sandy beaches that are perfect for leisurely days of sandcastle-building and sun-worshipping. 

Here’s our guide to 10 of the best, from a hidden gem in Wales to a Scottish beach that’s been compared to the sunkissed shores of the Maldives. 

All that’s left to do is to pack your sunscreen and a towel.  

1. TRAETH LLANDDWYN, ANGLESEY, WALES

One beach to lay your towel on this summer is Traeth Llanddwyn, a Blue Flag Beach backed by Newborough National Nature Reserve on Wales’s Isle of Anglesey. It’s described by the tourist board as an ‘ideal picnic site during fine weather’ and offers views of Llanddwyn Island, a tidal island crowned by the Twr Mawr lighthouse. 

Such is its charm that a video of the beach’s golden sands recently went viral on TikTok. Posted by user ‘Heykeyt’, it’s racked up more than 1.4million views to date. 

In the comments below the clip, user Sophie James wrote: ‘The UK has incredible beaches.’ Another user, ‘Oliveee’, weighed in: ‘Wales is underrated.’ 

2. TRAIGH MHEILEIN BEACH ON THE ISLE OF HARRIS, SCOTLAND

Hidden away from the crowds, this picture-perfect beach can be accessed via a roughly half-hour hike starting from Huisinis Beach on the Isle of Harris. 

A video about the beach recently went viral on TikTok when a pair of bloggers declared it the ‘equivalent of the Maldives in Scotland’. They told MailOnline Travel: ‘The white sand and the crystal-clear water is not something you see very often in the UK. We have been fortunate enough to visit the Maldives twice, once for our honeymoon and then we returned two years later as we fell in love with it there. [Traigh Mheilein] beach reminded us of the gorgeous waters there.’

3. PEDN VOUNDER BEACH, NEAR LAND’S END IN CORNWALL

Pedn Vounder Beach, framed by cliffs and accessible via a steep pathway, is described by local beach guide Cornall Beaches as one of Cornwall’s ‘loveliest beaches’.

It says to expect ‘crystal clear turquoise water’ and ‘beautiful white sand’ on your visit. Those who hate tan lines are in luck – the website notes that it’s an ‘unofficial naturist beach’.

4. GREEN PORTH ON TRESCO ISLAND, THE ISLES OF SCILLY

Green Porth on the eastern coast of Tresco in the Isles of Scilly looks as pretty as a picture. 

The Cornwall Beaches guide reveals: ‘The beach is bordered to one end by Old Grimsby Quay and overlooked by the old fort on Tommy’s Hill at the other.’ It adds that there are low dunes to the rear of the beach, which offer shelter to swimmers and sunbathers on windy days. 

It’s one of many beaches that are worth checking out in the archipelago, as the local tourist board notes: ‘With their turquoise water and pale, fine sand, Scilly’s beaches are simply stunning – beautiful enough to rival any in the world.’ 

5 and 6. SALCOMBE NORTH SANDS & SOUTH SANDS BEACH – DEVON

Salcombe North Sands, an easy walk from Salcombe town, is just the ticket for those planning a family day out in the sunshine. 

Visit South Devon describes it as a ‘large sandy beach perfect for families, with great swimming due to the safe bay, and rockpools nearby for exploring’. 

If you fancy, you can spend the morning building sandcastles on Salcombe North Sands and then devote the afternoon to sunbathing on nearby South Sands Beach, described by the tourist board as ‘one of the most unspoilt beaches in South Devon’. 

7. LUSKENTYRE BEACH, ISLE OF HARRIS, SCOTLAND

‘Forget the Caribbean and [the] Indian Ocean, this is the most beautiful wild ocean beach on earth.’

So says Tripadvisor reviewer ‘BK1958’ of Luskentyre Beach, which lies on the west coast of the Isle of Harris in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. 

Last year, this stretch of sand was named the UK’s best beach by Tripadvisor, ranking as the seventh best beach in all of Europe. 

8. BROAD HAVEN SOUTH IN PEMBROKESHIRE, WALES

‘Broad Haven South can be a good spot for swimming, surfing, fishing and a great place to get out the cricket set or frisbee.’

So says the Pembrokeshire Coast website of this pretty stretch of sand, which lies near the village of Bosherston. 

The site adds: ‘There’s an intriguing limestone stack, known as Church Rock, just offshore.’ 

9. BAMBURGH BEACH, NORTHUMBERLAND

Drink in views of the grand, Grade I-listed Bamburgh Castle as you sunbathe on this stunning stretch of the Northumberland coast. 

The local tourist board says of Bamburgh Beach: ‘Its vast, unspoilt shoreline is uncrowded and backed by fabulous sand dunes… it also commands sea views across to Lindisfarne, Holy Island and Farne Islands.’ 

Making a trip to the beach all the more attractive, Bamburgh village was recently named the country’s best-loved coastal destination in a Which? survey, as we reported.  

10. CRANTOCK BEACH NEAR NEWQUAY, CORNWALL

Set at the mouth of the River Gannel estuary, Crantock Beach is a National Trust-run expanse of sand that’s said to be ideal for sandcastles and surfing. 

‘Big Green Surf School at Crantock offers surf and stand-up paddleboard lessons as well as hire,’ the National Trust reveals, adding that birds such as fulmars and jackdaws can be sighted around the beach.

After a recent visit, Tripadvisor reviewer Andrew D praised the ‘gorgeous’ sandy beach and its ‘crystal clear’ sea, writing: ‘It never disappoints. It felt like we were in another country.’  

England’s best places to stay, its standout restaurants and its most unbeatable tourist attractions have been named in the 2023 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.

The finalists were selected from hundreds of tourism businesses across England including hotels, self-catering accommodation, B&Bs, glamping operators, pubs and museums. Judges narrowed it down to 16 overall winners, which were announced during an awards ceremony at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter on June 8, hosted by hotel inspector Alex Polizzi.

The awards, which have been running for more than 30 years, are said to ‘celebrate and champion innovation, quality and best practice across the industry recognising businesses and individuals who raise the bar of England’s tourism offer’.

Scroll down to see the retreats, restaurants and more that have scooped prizes…

Large Hotel of the Year Award – Titanic Hotel Liverpool, Merseyside 

This ‘elegant’ four-star hotel is set within one of Liverpool’s ‘most iconic’ areas – Stanley Dock.

VisitEngland says: ‘Offering 153 spacious rooms, the Titanic keeps true to the architecture of the original Victorian warehouse [it occupies], with exposed brickwork, steel columns and original windows.’ 

A highlight is the spa offering, the tourist board notes, saying: ‘Underground, guests can find the serene Maya Blue Wellness sanctuary, which contains a hydrotherapy pool, steam room, sauna, foot bath, experience showers and a relaxation area.’ Visit titanichotelliverpool.com.

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Award – Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, The Making of Harry Potter, Hertfordshire

VisitEngland says that this fantastical attraction ‘preserves the legacy of Harry Potter for the public, allowing fans to discover the magic behind the making of the movies’. 

It reveals: ‘Guests can discover the iconic Hogwarts Great Hall, explore the Forbidden Forest, board the original Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 and three quarters and set foot in Gringotts Wizarding Bank, all before wandering down Diagon Alley.’

According to the tourist board, miniature film sets, ‘wand magic classes’ and special exhibitions ‘make it a must-see experience for Potterheads of all ages’. Visit wbstudiotour.co.uk. 

Pub of the Year – The Blind Bull, Little Hucklowm, Derbyshire 

‘Situated in the heart of the Peak District, The Blind Bull inhabits the site of Britain’s fifth-oldest public house,’ VisitEngland reveals.

It says that the 12th-century inn ‘has been restored to its former glory with a dining space and tap room, along with five bedrooms and a standalone cottage for overnight stays’.

The tourist board notes: ‘The Blind Bull serves a range of traditional real ales, classic wines and modern cocktails, as well as dishes using locally sourced ingredients cooked over an open fire.’ Visit theblindbull.co.uk.

Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year – The Quiet Site, Cumbria 

The Quiet Site is a family-run, carbon-neutral holiday park overlooking Ullswater in the Lake District, VisitEngland reveals.

It says: ‘The site has been operating for 60 years, and offers a range of accommodation options, from tent and caravan pitches to camping and glamping pods, all with sustainability at the heart.’

The tourist board says that the newest addition to the site is a series of ‘gingerbread houses’ that come complete with their own underground heat source. It adds that the site’s Glamping Burrows, also known as ‘Hobbit Holes’, ‘make for a memorable, film-inspired stay’. Visit thequietsite.co.uk. 

Taste of England Award – Pensons Restaurant at the Netherwood Estate, Worcestershire

This Michelin-starred restaurant is ‘completely committed to finding sustainable and environmentally friendly ways to serve delicious food’.

VistEngland notes that ‘the flavour-led menus change weekly and sometimes even daily, depending on the fresh ingredients available’.

Leave room in your diary – this autumn, well-known Herefordshire forager Liz Knight will be leading a half-day Autumn Woodland Forage session to ‘discover the delights of wild food, ending with a three-course vegetarian lunch at Pensons restaurant’, the tourist board reveals. Visit pensons.co.uk. 

Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year Award – Kidlandlee Holiday Cottages, Northumberland

This holiday rental site in the Northumberland National Park is said to ‘offer an off-grid break with home comforts’.

VisitEngland says: ‘The holiday cottages’ remote location offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors, including taking in the area’s famous dark skies. The business is committed to sustainable practices with initiatives including generating enough renewable energy to power the whole estate, protecting wildlife habitats and supporting local businesses.’

As well as the bespoke holiday cottages, guests can stay in a converted barn or in a historic Georgian townhouse. Visit kidlandlee.co.uk.

B&B and Guest House of the Year – Piglets Boutique B&B, Essex

Piglets Boutique B&B is an ‘upmarket adults-only Essex hideaway offering a bar and gin library, al fresco dining in summer and a cold-water swimming pool and sauna’.

VisitEngland says that the bed and breakfast’s five guest rooms ‘each offer a super-king bed, large smart flat-screen TV and complimentary refreshments including tea, coffee and homemade cookies’.

It adds: ‘Guests can take a hike through the rural countryside or drive down the lanes to visit nearby castles and historic houses.’ Visit piglets.co.uk. 

Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award – Pure Outdoor, Derbyshire

‘To educate and inspire through adventure’ is the mantra for Pure Outdoor, the outdoor activity centre in the heart of the Peak District National Park’s Hope Valley, VisitEngland reveals.

It says: ‘Benefitting from the unrivalled natural facilities of the surrounding hills and mountains, hillwalking, climbing, caving, and mountain biking are all on the agenda and guided by experienced instructors.’

The tourist board notes that the team is devoted to being eco-conscious and is donating the equivalent of five per cent of annual revenues to social and environmental causes. Visit pureoutdoor.co.uk. 

Experience of the Year – Grey Seal and Seabird Cruise, Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours, Northumberland

This cruise takes travellers off the coast of the Farne Islands, which are ‘home to many different sea birds including puffin eider, razorbill, along with common grey seals for their mating season in the autumn and winter’.

It’s not the only noteworthy cruise offered by Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours, VisitEngland reveals – it also offers sunset cruises and visits to the nearby Holy Island. Visit farneislandstours.co.uk. 

New Tourism Business of the Year – Thorington Theatre, Suffolk

Detailing this prize-winning attraction, VisitEngland says: ‘From bomb crater to theatre, Thorington Theatre is a new open-air venue which has been built in a WWII bomb crater in Suffolk woodland.’

It continues: ‘The 350-seat entirely wooden amphitheatre was constructed with sustainably coppiced chestnut trees from the immediate woodland. It has been constructed with the smallest possible carbon footprint, and Thorington Theatre’s ethos is to be as sustainable as possible in every aspect of the running of the theatre from the local suppliers to the composting loos.’

The theatre is said to welcome a variety of theatre troupes, actors, comedians, and musicians throughout the summer months. Visit thoringtontheatre.co.uk. 

‘The ready meals just never end.’

So say American tourists Cara Atwell and Jeremy Davis as they film their first-ever trip to an M&S Foodhall, which they describe on their YouTube video of the expedition as ‘unlike anything we’ve ever experienced before’.

The couple are startled by the sheer number of ‘heat and eat’ meals on offer as they browse the aisles in the Chester store.

‘How would you choose dinner?’ asks Cara. ‘Because there are just so many things that sound wonderful.’

They find the descriptions on them delightful.

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Cara notes the ‘hearty and generous’ shepherd’s pie, and the ‘tender and comforting’ cottage pie.

She told MailOnline Travel separately: ‘I think the biggest surprise we had at M&S was the vast number of ready meals they have.

‘The meal descriptions are part of the experience. I don’t think you’ll find a lot of food in the U.S that say things like “comforting gravy”.’

Other offerings the couple are enticed by include beef-filled Yorkshire pudding (‘yes, please!’), salmon fillets (‘they look decadent’), Percy Pig ice cream (‘woah!’), the pre-packaged fruits (‘so much better than what you could find in the U.S’), the Danish pastries (‘they look amazing’), and the ‘cheese and onion deli filler’.

Cara says: ‘Does that mean you can just use two slices of bread and slap some of that cheese and onion mixture in there and have a cheese and onion sandwich? That sounds like a good thing for me.’

They end up buying ‘an assortment of random things’ – including M&S Collection crisps (prosciutto and formaggio), Percy Pig sweets, Colin the Caterpillar softies, a toad-in-the-hole ready meal, and a ‘steak and old peculier ale pie’ main for one.

However, there is some confusion before they get to the till to pay.

Over the ‘tuna and sweetcorn deli filler’, for starters. Upon spying it, Cara says: ‘What is that like? We do not put corn in our tuna. And I’m very curious about it.’

Cara is also stumped by the jars of goose fat. ‘It’s a cooking medium,’ says Jeremy.

‘Have you seen that in the U.S?’ asks Cara. ‘No, but it makes sense,’ says Jeremy.

The pair are also miffed by the location of the shopping trolleys, which are ‘hidden down a weird alleyway’ in the store.

And that’s not all.

We asked them how ‘alien’ the experience felt.

They said: ‘The most alien feeling about shopping at M&S is the fact that the food hall is housed inside the department store. In the U.S, you might find a high-end department store that has a small cafe or a candy counter, but not a full grocery section.’

Which items that they’d not heard of did they find the most enticing?

They said: ‘We had had some of our viewers tell us about “toad in the hole”, but we hadn’t really investigated what it was. We have something called toad in the hole in the U.S, but it’s a piece of bread that you cut a hole in to cook an egg. After seeing it at M&S, we bought and tried it, and it turned out to be one of our favourites.’

In a post-shop taste test that they film, they also enjoy the Percy Pig sweets (‘fruity and sweet and delightful’), the Colin the Caterpillar softies (‘really nice, so good’) and the old peculier ale pie (‘that beef is so tender, it melts in your mouth’). 

They added in an email to MailOnline Travel: ‘The item that we both seemed to enjoy the most was the “steak and old peculiar ale pie”. We had tried a heat-and-eat pie from Sainsbury’s before and it was okay, but the pie from M&S was much better quality and tasted more like something you get in a restaurant or pub.’

Would they recommend M&S Food to other visiting Americans?

They said: ‘The experience was better than we expected. There was a great selection of items and the employees that we came in contact with were kind and helpful. Above all, the quality of the food there was really good. We would recommend M&S to other Americans. It is probably the most different supermarket experience from what we have in the U.S. They have so many interesting options for great quality foods. But it is more expensive.’

Cara and Jeremy post on social media as The Magic Geekdom. They can be found at www.instagram.com/themagicgeekdom; twitter.com/magicgeekdom; www.tiktok.com/@themagicgeekdom; and www.facebook.com/themagicgeekdom. The original M&S Foodhall video can be found here.