CATEGORIES

A feast fit for a king

Be it turtle soup or epic, six-course lunches, the Royal Family has long enjoyed superb food. Yet, as Tom Parker Bowles explores in his latest book, the current King and Queen's tastes are far more down to earth

By royal appointment

Forget social-media followers, being appointed a Royal Warrant holder is still the highest form of accolade and influence, says Katy Birchall, as she meets those whose wares have recently been afforded The King and Queen's seal of approval

Princely re-creation - Apethorpe Palace, Northamptonshire, part I A seat of Baron and Baroness von Pfetten

In the first of two articles, Jeremy Musson celebrates the spectacular renewal of one of England's great Jacobean houses

Kitchen garden cook - Apples

'Sweet and crisp, apples are the epitome of autumn flavour'

The original Mr Rochester

Three classic houses in North Yorkshire have come to the market; the owner of one inspired Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre

Get it write

Desks, once akin to instruments of torture for scribes, have become cherished repositories of memories and secrets. Matthew Dennison charts their evolution

'Sloes hath ben my food'

A possible paint for the Picts and a definite culprit in tea fraud, the cheek-suckingly sour sloe's spiritual home is indisputably in gin, says John Wright

Souvenirs of greatness

FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.

Plants for plants' sake

The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson

Capturing the castle

Seventy years after Christian Dior’s last fashion show in Scotland, the brand returned under creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for a celebratory event honouring local craftsmanship, the beauty of the land and the Auld Alliance, explains Kim Parker

Nature's own cathedral

Our tallest native tree 'most lovely of all', the stately beech creates a shaded environment that few plants can survive. John Lewis-Stempel ventures into the enchanted woods

All that money could buy

A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages

In with the old

Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery

Sympathy for the Devil

Provocative and insightful, philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli was as complex and paradoxical as his beloved city, discovers Eileen Reid

Power of four

An enigmatic blend of savoury and sweet, laced with heat to tease and tickle, the food of Morocco is both mysterious and misunderstood, finds Tom Parker Bowles

Shifting sands

Saudi Arabia has undergone accelerated social change and is set to become a global art powerhouse, with contemporary artists playing a crucial role, discovers Jessica Lack

Promise of adventure

From sailing to fishing, golf and exceptional watersports, the Caribbean offers activities aplenty for those who are game, discovers Holly Kirkwood

Winging it

Precision engineering, electrifying competition and ballooning budgets define the America's Cup, the most coveted trophy in international sport, says Paul Henderson

Upon St Crispin's Day

Etched into modern memory by Shakespeare, this inspirational martyr became the subject of a rousing battle speech by chance, discovers Ian Morton

Give the dog a throne

Devoted dog owners, past and present, have created a veritable barkitectural digest. Flora Watkins pays tribute to some of the most palatial pet houses in the land

A Nose for Nature -With an uncanny ability to detect elusive species in the wild, dogs are poised to play a vital role in conservation and biosecurity.

Ꮓiba seems to be the perfect colleague: hard-working, efficient and fun to be around. However, Ziba isn't a person; she's a conservation detection dog, especially trained to sniff out the presence of rare bats and birds. The sixyear-old German shorthaired pointer is one of an increasing number of dogs helping to conserve wildlife. Similar to sniffer dogs employed to detect drugs or explosives, these detection dogs are using their extraordinary sense of smell to identify anything from great crested newts to pine martens.

Duck and Cover - With a comical and heart-warming call, the eider or 'cuddy duck' is a convivial bird that was highly favoured and protected by Northumberland's patron saint, says

Anyone who has spent time on the rugged, castle-fringed coast of Northumberland will be familiar with the call of the eider duck. The male emits a fluty 'ahoooh' that sounds amazed and a little censorious. The female responds with a throaty cackle-Dame Barbara Windsor to the drake's Kenneth Williams, if you like. There's something good humoured, fond and comforting in the eiders' calling. It evokes feelings of nostalgia even in those hearing it for the first time.

Not to be sneezed at

The ritual and performance of snuff, the 'titillating dust' that has fuelled creativity and enhanced social situations since the 16th century, is still popular today, discovers

Where her tears fell, asters grew

Small-flowered asters, with their quiet beauty and clouds of starry blooms, are the final shout of autumn, advises

You had me at Merlot

The British wine industry is growing at a rate of Nebuchadnezzars, altering the palate of the countryside market, finds

And they're off!

Four historic country houses with long-standing racing credentials come to the market in prime sporting areas of Berkshire and Oxfordshire

Hooked on classics

A new generation of designers is learning the language of Greek and Roman architecture, finds

England at its best

The Exmoor National Park Authority is celebrating its 70th birthday. Kate Green recounts what makes this 'high country of the winds', of deer, dark skies, tough ponies and resilient farmers, so special

Once upon a time in the west

Having returned to the fabled Grimersta lochs and streams of Lewis for the first time in 40 years, our correspondent finds himself reliving the glory

Meet the tusk force

The Chinese water deer, with its distinctive tusks and delicious venison, has thrived here since escaping from deer parks in the 19th century. Paula Lester stalks one for her supper