ON THIS DAY
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE DECEMBER 23, 1982
IN A way, this picture is a Christmas present to the nation, giving us our first look at Prince William, now six months old, since he was sleepily sucking his mother’s f i nger at his christening i n August. Yesterday, his blond hair glistening, William faced the cameras for 20 minutes at a photo session at Kensington Palace.
DECEMBER 23, 2000
IT TOOK about two weeks of hype and high-jinks to get there, but in the Great Hall of a Highland castle last night, the queen of pop became Mrs Guy Ritchie. In a private ceremony Madonna was preceded by bridesmaids Gwyneth Paltrow and Donatella Versace and her four-year- old daughter Lourdes, who was flowergirl.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
CAROL SMILLIE, 59. When the Glasgowborn TV presenter was told the premise for the BBC’s Changing Rooms, she said: ‘So, have we actually got to that point where the nation is watching paint dry?’ It became a massive hit and she hosted the show for seven years.
HARRY JUDD, 35. The Essex-born drummer for McFly won Strictly in 2011 with professional partner Aliona Vilani, and was voted the show’s best-ever champion by Radio Times readers in 2015. He started drumming aged 16, and joined McFly the following year, giving up his cricket passion.
BORN ON THIS DAY
TARA PALMER-TOMKINSON (1971-2017). The Hampshire-born socialite and ‘It Girl’ was the runner-up on the first series of I’m A Celebrity in 2002. TPT, as she was known, advertised everything from sunglasses to KFC and was described as being ‘famous for nothing more than her lack of talent’. Palmer-Tomkinson (pictured), who holidayed with Prince Charles, once said: ‘I drank my finger- dipping bowl at a royal party. I thought it was soup. Not only did I drink it, but I asked for the recipe.’
JOSEPH SMITH (1805-1844). The American founded Mormonism in 1830 after supposedly receiving a command from God to take multiple wives. Smith took about 40, aged 14 to 56. He was killed by a mob.
ON DECEMBER 23 . . .
IN 1 919, The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act was passed, allowing women to enter a range of professions — including the law and civil service. IN 2002, Sir Paul McCartney was presented with his own coat of arms. The crest featured a guitar held by a liver bird, the creature that symbolises Liverpool.
WORD WIZARDRY
GUESS THE DEFINITION: Hypethral (coined late 18th century) A) An exaggeration. B) An insult. C) Open to the sky. Answer below PHRASE EXPLAINED How’s your father? Used euphemistically to refer to sex, it derives from music-hall comedian Harry Tate, born in 1872. When stumped for an answer in a sketch, he would break off and ask: ‘How’s your father?’ to change the subject. The catchphrase was picked up by servicemen.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
They say an actor is only as good as his parts. Well, my parts have done me pretty well, darling.
Dame Barbara Windsor (1937-2020)
JOKE OF THE DAY
WHY did the biscuit go to the doctor? Because it felt crummy. Guess The Definition answer: C.