Twin reasons for optimism

The UK’s most premature surviving

twins celebrated their first birthday this week. Harry and Harley Crane were born at 22 weeks, weighing just over one pound each. They were put in the bereavement suite at first as doctors didn’t expect them to make it. But, after a very difficult five months in intensive care, the babies finally came home.

Their doting parents, Steve and Jade from Derbyshire, were on TV with their deliciously chubby twins on Wednesday and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a mum and dad relish their little ones more.

Harry and Harley face long-term health worries but the family face the future with optimism. I was almost in tears when Steve Crane, cuddling his son, said: “Happy endings do happen, miracles do happen. This is the proof.”

It’s a centuries-old tradition that the monarch is woken each day by the royal piper. And for the first time since he acceded to the throne, King Charles was this week treated to the rousing wake-up call by Pipe Major Paul Burns in the gardens of Clarence House.

During her 70-year reign Queen Elizabeth loved the sounds of the pipes ringing out at 9am each morning which signified it was time for her and her household to begin their day.

I pity the poor neighbours.