Paul O’Grady’s For the Love of Dogs – A Royal Special
Valuation: 
Mary Berry’s Ultimate Christmas
Valuation:
So much for the emaciation of the monarchy. The Queen Consort has other ideas.
As patron of Battersea Dogs Home, Camilla told Paul O’Grady on For The Love Of Dogs: A Royal Special (ITV) that she trains her pets to make royal openings. To unveil the plaque on the new kennel, she had a piece of sausage hidden in the bow. Her dog, Beth, sniffed it, tugged, and the curtain fell away. That’s better than scissors.
It should be easy to encourage dogs to walk. Teaching them to bang a champagne bottle against the hull of a launching ship might be more difficult.
Camilla adopted Beth, a Jack Russell, and her other pet, Bluebell, from Battersea. When she toured the house two years ago, she remarked, “These are luxurious kennels! I wouldn’t mind spending the night in it – with air conditioning and everything you could want!’
As patron of Battersea Dogs Home, Camilla told Paul O’Grady on For The Love Of Dogs: A Royal Special (ITV) that she trains her pets to make royal openings
At a garden party to celebrate the home’s work, held at Clarence House last July, another royal pup stole the spotlight.
Eight week old Flora was a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and was the center of attention.
Actress Amanda Holden couldn’t keep her hands off the little mutt with big brown eyes. But it was ITV’s royal editor Chris Ship who fell head over heels in love with Flora… and adopted her.
Paul has been shooting in Battersea for over a decade and the format never changes because it’s just right the way it is.
He dons a plastic apron and gets to work, mopping the floors and applying flea juice before being distracted by a wagging tail. In no time he’s sitting on the floor getting a drooling facial from a Labrador or a Shih Tzu.
Amanda Holden, Paul O Grady and Camilla, The Queen Consort at the 160th Anniversary Reception at the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home last July
Camilla is clearly jealous and would do the job just as well, including making factual comments and scolding for unruly pups. She joined Paul – who kisses her vigorously on both cheeks every time they meet – to give a West Highland terrier a deworming pill.
The terrier’s name was George, another royal connection, and he wasn’t keen on taking his medicine. However, a few pieces of chicken from the Queen Consort won his trust. “His new owners have to shop at Fortnum’s,” O’Grady remarked sharply.
Camilla suggested the two could adopt him: “We’re doing a timeshare.” Paul jumped at the offer.
“I have it Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and you can have it the rest of the week.”
If that’s not an official royal appointment, it should read: Keeper of the Queen’s Rescue Dog. The O’Grady gong should be in the mail.
Practically royal herself, Dame Mary Berry prepared a palatial feast for her Ultimate Christmas (BBC1). She is a traditionalist and believes in lots of healthy greens. As she served kale to guests, including chefs Monica Galetti and Angela Hartnett, she announced, “This is going to blow your Christmas mittens off.”
As hard as he tried to charm and flatter, she was no less stern with her other celebrity diner, Radio 2 DJ Rylan. Mary sent him out into a field of Brussels sprouts to harvest some stalks with a saw. His protests were answered with short process: Dame M would have made a good headmistress.
“The key to a successful Christmas dinner is organization,” she explained, staring sternly at the thawing turkey and daring it to misbehave.
However, she softened her strictness when it came to the canapés: mini cheese and herb scones with cranberry sauce. “Cute and cheesy, just like me,” Rylan chuckled.
He really has Mary wrapped around his fingers.
Narrow miss of the night: Private detective Cormoran (Tom Burke) stood next to a Christmas tree and hugged his “best friend” Robin (Holliday Grainger) at the end of Strike: Troubled Blood. She caressed his cheek. A little mistletoe and they would have been over the line… but no, it didn’t happen.