Every couple expecting a baby discusses what she or he might look like during the pregnancy.

Which characteristics the little mite might pick up from which parent – the strong ginger gene from him, her knock-knees, his sweet nature or her fiery temper?

Wider family discussions about whether the baby will get the ‘Smith nose’ or the ‘Jones chin’ are a matter of course at Sunday lunch.

It all kicks off again after the baby’s arrival with family and friends spotting his eyes, her nose, his toes, her fingers in the new baby. It’s what families do. They chat about genetics, who has the strongest genes, who will take after who.

My friend of Indian heritage and her Irish husband, have three daughters. They all look totally different in hair colour and texture, skin tone, eye colour and, now they’re older, natures.

Her mother’s genes came through strongly in daughter number one. Her younger sisters take after their father’s side of the family from Dublin.

They often have to explain they are all one family, and parents to all three girls.

It’s genetics.

Speculation of who the babies would take after was never viewed as inferred racism just idle nattering and fascination about the different bits children inherit from their parents.

For full disclosure, I am neither a royalist nor a Harry and Meghan fan – the opposite. But I am partial to a bit of Piers Morgan skulduggery.

Like millions of others, I watched the Oprah documentary in 2021 when Meghan mentioned that there had been, in the royal household, some speculation about Archie’s skin tone while she was pregnant, and followed the resulting brouhaha that it must have had racist undertones and intent because why else ask?

At the time, it felt just like every family discussion anticipating a new baby and more troublemaking by the entitled breakaways.

Harry went on to dispute whether the words had been uttered at all and, two years later, accused the media of interpreting what was said in the interview as racism. Blah blah blah.

Now the names of those who allegedly made the comments have been printed in the Dutch version of a book that has been on sale –and now withdrawn – in Dutch bookshops so are now in the public domain.

Piers Morgan read out the names on his Talk TV show in what felt like a vote for common sense. About time the so-called secret was out.

Meghan’s behaviour was like classic toxic friend who tells you someone said something offensive about you but refuses to reveal who to unsettle, upset and cause drama.

Most people have had their fill of the right royal nonsense and family feuds playing out in public at a time of real concern and hardship for ordinary people who cannot understand the entitlement and moaning of Harry and Meghan.

Family rifts aren’t new.  They want a new life in the US so should focus on building that rather than stirring up trouble in fear the will be forgotten and irrelevant.

They need to grasp it’s too late for that. No one cares.

Christmas is all about giving 

It’s December 1 so we can now talk about Christmas.

There’s a distinct and welcome difference in the tone and feel of Christmas adverts this year.                                                                                                                                                                              They are going heavy on the caring, giving and emotional side of the festive season and less on the consumption, spending and over indulgence.

Supermarkets are reading the room and appreciating times are tough for many.

Iceland has gone one step further with a PR genius move of dumping its usual groaning festive feast table production with a prawn ring centrepiece for no advert at all.

Instead, its managing director Richard Walker – who should be the government’s minister for common sense because he always gets his interviews and actions spot on - is using the advertising budget to pass offers and discounts on to its customers.

Passing it forward should be the theme for this Christmas. A little kindness goes a long way.

On a trip to Bruges last weekend with a group of girlfriends, we met a lone traveller from Virginia on a walking tour. We got chatting when we asked him to take our photo, exchanged pleasantries through the tour and bumped into him later in restaurant, where we sat on the next table.

He said he loved Europe, was a big fan of the UK and worked outside on the land in the US.

When he left, we bade him goodbye and safe travels, watching him step outside into the rainy cobbled streets in his tweed cap and big coat.

When we asked for our bill, the excited young waiters said it had already been settled by the gentleman at the next table.

He had told them he had enjoyed our warm chat and we had brought cheer to his rainy cold morning walking tour and lunch.

We were overwhelmed. With his big grey beard and round glasses, he was our own St Nick and we have vowed to pay it forward spreading the kindness he showed to us.