Royal gift shop issues golliwog apology

Managers of a shop on a royal estate have been forced to apologise after it was found to be selling golliwog toys.

The toys have been withdrawn from sale at the 20,000-acre estate at Sandringham, in Norfolk.

It comes after Carol Thatcher was axed from her role on a BBC show for referring to a tennis player as a golliwog in a private conversation.

A spokesman for the estate said: "The management of the shop have said they did not intend to offend anyone by selling this product and have apologised if any offence has been caused. The shop will immediately review its purchasing policy."

The male and female dolls were available at the gift shop for more than a year at £9.99 each.

The Queen is not personally involved in deciding what is sold in the shop.

Sandringham has been the private home of four generations of British monarchs since 1862.

Its visitor centre, which includes the gift shop as well as a restaurant and plant centre, has more than 250,000 visitors a year