Sue Radford, the matriarch of Britain's largest family, has sparked conversation by joking about school fines as she embarks on her tenth holiday this year. The reality TV star, famous for 22 Kids and Counting, recently swapped the UK for France, just months after being hit with a financial penalty for taking her children out of school.
From Fines to France: The Latest Getaway
Documenting her travels on social media, Radford shared a picture of an airport runway, announcing the family had left Britain for France. She explained the purpose of the trip was for "some interesting filming". In a follow-up post on her Instagram stories, she made a light-hearted comment about other families travelling, writing: "Also couldn’t believe how busy the airport was with lots of children heading to see the real Santa, hope they don’t get a school fine." She punctuated the remark with a laughing emoji.
The Price of a Previous Holiday
This jest comes with a backdrop of a real financial consequence. The Radfords' April holiday to Florida, a £52,000 trip to celebrate Sue's 50th birthday, resulted in school fines. Sue and her husband Noel were found guilty of failing to ensure the regular school attendance of four of their children.
As a result, they were ordered to pay:
- A £65 fine for each child.
- Court costs of £118.
This brought the total amount they had to pay to £378. Despite telling the Daily Mail they were "feeling the pinch" financially, the couple stated they were happy to spend the substantial sum on what they hoped would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
A Packed Travel Itinerary for Britain's Biggest Family
The Florida getaway was just one of many this year for the Radford clan. Their extensive travel list for 2025 includes:
- A return trip to Florida for a summer holiday.
- A 48-hour survival course in Ireland just three weeks later.
- A cruise around the Caribbean in September.
- A trip to Dubai.
Sue and Noel Radford are parents to 22 children, whose ages range from 35 down to five. They live with 19 of their children in a 10-bedroom former care home in Morecambe, Lancashire. The spacious property is reported to feature an outdoor bar, cinema, and a swimming pool.
