A couple with 22 children has been taken to court over their $70,000 Disney vacation.
Noel and Sue Radford, the parents of Britain‘s largest family with 22 children, star in the Channel 5 reality TV show 22 Kids and Counting.
The Radfords, from Morecambe, Lancashire, have built their family over more than three decades.
They welcomed their first child, Christopher, when Sue was just 14 years old and Noel was 18, tying the knot three years later.
Their family has since grown to include Chris, 35, Sophie, 31, Chloe, 29, Jack, 28, Daniel, 26, Luke, 24, Millie, 23, Katie, 22, James, 21, Ellie, 19, Aimee, 18, Josh, 17, Max, 16, Tillie, 14, Oscar, 13, Casper, 12, Haillie, nine, Phoebe, eight, Archie, seven, Bonnie, six, and Heidi, five.
The couple also has 11 grandchildren. Tragically, one of their children, Alfie, was stillborn.
Now, the couple has found themselves in hot water after taking an extravagant vacation to Disney World in Florida.
They splashed out approximately $70,000 on the lavish trip to celebrate Sue’s 50th birthday in April 2025, only to face legal consequences upon their return.
The Radfords support themselves through their family bakery business, Radford’s Pie Company, which they purchased in 1999, alongside income from their television appearances and social media partnerships.
Despite claiming they were ‘feeling the pinch’ last year, the family organized an all-out celebration for Sue’s 50th birthday on March 22, 2025, when she jokingly claimed she was ’49 plus one,’ per The Mirror.
The extravagant getaway saw the couple fork out money for flights, accommodation, and park passes for their own children and their 11 grandchildren. Reports indicate they spent approximately $35,245 on flights alone.
The family shared glimpses of their magical vacation on Instagram, posting photos of themselves posing with Donald Duck and Sue sporting Minnie Mouse ears while holding a giant drink.
However, the trip wasn’t without its complications.
Twenty-four-year-old Millie Radford and her two children were stranded at the airport after their ESTA certificates expired.
Noel stayed back to assist them in reapplying, and they joined the rest of the family in Florida the following day.
Notably absent from the trip was their 29-year-old daughter Chloe, who was due to give birth to her second child, a decision that drew criticism from some observers.
Just weeks after returning from the birthday bash, the family was spotted heading back to Florida for another vacation in June.
The celebratory trip came at a cost beyond the vacation expenses.
The couple appeared at Preston Magistrates Court and were found guilty of failing to ensure regular school attendance for four of their children between March 24 and May 1, 2025.
They were each fined $88 per child, along with $160 in court costs, adding an additional $1,024 to the Florida trip expenses.
A spokesperson for Lancashire County Council defended the legal action, stating (per UNILAD): “Ensuring young people receive a good education and have a good start in life is one of our key priorities. Evidence shows that attainment is linked to attendance, so supporting our schools with this issue is important.”
The spokesperson continued: “The decision to authorize absence or not rests with the headteacher of the particular school and Penalty Notices are an enforcement option that are available to local authorities, if requested by schools. It is the court that determines whether a fine should be issued.”
They emphasized: “The laws on attendance are very clear and there are some legitimate reasons why pupils can’t always go to school.
“We always encourage schools to work closely with parents to reduce unauthorized absences and our aim is to ensure that children and young people attend school and receive a good education.”
Under UK education law, parents can face fines or legal action for taking children out of school during term time without authorization, per Gov.uk.
According to official government guidance, a vacation is generally not considered an exceptional circumstance, and parents cannot usually take their children away during term time.
Schools and local councils have the power to issue fines or even take parents to court if a child’s absence is not justified.
Parents can be fined up to $107 per child, increasing to $215 if not paid within 21 days.
From the 2024-2025 school year, each parent can receive up to two fines per child within a three-year period, with failure to pay potentially resulting in court proceedings.
