Graham, I know how to open the normal template or any template for that matter. So does the original poster, John.

The thing is that in Windows 11 the context menu is wrong.This needs to be fixed; it should not say "Open," contrasted with the New command directly above, and give you a new document in response to Open. For me, and most users, the only recourse is the feedback mechanisms. Windows: Right-click > Open for a Word template in Windows 11 creates a new document; it does not open the template for editing!