New Royal Family biography says Prince William asked his father for immediate action after the Duke’s infamous 2019 Newsnight interview

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New bombshell claims suggest that Prince William pleaded with the King to cast out Andrew after the bombshell Newsnight interview and Epstein links

In William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, a new biography penned by the Mirror’s royal correspondent Russell Myers, The Mirror has lifted the lids on the turbulent relationship between the Prince of Wales and his uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

The book suggests that in the wake of the programme and the catastrophic it had on the Windosor’s reputation, William contacted his father urging him and the Queen to act swiftly, worried about both his own prospects and the public’s reaction.

A source revealed : “Once you understand the fact that everything that happens in the here and now, affects everything in the future, William’s future, it is very easy to put yourself in his shoes. He never much liked his uncle and wanted him out of the picture immediately before the rot further set in.

“William’s view was that he [Andrew] got himself into the whole mess, so he should be left to his own devices to sort it out away from the family.”

William rowed with Charles over banishing Andrew at Sandringham Christmas, leading Charles to “put him in his place”

In a clear sign of his wish for further harmony in his family, Charles invited his former sister-in-law, Sarah, Duchess of York, to join the royal family and walk alongside her ex-husband Prince Andrew to church at Sandringham.

It would be the first time she had participated in this tradition in 32 years. The King’s decision to bring his brother back into the family fold was an issue William fundamentally disagreed with, to such a degree that he challenged Charles directly.

A source with knowledge of the conversation said that William was “very much put in his place”, and that while he did not agree with the view that Andrew’s exile should be limited, he did not provoke his father further. William’s negative view of his uncle Andrew had predated the Duke of York’s fall from grace. For years the Prince of Wales had questioned what benefit his uncle was to the wider operation. “Long before he was embroiled in the scandal [involving Virginia Giuffre], he’d always thought his uncle was a bit of an ignoramus”, a palace source revealed.

“He would question ‘what does he actually do?’.

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“But it was more than that. He’d seen how Andrew behaved in front of staff, ordering people about, the aggressive or dismissive manner, they’d never seen eye to eye.

“William has a relationship with his cousins [Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie] … so he takes no umbrage with them, but there’s no love lost for Andrew or Sarah.

“In an alternate dimension Andrew probably thought there would be a way back into public life if the scandal or the headlines died down, but it would have always had to be while his brother was King. William didn’t think either of them [Andrew or Sarah] should be anywhere near the family, publicly or otherwise, but he was overruled by his father.”

William said Andrew’s presence “was a stain on all the family”

William and Catherine joined the family at Sandringham alongside the King and Queen. Here, for the first time, in an arrangement familiar to many blended families across the country, Camilla’s children and grandchildren were present for the extended festivities.

The harmonious scenes were to last only slightly longer than the Christmas leftovers. As soon as the new year had begun, Andrew was once again in the spotlight, facing a raft of lurid allegations. His fate was sealed following the release of court documents related to a New York defamation case brought in 2015 by Andrew’s accuser Virginia Giuffre, against Ghislaine Maxwell, the duke’s former friend who procured underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein to abuse. Details in the legal papers suggested the Duke of York had indulged in “daily massages” during frequent visits to the late paedophile’s Florida mansion, had committed ‘acts of sexual abuse’ and took part in an “underage orgy”.

William again implored the King to act: to strip Andrew of his titles and banish him from the family for good in order to protect the reputation of the institution.

While Andrew had always vehemently denied the allegations, both publicly and privately to his family, one palace source close to William said: “The Prince of Wales was adamant the whole episode would never go away and, despite how others may have felt, there was absolutely no upside in Andrew being protected. His view was crystal clear, Andrew shouldn’t be anywhere near the family under any circumstances, not by association, not at family functions, anywhere. Every single time there was a new revelation, which no one knew when it was coming or what the next one would be, it was a stain on all of the family.”

William and Catherine always united in banishing Andrew

William and Catherine’s personal view has been that their best option is to keep their distance from the source of the problem. They knew that the disturbing claims of sexual abuse that have pursued Andrew for more than a decade, allegations he has always vehemently denied, had permanently damaged him in the public’s eyes.

And his now famous BBC Newsnight interview, where he failed to apologise for his connection to Epstein, or acknowledge the victims of sexual abuse, was, for William and Catherine, terminal for their relationship with him.

The late Queen sought to protect her son from complete banishment, clinging to the hope that he would one day be exonerated. Similarly, while acknowledging that his brother could never return to public duties, Charles attempted to honour his mother’s wishes and for a long time stopped short of pushing for Andrew’s complete banishment. By contrast, William made it clear that once he became king there would be no such mercy.

Since 2019 the ever more depressing drip of information relating to Andrew and Epstein has presented a serious challenge to the institution. Buckingham Palace has not acted for the prince since he stepped down from public duties, suggesting he was a private individual, and in doing so sought to further distance itself from him. But with every Balmoral meet-up or Christmas walkabout that came around, questions were raised as to how close to the King, or William, Andrew actually was. Did the royal family think this would all blow over if they kept quiet, or kept him close? William and Catherine have never seen it that way.

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Adam Zoubir, partner at Harcus Parker solicitors, said he was “delighted that this settlement provides a resolution for our clients”, adding: “This is the end of the claim against UCL, but we continue to represent tens of thousands of students who were at other universities during Covid.”

Bluebird Care Northallerton, Thirsk and Catterick is backing a national campaign after research revealed that 65 per cent of UK adults have not prepared for care in later life, with 48 per cent unsure where to begin.

The campaign is fronted by broadcaster Si King, who has shared his personal experience of care while supporting his mother through Alzheimer’s disease and his friend and fellow Hairy Biker Dave Myers through serious illness.

Mr King said: “Care is something most of us avoid thinking about until life forces the conversation.

“I’ve seen first-hand how quickly everything can change, and how little we often understand about care until we’re right in the middle of it.

“I’m proud to be working with Bluebird Care to help people start talking earlier, understand their options, and keep living on their own terms for as long as possible.”

Research commissioned by Bluebird Care also found that nearly a quarter of adults believe they may need to sell their home to cover care costs, which are estimated to average around £200,000 per person over a lifetime.

Despite this lack of preparation, preferences for care are clear.

Nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) said they would rather stay in their own home or live with family than move into a care home.

Bluebird Care Northallerton, Thirsk and Catterick is now calling for earlier conversations about care.

The home care provider has launched a Good Care Checklist, which includes practical advice for families to help them understand care choices and navigate the system.

The checklist is available at bluebirdcare.co.uk/the-good-care-guide.

A bookshop has opened in Wales that sells nothing but romance novels. As well as being unique, avid readers have said it can be described as nothing other than “beautiful”

In Wales it’s fair to say you can find beauty around every corner, and another gorgeous spot has emerged in the form of a new bookshop. Love Stories Bookshop opened just months ago, and it’s already captivated the thousands of people who’ve visited so far.

You’ll find it nestled in Cardiff‘s Castle Arcade and it’s fair to say it’s a total romance lover’s dream, as it sells nothing but books that tell love stories. While it may be Valentine’s Day on February 14, it seems that love can be celebrated every day of the year if you’re willing to explore the pages of a new book.

It’s not the only independent bookshop to have opened in Wales in recent years either. Following the pandemic, another team also decided to take the plunge and set up shop.

Love Stories Bookshop runs under the watchful eyes of Aimee Cummings, 31, and Charlie Seddon, 33. The couple suddenly decided to open the bookshop back last year, and people are already falling in love with it.

When asked what it’s been like since the shop opened its doors, Aimee said: “It’s fantastic. It’s been amazing. We couldn’t have asked for better. The whole response to the shop has been fantastic.

“I have always been a romance book lover. Even before I realised I absolutely loved them, I was always reading love stories.

“People have been so kind. We don’t have many independent bookshops in Cardiff.”

Aimee explained it all stemmed from a trip to New York back in 2024. At the time, the couple visited a romance bookshop and fell in love with it, even though they didn’t think too much of it at the time.

“It got to the start of 2025, and I was just finishing my PhD,” added Aimee. “I was searching for jobs, and nothing stood out to me.

“I just said to my partner ‘we should open a bookshop’, as just one of those things people say. Charlie said ‘we should do that’, and that’s how it happened.”

They then visited a shop called Book Lovers Bookshop in Edinburgh to get some advice from the staff there. Aimee admitted the team were “fantastic”, and answered all their questions.

Eight months later, and they were opening their own shop in the heart of Wales, and they couldn’t be more pleased with their decision. Aimee said they even had one customer recently who came in as a treat for her birthday, which was “lovely”.

She said: “The love of bookshops it still there. People like to come in and talk about their favourite books.

“You can come in, and chat to me about your favourite books. If we are able to offer that service, that makes us so happy.”

Based on the comments on the shop’s Instagram page, it’s clear to see customers are more than thrilled with the shop. In fact, dozens have reached out to say just how much they adore it.

One person said: “A gorgeous bookshop! Congratulations on opening, and I can’t wait to make many return trips.”

Another added: “Such a beautiful bookstore. I can’t wait to visit again.” A third replied: “This makes me so happy! Congratulations on your first day. I can’t wait to visit!”

Meanwhile, a fourth also commented: “Yes please! More independent bookshops in Cardiff!” Someone else also chimed in with: “Such a lovely shop! I can’t wait to come back already.”

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 is expected to arrive soon as the tech giant slashes the price of its previous models.

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Samsung is slashing prices across its Galaxy S25 series as the new S26 is expected to launch soon. To celebrate its partnership with the Winter Olympic Games, Samsung just cut more than £30 off the Galaxy S25 FE.

Shoppers can get the deal at the Samsung website, where all they have to do is enter the code GOLD5 during checkout. This knocks 5% off the price, reducing it from £649 to £616.55.

A similar deal is up for grabs with the standard Galaxy S25, which drops from £799 to £759.05. However, the voucher code isn’t valid for long and will expire on February 25.

The deal makes Samsung cheaper than Amazon, where the original prices of £649 and £799 still apply. Samsung isn’t the only retailer reducing its prices, though, as Sky Mobile just cut the Galaxy S25 Ultra from £43 to £31 per month and £12 upfront.

This monthly deal saves £432 but only includes a 100MB data allowance, so most customers should consider choosing a larger add-on. The S25 Ultra is the most powerful model in the S25 series, with Samsung still charging a hefty £1,249 when buying outright.

Get 5% off the Samsung Galaxy S25

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£649

£616.55

Samsung

Get the deal here

Shoppers can get 5% off the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE by using the coupon code GOLD5.

The deals come as Samsung is expected to unveil its new Galaxy S26 line-up later this month. The tech giant usually launches its new phones at the annual Unpacked event in February, so if history is anything to go by, we could see the new phones in a matter of weeks.

Nothing has been officially announced yet, but reports by SamMobile suggest February 25 is the date Samsung fans need to mark in their calendars. Leaks suggest this is when Samsung is most likely to reveal the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus and Galaxy S26 Ultra, which should land on UK shelves in March.

However, with prices for the S26 expected to start at £799, recent price cuts may tempt consumers into sticking with the cheaper S25 FE. Over at the Daily Express, Technology Editor David Snelling said the affordable S25 felt ‘super premium’ despite its lower price tag.

“It’s another decent device from Samsung,” he said. “It feels super premium in the hand and has a pixel-packed 6.7-inch display.

“Despite its lower cost, the S25 FE comes packed with upgrades including a triple-lens rear camera with 50MP main lens, huge 4,900mAh battery and fast charging. There’s also a bigger vapour chamber to keep things cool under pressure and it’s surrounded by an enhanced Armor Aluminum frame to help it stand the test of time.

“There are all the AI smarts found on the standard S25, including full Google Gemini access, plus other features such as fast charging. No, it doesn’t get the impressive Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, the cameras can’t match the Ultra, and there are fewer colour choices, but if those things don’t worry you, then the FE is one to watch out for.

“The only issues from my short time with this phone could be that it only comes in one large screen size, and it is still pretty expensive. Samsung has got some promotional offers, but I can’t help thinking a £599 price tag would seem more appealing.”

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Hull City v Chelsea in the fourth round of the FA Cup. As well as being an awkward tie for Chelsea, against a team pushing for promotion to the Premier League under Sergej Jakirovic, it’s a big night for the Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior. He returns to the club he managed between 2022 and 2024, his first full-time job.

“If it wasn’t for Hull, and [club owner] Acun [Ilicali] in particular, giving me that opportunity, I wouldn’t be in the situation I’m in now,” said Rosenior. “I’ve had great experiences since, going to Strasbourg, going to France. So I’m definitely a better coach than I was two years ago and hopefully I’ll be a better coach in the next two years to come.”

Rosenior also spent five years as a player at the club and was part of the team that lost the FA Cup final to Arsenal in 2014. “I remember when I went to Hull on trial, I was without a contract, and the way I told my nanny Kath was I took her to the local Harvester, sat her down, and said I’m going to sign for Hull City. That was amazing. She was a season-ticket holder already.

“Sadly she passed away. She’s buried in Cottingham Cemetery, which is less than a mile from the training ground. When I took the manager’s job at Hull, it was pretty much a year to the day that we had her funeral.

“I used to go to Hull when I was a little boy in the summer holidays when she lived there. I grew up there for my summer holidays, went to Boothferry Park in the summer to watch them play. It’s strange that I’m from London but I have a connection with Hull.”

That won’t change, but it’s Rosenior’s connection with Chelsea that is most important tonight.

Kick off 7.45pm

Here are five planning decisions across County Durham you might have missed this week (February 9-13):

Conversion to flats

A two-bedroom house in Coundon, Bishop Auckland, has been approved for conversion into two one-bedroom flats.

The property is located at 76 Wharton Street.

Planning permission was granted on February 12.

The council stated that Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) measures were not required for the development.

Hospital solar upgrade

University Hospital of North Durham does not require prior approval to install a rooftop solar PV system as part of efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.

The hospital will add 905 panels, generating 407.25 kWp.

Prior approval was not required on February 9.

Prior approval was not required under permitted development rights.

Housing development in Thornley

A development of 22 new homes has been approved on land south of South Parade in Thornley.

The scheme includes associated infrastructure and landscaping.

Permission was granted on February 12, with conditions requiring a Section 106 agreement and BNG measures.

Retrospective dog field

Approval has been granted for a dog exercise area at High Wales Field Farm on Rowntree Lane in Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland.

The site includes a timber shelter and was previously agricultural land.

Permission was granted retrospectively on February 9, with no BNG requirements attached.

Major housing scheme in Spennymoor

A major development of 299 homes was approved for Whitworth Park, Phase 6 in Spennymoor.

The scheme will provide new access from Allerton Way, as well as parking, roads, infrastructure, landscaping, and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).

Permission was granted on February 11, subject to a Section 106 agreement and BNG measures.

Councillors welcomed the plans to look at including facilities like toilets and café at the new Waterbeach Station, after none were originally proposed.

Plans to include facilities like toilets and a café at the new Waterbeach Station have been welcomed by councillors, who shared concerns about taxpayers’ money being used to fund them. The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has proposed to work on plans to include a waiting room, toilets, and a café at the new Waterbeach Station.

Original approved plans for the unmanned station did not include any amenities, like toilets or a waiting room. Concerns about the lack of facilities were raised, particularly due to the higher number of people expected to use the new station.

The railway station in Waterbeach is being moved as part of plans to build Waterbeach New Town, which will see around 11,000 new homes built. Outline planning permission for the second phase of up to 4,500 homes was approved by South Cambridgeshire District Council in 2021, with a condition that the new station would be built and open to use before people can move into the new homes.

The following year it emerged that the developer had not been able to make a commercial deal to build the new station. The GCP was asked to take on the project, and it agreed.

A report presented to the GCP’s joint assembly on Thursday (February 12) said the additional facilities proposed at the new station are likely to cost between £400,000 to £600,000 to build. The report added that there will also be maintenance costs of around £80,000 a year, which Cambridgeshire County Council, or a successor authority after local government reorganisation, will have to take on.

The report said any decision to increase the budget for the station project will need to be approved by the GCP’s executive board. It added that this could impact the delivery of other schemes. Therefore, officers at the GCP will be looking into “funding opportunities” for the proposed facilities.

Councillor Paul Bearpark thanked officers for listening to the concerns that had been raised about the lack of facilities originally proposed for the new station. He said: “I appreciate there will be some cost associated with delivering these facilities, but I think the benefits will greatly outweigh the cost. [The facilities] will make the station more attractive to use, which is what we want.”

Councillor Simon Smith said Waterbeach will be becoming a “small town” and that building a new station without facilities “would not be right”.

Councillor Heather Williams said she agreed the facilities are required to make the station “attractive” for people to use. However, she voiced her concerns about public money being used to fund the station project. She said: “I do absolutely object to taxpayer’s money being put towards this.

“The developer came here, they sat and said they had the money secured, we only gave them permission because they said they had the money, but then not long later the taxpayer was bailing them out. We need to try and safeguard for the future, we need to have a discussion on what to do in these scenarios, because we cannot afford to bail people out.”

The GCP executive board is expected to be asked next month to agree that work can continue to further progress the development of the new facilities. Officers said they hope to come back later in the year with a full proposal for the station facilities.

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