Rory McIlroy has been a vocal critic of LIV Golf since its inception in 2022 and the four-time major champion was not shy in taking aim at Phil Mickelson when asked about the future of the Saudi-backed league

Rory McIlroy took the opportunity to take a dig at Phil Mickelson when pressed on the future of LIV Golf.

The Saudi-backed breakaway league lost its funding from the PIF midway through the 2026 season, forcing the cancellation of their Michigan team finale and warning staff of potential redundancies, before LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil announced that a new investor had been secured.

However, the identity of the investor and the size of the investment remain undisclosed, leaving LIV’s future shrouded in uncertainty following its controversial arrival on the golf scene in 2022.

In order to establish itself, the league needed players, financial backing, and engaging content, leading them to poach some of the PGA Tour’s biggest names, including two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and six-time major winner Phil Mickelson.

McIlroy, a longstanding critic of the circuit, made his feelings known when asked whether he would take pleasure in seeing LIV Golf fold, reports the Irish Star.

“I think I feel like I’ve kept my position consistent that LIV has never been a good thing for the game,” said McIlroy. “So, and whatever 2.0 looks like, if it even happens, you know, they say they’re trying to be more collaborative and all that. But I, this is, this is the best platform for the top professional golfers in the world.”

LIV Golf’s forthcoming schedule will comprise just 10 events with undisclosed prize funds, although players will receive equity stakes in the league. In the meantime, the PGA Tour has introduced format changes and brought in a new chief executive in a bid to strengthen the quality of the American circuit.

Advertisement

“Were there some things at the start of LIV that the PGA TOUR could have done better? Sure,” McIlroy continued.

“But I think that, you know, the guys that went, or you look, you think back to the start with, like, say, Phil was unhappy with some stuff or whatever it was. Like, surely that just warranted a conversation instead of blowing the entire professional game up and doing something else.

“So I don’t take any personal satisfaction of people like losing jobs. Like, that, that doesn’t, that doesn’t seem right. I’ve always felt like this is the best place to play professional golf. And I’m pretty sure if the PGA Tour were handed 6 billion dollars it would have done a better job with it.”

LIV Golf is currently holding its season finale in Indianapolis, amid growing speculation that the breakaway circuit could be set to lose several of its marquee names, including Rahm.

Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the top stories and biggest headlines from Ireland and beyond

Volodymyr Zelensky is fighting a war on several fronts. Russia is ramping up its missile attacks with almost nightly bombardment of Ukrainian cities. A blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports is choking its grain exports with a devastating effect on its agricultural economy.

Now, just this week, the Ukrainian president has had to sack a senior aide over allegations of money laundering. It’s a particularly bitter blow for a man who ran for office as an anti-graft candidate. If that weren’t enough, Mikhailo Federov, the popular defence minister he sacked just weeks ago, has demanded Zelensky call an election, citing “a systemic crisis of governance,” that has failed to get to grips with endemic corruption.

Clearly Zelensky’s first priority is defence against Russia’s missile attacks. But Ukraine lacks the air defences to cope – overnight on August 19, Russia reportedly hit Kyiv with dozens of ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles and more than 150 drones, killing 15 and wounding scores of people.

The Ukrainian president’s appeals to his European allies are increasingly desperate as winter approaches and Russia targets Ukraine’s power infrastructure. But there is mounting evidence that many of these countries are beginning to suffer from war fatigue, according to Benjamin Martill and Adam Holesch, who have researched sentiment to the war across EU members states.

Politically this fatigue is felt at this stage more among parties on the far right and far left, such as the Alternative für Deutschland in Germany and Podemos in Spain. But it’s a sentiment shared by many ordinary people across the dial, who see the conflict as something imposed on them by political elites that is costing them money.

À lire aussi :
European ‘war fatigue’ may be growing – but Ukraine’s recent momentum could buy time

While not as devastating as missiles, the massive swarms of drones Ukraine is now launching against targets deep inside Russia – more than 800 last weekend into the Moscow region according to some reports – are clearly rattling Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin issued a warning to the UK after British-made drones were used in recent attacks that “the deeper its involvement in the conflict… the higher the price it will pay”.

The UK and some of Ukraine’s other European allies are boosting their partnership with Ukraine in the production and deployment of drones. As Arun Dawson of the department of war studies at King’s College London observes, there are obvious pluses for both sides of this partnership. Ukraine clearly benefits from a surge of drone production while the UK and other countries in similar partnerships with Kyiv see their technology tested in real battlefield conditions against a capable enemy.

Given that Britain sees drones as a big part of its defence plans, that alone is a big deal, Dawson concludes.

À lire aussi :
UK-Ukraine drone partnership risks Putin’s wrath but will boost long-term security

As the military use of drones increases, so does the development of counter measures to defend against them – on the battlefield and beyond. Anna Jackman of the University of Reading researches the impact of drones and walks us through the various counter-drone systems.

À lire aussi :
How drones are taken down – from nets and metal cages to jammers

Putin has problems of his own

Elections are not normally something that would usually cause Vladimir Putin any loss of sleep. But next month’s elections to the State Duma, Russia’s national parliament, will be the first since Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. So he’ll want to present a smooth campaign and an overwhelming victory for his United Russia party as proof that the war is going well. But as we have seen in recent months, it isn’t – and Putin’s approval ratings and the attitudes of ordinary Russians towards the war are becoming increasingly negative as well.

Jenny Mathers of Aberystwyth University believes that United Russia, which has 70% of seats in the Duma, has little to fear in next month’s poll. So the decision to ban Russia’s one proper opposition party, Yabloko, from running candidates is curious. As is Putin’s pre-election “listening” tour, which has taken the notoriously travel-averse Russian president to a range of cities where suddenly petrol seems to be in plentiful supply and at reduced prices.

Perhaps, Mathers concludes, “Putin and his allies are not nearly as confident in their ability to maintain their grip on power as they would like the rest of the world to think”.

À lire aussi :
Banning the opposition, going on a listening tour: Putin’s worried about the coming election

Harsh new reality for South Korea

No doubt Putin is buoyed by the thought of the 50,000 fresh North Korean troops that Kim Jong-un is sending to join his troops on the frontlines. But, as you’d imagine, they are not so keen on the idea in Seoul. South Korea is still officially at war with the north, and the prospect of thousands of North Korean soldiers gaining combat experience in modern conditions is not a happy one.

South Korea is a key ally of the US in East Asia – and the two countries are engaged in their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which Seoul considers a vital element in its defensive preparations. So America’s decision to cut the exercises short (they end on August 21, six days earlier than scheduled) while Donald Trump pursues a fourth summit with Kim, is a major concern.

Virginie Grzelczyk of Aston University warns that Seoul must recalibrate its defence plans in a world where North Korea is a more formidable adversary and it can’t necessarily depend on the US to guarantee its security.

À lire aussi :
North Korea grows stronger as South Korea reckons with fading US support

Why Gaza peace deals fail

Yet another peace plan for Gaza appears to have unravelled in recent weeks. But even as the US president’s Board of Peace published the 15-point “roadmap”, it was clear that it was always likely to fail. In the event, despite an assurance from Hamas that it would disarm if Israel withdrew its troops, it appears to have foundered after Israel said it would not withdraw its troops until Hamas had disarmed.

As analysts say, it was always going to be a matter of “sequencing”: who would make the first leap of faith, where trust is non-existent.

Adam Farquhar is part of a team at the University of Edinburgh that analyses peace agreements and he points to a fatal flaw that the deals to end the conflict in Gaza have all lacked: a clear mechanism for who ensures compliance.

À lire aussi :
Why Gaza peace deals keep unravelling

Hartlepool Borough Council said the car park at the Middleton Grange Shopping Centre has been temporarily closed today (August 21).

The council is yet to give a timeframe for when it will reopen, but has said that further updates will be provided when possible.

In a statement, a council spokesperson said: “Due to a maintenance issue, the multi-storey car park at Middleton Grange Shopping Centre is temporarily closed until further notice.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this causes, and a further update will be provided as soon as possible.”

So much for the old adage that there is no news in August (wrong, of course: Britain declared war on Germany in August 1914, the Great Train Robbery took place that month in 1963 and Diana died in August 1997).

The commentators, social-media warriors, Team Sussex/Team Wales tribalists and radio phone-ins now have inexhaustible material to keep everyone busy for the rest of the summer holiday: Where are the Sussexes going to live? Which school for the children? What will they do all day? What was the main reason for their return?

Inside the Royal Household, however, they will already be looking further ahead, charting potential problems before they materialise.

Buckingham Palace is an institution that likes to plan six months ahead. One event that will already have crossed minds in the Lord Chamberlain’s Office, which handles ceremonial matters, will be Remembrance Sunday.

There will be no place for Harry with the rest of the Royal Family on Whitehall or on the Foreign Office balconies because those places are reserved for working members of the family – who undertake royal engagements.

As a military veteran with two tours of active service under his belt, the Duke of Sussex, will, quite rightly, want to honour the fallen along with the rest of the country. But where and how? Whatever he does will incur accusations of seeking to upstage the King and the family.

Might he attend a service with his old regiment? Or might he choose to join one of the organisations with which he remains actively involved?

Perhaps he might join the contingent from Scotty’s Little Soldiers, the charity for bereaved Forces children to which he remains a devoted patron. Their annual appearance, marching past the Cenotaph in their black and gold scarves, brings a tear to the eye of the flintiest old soldier.

The couple will, however, remain private individuals and a return to the royal fold is not thought to be in their plans (Harry and Meghan are pictured after their engagement in 2017)

Remembrance Sunday will no doubt be an occasion which Buckingham Palace have already started planning for – but how, and where, will Harry choose to commemorate fallen soldiers? (the duke is pictured before his 2007 mission in Afghanistan)

Advertisement

Or what about Christmas at Sandringham? Up to now, the non-appearance of the Sussexes has been easily attributable to geography: they were on the Pacific coast.

But if they are absent while living in Britain, it will be much harder to explain it away, especially when numerous other non-working members of the family are included in the house party. Some will accuse the King of being heartless; others will blame the Waleses.

In one regard, the Sussexes’ astonishing decision to return to these shores more than six years after narrating their own departure (in one of their own documentaries) as a ‘freedom flight’ is entirely true to form: they do love the element of surprise. Whereas, as all courtiers of old have learned, monarchs can handle almost anything but they do hate the unexpected.

Think back to the Sussexes’ announcement of their withdrawal from royal life, late on a January day in 2020, which caught everyone including the late Queen by surprise.

That followed the 2019 announcement that the Duchess had just gone into labour in London when she was already back home in Berkshire with her newborn son – leaving Palace staff and police unwittingly telling porkies to the Press.

Or those mismatched recollections on Oprah Winfrey’s sofa about an alleged racist remark by a member of the family (during pregnancy, according to the Duchess; years earlier, said Harry). Or the catalogue of family secrets tipped out into the public domain via Harry’s memoir, Spare, in January 2023 – at a crucial time midway between the King’s accession and coronation.

Each time, sources close to the couple explained that they could not share details with anyone, including family, for fear of leaks to the wicked media. It is hardly surprising that family, friends and staff found all the furtive plotting of such bombshells so disconcerting and unsettling.

No one, I understand, was more exasperated and dismayed by this than Prince William, an intensely private man. He might have his own issues with the media, yet he understands both that the Press is a fact of life in a free democracy and that a publicly funded monarchy has to be visible and relatable to its public.

For the moment, as Britain and the Sussexes renew their mutual acquaintance, we are presumably likely to see more, not fewer, surprises.

Nonetheless, I sense that, for the King and the monarchy, the positives outweigh the negatives as we examine the return of Harry and Meghan. Until the Sussexes illuminate us all in another interview/book/documentary, we can’t be wholly certain what lies behind yesterday’s announcement. But we can draw certain conclusions.

Harry’s greatest challenge upon his return to Britain will be rebuilding his relationship with his brother, Prince William (The ‘Fab Four’ are pictured in 2022)

Sources suggest that King Charles ‘welcomes’ news of his son’s return to the UK (Charles and Harry are pictured at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in 2022)

Advertisement

First of all, the couple have clearly decided that they want their children educated here rather than in America. That is about much more than a curriculum or the pronunciation of ‘tomato’ but about shaping a mindset and a sense of belonging.

Archie and Lilibet, currently sixth and seventh in line to the Throne respectively, will grow up feeling that Britain really is home, not an occasional treat. They will retain a broad international outlook through their American heritage, but they will come to absorb the norms and nuances of British life.

They will see their first cousins emerge from the relative privacy of their formative years and go through the usual rites of passage – possibly featuring some sort of military service – and ultimately grow into young members of ‘the Firm’.

As I have learned on several occasions from those close to the Prince and Princess of Wales, they believe that one of their most important duties – as important as William’s own preparations for becoming King – is ensuring George, Charlotte and Louis do not grow up hating or dreading their royal destiny.

If they succeed (and, thus far, they seem to be), then there is unlikely to be a royal role for the junior grandchildren of the current monarch. There has been none for the children of Princess Margaret (grandchildren of George VI) or those of the late Queen’s younger children. 

But the relationships between all those royal cousins – seldom seen except on the balcony at the late Queen’s birthday parade – were important ones. The bonds between Harry and his first cousins – in particular Princess Eugenie – have been vital and enduring. To whom else can you turn for a proper moan about the pitfalls of a second-tier royal bloodline?

Similarly, for the King in his role as paterfamilias, closer contact with his younger grandchildren can only be a blessing. As Supreme Governor of the Church of England and a deep-thinking Christian soul, he will be ready to extend olive sprigs – as long as he is spared a futile reopening of old grievances.

The monarchy has learned to evolve and adapt after graver family crises – post-Edward VIII, post-annus horribilis, post-Diana, post-Andrew (thus far) and it can do so again.

Charles, the father who tried so hard to make things work as a single parent in the aftermath of tragedy, will be inclined towards a rapprochement. Wise Queen Camilla, for all the barbs she has received from the Sussex camp over the years, will support him.

For the King in his role as monarch, however, there are still caveats that will need to be clearly defined and agreed.

In recent years, it has been all but impossible for him to have any sort of normal dialogue with his younger son because of Harry’s role as a serial litigant. In particular, throughout Harry’s long-running court case (plus appeals) against the Government over the question of his family’s security on British soil, the King was constitutionally obliged not to take Harry’s calls.

Archie, seven, and five-year-old Lilibet have already enrolled at a British school ahead of the start of the academic year (The family are pictured together in December 2025)

Advertisement

Harry and Meghan’s return does not represent happy ever after. There will be bumps in the road, but a divided royal house is a diminished one (pictured in 2022)

As one senior royal adviser put it to me: ‘The King is the fountain of justice. If his son is suing his ministers in his courts then it’s impossible for him to have a normal chat, particularly given Harry’s track record of transmitting his own version of events.’

Every indication is that Harry’s days as a serial litigant are over. That has to be good for his relations with his father.

The greatest challenge, clearly, is rebuilding some sort of bridge with a deeply wounded Prince William. Perhaps they are wounds that will never fully heal but there have been moments of reunion, albeit through gritted teeth – not least after the deaths of Prince Philip and the late Queen. 

Next year’s 30th anniversary of the death of their mother is a moment when the world will be reminded of two brave, traumatised young boys marching behind her coffin. Most British people, I would suggest, would like to see some sort of reconciliation in her name.

There is another component to all this in the form of the Spencer family. Both William and Harry have retained a separate axis with their cousins on their mother’s side. During his recent return to the UK, we understand that Harry took his family to the family seat, Althorp, and to Diana’s resting place. 

We have yet to glean the Princes’ views on the upcoming book on Diana by their uncle, Earl Spencer, but both have long had a close and uncomplicated rapport with her sisters, Sarah and Jane, and their respective families.

Inevitably, this whole process will be harder for the Duchess of Sussex. She will be leaving the familiarity of home once again for a country that she had barely learned to love the first time round, and it is a feeling that remains mutual for many.

This is emphatically not a happy ever after – and there will be umpteen bumps in a long road ahead. But a divided royal house is a diminished royal house. Divisions remain – some perhaps insoluble – but as of today, those gaps have narrowed a little.

For that, as he enjoys the healing atmosphere of Balmoral – his happiest place on earth – the King can be grateful.

A young girl was out shopping with her mum when she was targeted by a predator filming her.

Alex Allegretto has been sentenced after he was caught on CCTV filming beneath the young girl’s skirt in a Cardiff shopping centre.

He then tried to run away, but the girl’s mother challenged him.

The incident unfolded inside St David’s 2 shopping centre on the morning of July 7 when the mum spotted him walking closely to her daughter before putting his mobile phone under her skirt.

Footage shared by the police shows how the angry mother challenged the depraved man as he ran away towards Churchill Way.

The 39-year-old then went to his car parked up nearby, providing a trail for detectives who tracked his movements to nearby Fitzalan Road.

Further checks revealed Alex Allegretto as a named driver on the vehicle, and he was arrested at his home address in Maesteg in South Wales four days later.

He admitted the offence of operating a mobile phone beneath the clothing of another person for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification.

This Is Not Right

On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.

With the help of our partners at Women’s Aid, This Is Not Right aims to shine a light on the sheer scale of this national emergency.

Advertisement

You can find more articles here, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at vaw@metro.co.uk.

Read more:

Advertisement

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on August 5.

The encounter has left the girl anxious and worried about anyone walking behind her, detectives said.

Allegretto must register with the police for five years under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, do 140 hours of unpaid work and complete Rehabilitation Activity Requirements.

Sergeant Luis Antony, from South Wales Police, said: ‘Everyone has the right to feel safe, wherever they are, and nobody should be subjected to this kind of offence.

‘This incident continues to have an impact the victim. She is worried about people walking behind her and is anxious when out and about.

‘Through extensive CCTV enquiries we were able to track the suspect before, during and after the offence.

‘The footage clearly shows Alex Allegretto’s intentions and what he did to this young girl while she was innocently out shopping with her mother.

‘We hope the outcome at court provides some comfort to her and allows her to rebuild her confidence.’

South Wales Police said: ‘Excellent CCTV work by detectives resulted in this person being brought to justice for upskirting in Cardiff city centre.

‘We follow up as many investigative options as possible, including CCTV, to trace those responsible for committing crime and to get justice for victims.

‘And in this case, it proved crucial.’

Upskirting became a criminal offence in England and Wales in April 2019 after campaigning by victims.

Gina Martin was enjoying The Killers concert in Hyde Park in 2017 when she was targeted by a voyeur, who took a picture of her crotch.

He reported it to the police, but found out the man had not broken any laws, which set off the campaign that saw thousands of women share their experiences of upskirting before the major legal change.

Since upskirting became a crime under the Voyeurism Act, police forces have logged more than 1,000 incidents, including hundreds of children as victims.

Britain’s public transport network has seen a rise in upskirting crime, with hundreds of women having been targeted while travelling since 2021.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: Bully who stuck his tongue out for mugshot after strangling woman is jailed

MORE: Bus driver arrested after schoolboy, 14, killed in Portsmouth Harbour crash

MORE: Woman, 38, posed as 12-year-old using teddy and high child’s voice to trick couple into adopting her

A bully described as ‘a clear danger to women’ has been jailed.

Charlie Stefano, 35, stuck his tongue out for the camera as his mugshot was taken after he was arrested for assaulting a woman in Chatham, Kent, in the early hours of February 13.

He grabbed her by the throat twice, dragged her across the floor and held her over a staircase, and snapped her phone in half.

The woman fled the address and ran to a petro station when Stefano tried to check whether neighbours had called to police.

Stefano, of Dagenham, east London, was tracked down and arrested hours later.

He admitted charges of intentional strangulation and causing actual bodily harm at Maidstone Crown Court.

Two further charges of criminal damage and engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour were ordered to lie on file.

He was jailed for two years and 10 months and given a six-year restraining order.

Detective Sergeant Leighton Prior said: ‘A woman has been traumatised by Stefano’s actions and I hope the prison sentence and restraining order could bring her some closure.

‘I would like to commend her courage in supporting his prosecution and ensuring a man who is a clear danger to women is now behind bars.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: Bus driver arrested after schoolboy, 14, killed in Portsmouth Harbour crash

MORE: Woman, 38, posed as 12-year-old using teddy and high child’s voice to trick couple into adopting her

MORE: First picture of man, 42, shot dead in car by gunman who went on the run

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has plunged to single digits as US-Iran peace talks have ground to a complete halt.

Only seven commodity vessels passed through the waterway on Thursday, some of the lowest numbers seen in weeks, according to Kpler data. Four ships entered the Gulf while only three exited.

This number was down from 14 on Wednesday. No supertankers or liquefied natural gas carriers were recorded passing through the vital chokepoint through which one fifth of the world’s energy passes.

Between 130 to 140 vessels transited the passage every day, before US-Israeli strikes sparked the war with Iran on 28 February.

Oman, which has been working on a deal with Tehran to reopen the strait, said on Thursday that lasting security required permanent peace in the region and rejected further escalation or conflict.

Before a 60-day ceasefire deal expired on Monday, oil flows through Hormuz had nearly tripled with 6.1 million barrels per day transiting on average, according to Al Jazeera, citing a Kpler briefing published on Wednesday.

When the memorandum of understanding was signed in June this figure had dropped to around 2.3 million barrels per day. But despite the halting progress throughout the agreement period, numbers have not reached the heights of 15 million barrels a day that were seen before the conflict broke out.

The US has grown increasingly frustrated at a lack of progress with President Donald Trump threatening “TREMENDOUS” sanctions on Wednesday while US treasury secretary Scott Bessent vowed to impose the “toughest sanctions in history” against Iran on Thursday.

Tehran has hit back at the threats as “economic terrorism” and has previously warned it is preparing to switch to a “fully offensive” strategy in the event that America escalates its campaign.

Trump declared the vital waterway “new US territory” in a bizarre post on Truth Social on Tuesday accompanied by a map.

“The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect,” he continued on the platform. “The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated.”

Oil prices have hit a three-week high amid the uncertainty.

Earlier this week, Tehran said that it was close to finalising a deal with Oman over Hormuz acknowledging that there had been delays in the agreement.

Parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf said that the shipping route is to remain closed until the US meets the conditions agreed in an interim deal.

This includes lifting a marine blockade and sanctions as well as releasing Iran’s frozen assets.

Trump threatened to launch an attack on Oman on Monday, writing: “If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the s**t out of them.”

He was later asked if he was out of patience with Oman and told reporters: “No, I don’t think they behaved very well, but we’d handle them very easily, just like we do other things.”

“Trump’s remarks are unlikely to fundamentally alter US-Oman ties, which are deep, multidimensional and institutionalised,” Neil Quilliam an analyst at Chatham House told The Independent.

He added: “If Trump repeats these types of remarks, then it will be more difficult for Oman to act as a trusted diplomatic bridge between Washington and Tehran.”

A country property that has hit the market in North Yorkshire may be the ultimate animal lovers’ pad. 

The five-bed detached house in Galphay near Ripon not only has plenty of space for four-legged friends to roam, but also a range of features designed to pamper pets. 

It spans more than 8,000 sq ft, sits in six acres of grounds and has extensive equestrian facilities. 

This includes paddocks and a manege – the term for an indoor riding arena. 

It also has five stables, a tack room and a horse wash – a dedicated area for hosing down horses. 

The property, which is on sale for £3.75million, also features a heated dog kennel. 

No expense has been spared on the property’s interior, which comes with a pool, plunge ice bath, cinema room and a games room. 

The house has a large luxury open-plan living, kitchen and dining room with exposed beams and floor-to-ceiling windows. 

The bespoke fitted kitchen is equipped with high-end integrated appliances, a central island and breakfast bar. 

It is being sold by agents at Fine and Country and is offered fully furnished.  

The main bedroom is on the ground floor and has bi-folding doors that open out to the garden, a dressing room with fitted wardrobes, and an ensuite. There are five bathrooms in the property in total. 

A connecting hallway leads to the right wing of the property, where there is a gym, swimming pool, sauna, and shower. Two of the bedrooms are in this wing and one has an outdoor terrace leading to the garden. 

Via a spiral staircase there is a cinema room, a built-in cocktail bar, a home office, and a five-metre viewing window overlooking the swimming pool below. 

A large garage outside is currently being used as a gym, games room, and ‘entertainment suite’. 

In the garden there are multiple patio areas, expansive lawns, a hot tub, and a plunge ice bath. 

The villages of Grantley and Kirkby Malzeard are a short drive away and the city of Ripon is about a 15 minute drive away. 

Down time: The property has a cosy cinema room and cocktail bar area 

Vast: The house has a large games room… and spot the car in the background 

Advertisement

Turnkey condition: The house is being offered furnished and has been renovated throughout 

Stunning: The main bedroom has an extensive walk-in wardrobe and dressing space 

Live in luxury: You can live like a hotel guest in your very own luxury home 

Space: The house spans more than 8,000 sq ft and has five bedrooms and five bathrooms 

Advertisement

Equestrian perks: The property comes with stables and extensive equestrian facilities 

Fun outdoors: There is an ice plunge pool outside and plenty of outdoor entertaining space

Move-in ready: The property boasts countryside views and is ready to move straight into 

Louise Smith, branch manager, Fine & Country Wetherby, told This is Money: ‘We expect the property to appeal to families who want the countryside and the equestrian side without giving up village life – the pub is a two-minute walk, there are primary schools in the neighbouring villages and a strong choice of secondary and independent education within easy reach in Ripon and Harrogate. 

‘The layout also lends itself to multi-generational living, with the wings giving extended families their own space under one roof.’

The typical British home increased in value by £5,000 in the year to June, recent official figures showed.

The average house price rose by 2 per cent year-on-year, according to the latest HM Land Registry data. 

This was a decline compared to April and May, when prices had risen by 4 per cent and 3 per cent respectively.  

House price growth has been weaker in early summer 2026 than it was in the same period last year. 

Average prices rose by just 0.1 per cent between May and June this year, compared with a 1 per cent increase in the same period a year ago.

However, the property industry is hopeful that the market will rebound in September.  

In previous years, Liberty has kicked off the advent proceedings at the end of July, with most retailers and brands following suit into August and September. In 2026, however, a glut of beauty advent calendars dropped in July, including Harrods, Lush, Tatcha and Fortnum and Mason. The majority of other advents were subsequently revealed – in one way or another, with some brands still holding exact product rosters close to their chests – through the first week of August. As it stands, only Selfridges is left among the big four London department stores (together with Harvey Nichols, Harrods and Liberty) to unveil its 2026 Christmas countdown.

In short, yes, beauty advent calendars are always worth more than what you’ll pay; however, you have to consider whether they’ll be worth it for you personally. I’ve been diving into the best beauty advent calendars since 2015 (my first was from M&S) and I can say with confidence that some brands undoubtedly offer a better haul than others. Key things to consider are:

• Do you travel a lot – Minis are part and parcel of a beauty advent calendar, so having a place to use them will be key.
• Are you unsure where to start in your skincare, haircare or make-up routine – Minis can also be a great way to introduce yourself to premium brands without forking out so much initially
• Do you have the time – With everything from face masks to hair bonding treatments within, these products will seriously level up your beauty regimen, but you’ll need to set aside an extra five or ten minutes to use them
• What’s your budget – If you’re looking to spend less than £100, you’ll definitely have less big-name brands to choose from your haul. I recommend tallying up the cost of the products you like the look of to ensure you’re getting more than £100 of value from those formulas specifically. Extra products aren’t valuable if you won’t use them.

Beauty advent calendars can range in price from £40 to £650, with brands such as Revolution (£37.50, Boots.com) sitting at the lower end, and luxury perfumers like Byredo in the premium price category. More typically, the core beauty advent calendars (from Boots to Harrods) cost between £100 and £285 – though I’d argue you don’t need to spend more than £250 to take home a seriously spectacular haul.

While there are calendars from make-up brands such as W7 (approximately £24) that offer beauty advent calendars below £30, I’d recommend looking to the likes of Revolution (£37.50, Boots.com), Soap and Glory (£43.20, Boots.com) and Boots x Macmillan (£44, Boots.com) for more exciting yet affordable products.

For instance, W7 mimics packaging from Charlotte Tilbury and Estee Lauder products – to name a few – but doesn’t *actually* replicate the formula. However the Boots x Macmillan calendar boasts best-selling brands including Liz Earle and No7. After all, if your calendar costs less but you never use the products within, have you really saved money?

In 2025 the Space NK beauty advent calendar was arguably the most popular and sold out within a few weeks of its September launch. In fact, in previous years it was reported that two Space NK advent calendars sold every minute after its release. Following closely behind the Cult Beauty advent calendar is always a best-seller and, this year, the Harrods fragrance advent calendar has already sold out, so I’m expecting the retailer’s main beauty offering to run out of stock in the coming weeks, too.

As a senior shopping writer, this will be Lucy Smith’s third year reviewing the best beauty advent calendars for IndyBest. Prior to her professional coverage, Lucy has been purchasing beauty advents from M&S, The White Company and more since 2015, putting her experience in the category at more than 10 years. Elsewhere, Lucy covers all the latest beauty launches – such as the Dyson supersonic travel dryer – year round, so she knows what the must-have products of 2026 are for this year’s advent offering. Plus, having reviewed everything from the best foundations to the best hyaluronic acid, she’s well versed in the brands that pop (and the ones that flop), so you can trust that her round-up of the best beauty advent calendars for 2026 isn’t full of hot air.

Read more: I’m a beauty addict and the John Lewis 2026 advent could be my favourite of the year

By IMOGEN GARFINKEL – SENIOR FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Published: 08:07 BST, 21 August 2026 | Updated: 09:40 BST, 21 August 2026