A panel of international journalists assembled by France Football decide the 30 finalists for the men’s Ballon d’Or and the Yashin Award shortlist for the world’s best goalkeeper.

The voting process was altered in 2022 to include a media member from each of the top 100 nations in the FIFA men’s world ranking (for the men’s Ballon d’Or voting) and from the top 50 nations in the FIFA women’s world ranking (for the women’s Ballon d’Or vote).

Those members vote by choosing names from the list of finalists, and they rank their selections. Each vote is weighted with different point totals assigned based on the specific ranking of the player on the ballot. After all the votes are totted up, the player with the most points is awarded the Ballon d’Or.

Andreas Schleicher, director of education at the OECD, said reading was the “mother of all skills” and that the steep decline was a concern.

He said children’s ability to read complex texts had declined by the equivalent of “two school years” in the last decade.

Longer-term Pisa research suggested students who read longer books performed best, he added, as it helped them to learn to hold complex information in mind.

Schools like Meadow Park, in Coventry, are adopting a range of approaches to improve pupils’ reading skills, including weekly book club discussions led by tutors.

Year 10 pupil Ampaabeng said the sessions have had a “really positive impact” on his reading since they were brought in a year ago.

The school has also invested in a wider range of books in the library, where reading for pleasure at lunchtime is encouraged.

A mobile phone ban was introduced at the school two years ago to reduce distractions – an approach which is commended by the new report.

“In a digital age, it’s easier to pick up a phone than it is a book,” head teacher Bernadette Pettman said.

She said reading together had enabled the school to “break down that fear of reading” and that pupils had “absolutely embraced it”.

Teenagers in the UK are soaring ahead of peers abroad in maths, reading and science, according to a major international study.

In international league tables ranking the performance of 15-year-olds on standardised tests, the UK is now in the top ten for all three subjects.

In science the UK is now eighth in the world, having jumped up seven places, beaten only by the academic powerhouses of the East – including China and Singapore – as well as Estonia in Europe. 

In maths and reading, the UK clinched tenth in both, having risen four and three places in the ranking respectively. 

The study, undertaken every three years by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), compares the success of different countries’ schooling systems.

More than 760,000 pupils across 91 countries and economies took part in the latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests, sat last year.

Today, schools minister Georgia Gould said she was ‘determined to build on these positive results and go further so all young people leave school with strong literacy and numeracy’.

Mean test scores in each subject from each country were then compared. The relative success of the UK was driven by England, which had higher test scores than Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in all subjects.

It follows reforms in England to toughen up the curriculum and raise academic standards under the last Tory government. The tests were taken a year after they lost power.

However, Tory education spokesman Laura Trott said today’s results proved Lucy Powell, the new education secretary, had been wrong last month to suggest she might scale back some of the previous Government’s reforms.

She said: ‘Lucy Powell seems intent on leading a campaign of national sabotage against our education system. It is bonkers to undo reforms that have raised standards and helped children.’

In terms of raw scores, Britain saw a rise for science, no change for reading and a small decrease for maths – but the dip was not as severe as it was for other countries. 

In reading, the UK is tenth. It still lags behind much smaller nations such as Ireland and New Zealand. The raw score for reading is 494, the same as in 2022, and down from 504 in 2018.

In maths, the UK is also tenth globally, slightly behind Switzerland. The UK’s mean test score for maths was 488, down slightly from 489 in 2022 and 502 in 2018.

All four nations in the UK took part, but England’s test scores made up 84.76 per cent of the total collected for this entry.

England scored higher than the other three nations in every subject, while Wales scored the lowest in every subject.

And while England’s scores rose in reading, and stayed the same in maths, all other UK nations saw drops in these subjects.

The difference in performance between the four UK nations is part of a long-running trend and has previously been attributed to education being controlled by each country’s devolved governments.

In England, standards were made more rigorous after 2010 under reforms introduced by the Tories, and pioneered by former education secretary Michael Gove.

At GCSE, the grading system was overhauled to introduce more differentiation at the top, and course content was made tougher.

End of year exams were prioritised for secondary school pupils, rather than coursework or modular assessment.

And grade inflation was brought under control, with the regulator Ofqual ordered to ensure consistent standards from year to year. 

In primary schools, the curriculum for the Year 6 SATs was bolstered, meaning children needed to know a higher level of maths and grammar.

The reforms followed years of grade inflation under New Labour, which led to accusations the ministers of the time were ‘dumbing down’ education.

Last month, Ms Powell referred to the Gove reforms in an opinion piece, where she wrote: ‘We can no longer ignore that too many [children] get left behind or are turned off by an education system that’s become too single-minded.

‘Nor can we ignore the modern economy, or societal demands to take a fresh look at what we are teaching our children and whether we are equipping them for their life ahead.

‘The one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn’t suit all children. For some it’s become a straitjacket. A straitjacket that has left too many being branded a failure – again and again – instead of being able to realise their potential.’   

The Government has since clarified that it wants to make vocational education just as important as academic, and does not intend to lower standards.

However, Ms Trott said: ‘The Education Secretary claims there has been an “over focus on academic outcomes.” But that focus, driven by cross-party reforms and the work of brilliant teachers, has helped make English pupils among the top ten performing groups of students in the world for reading, maths and science.

‘Lucy Powell seems intent on leading a campaign of national sabotage against our education system. It is bonkers to undo reforms that have raised standards and helped children. In Scotland and Wales where the same reforms were not enacted, pupils have fallen back in the international rankings, recording their worst results in maths and reading.

‘Focussing on academic outcomes increases opportunity. It beggars belief Labour want to reduce standards. In doing so, the most disadvantaged will be worst hit as they will lose out on the most opportunity.’

Further analysis of England’s data released by the Department for Education (DfE) also revealed there is a wide gender gap in science attainment for the first time in recent history.

Girls scored on average 509, compared with 522 for boys – a gap of 13 points.

By contrast, there was no large difference between girls’ and boys’ science scores in England in 2022, 2018 or 2015.

The analysis found the gap was driven by boys doing better in science, while girls’ performance remained static.

In maths, boys were further ahead than girls – part of a long-running trend. Between 2015 and 2025, the gap widened from 12 points to 26 points respectively.

Professor Mary Richardson, of the UCL Institute of Education, who authored part of the study, said pupils in UK nations had done well in reading ‘despite the international trend of declining performance’.

‘In science and maths, we also saw good performances, particularly for pupils in England and Northern Ireland, where scores were above the international average,’ she added.

However, she said: ‘With all of these things, the detail is what matters and whilst the UK nations did well and performed, generally, above the OECD average, there are still challenges that are very likely the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and which continue to sustain lower performance outcomes for those who are socially disadvantaged.

‘We are also concerned that the gap between genders in terms of performance is persistent and we need to explore further, why this is happening and what should be done to address it.’

Ms Gould said: ‘Today’s results are testament to the hard work of teachers and pupils across the country, with the UK continuing to perform strongly in reading, maths and science.

‘We are determined to build on these positive results and go further so all young people leave school with strong literacy and numeracy. And we want to take on the areas where England performs less well – how far pupils feel like they belong and value school. The next leap forward will come from pupils engaged and excited to be at school.

‘Countries like Estonia show that academic excellence can go hand in hand with high-quality vocational routes. Our reforms will build on England’s strong academic foundations so future generations not only perform well, but feel connected to school and excited about where their education can take them.’

Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said: ‘We should always be cautious about over-interpreting international comparisons between nations at different stages of education policy development.

‘But these results are nevertheless an opportunity to celebrate the excellent work taking place in England’s schools, at times, seemingly against the odds.

‘That these findings continue to be broadly positive, is testament to the professionalism, expertise and dedication of the school workforce.’

The UK first took part in PISA in 2000, but the OECD only compares data from 2006 onwards.

In addition to the tests, the study also collected questionnaire data to discover the ‘context in which students learn’.

In England, 5,619 15-year-old pupils from 183 schools took part, with Pearson delivering the study on behalf of the DfE and the analysis undertaken by Oxford and UCL.

When Mourinho arrived at Real Madrid in 2010, the brief was clear. He needed to challenge Barcelona, to win La Liga and, above all, deliver the club’s 10th European Cup.

He did win trophies. Real lifted the Copa del Rey in 2011 and La Liga in 2012, while Mourinho’s side also reached three consecutive Champions League semi-finals.

But they could not get beyond that stage.

Real were beaten by Barcelona in 2011, Bayern Munich on penalties in 2012 and Borussia Dortmund in 2013. Mourinho eventually left in 2013 without delivering the Champions League trophy Real wanted.

But he is adamant his previous spell should not define what happens this time.

“At Real Madrid, I’m going through two different periods,” Mourinho said. “I ended working for Real Madrid in 2013… This is a closed chapter. This match against Inter has nothing to do with the past.”

Mourinho has returned to a club that endured what he described as a “very complicated season” and where stability is now essential.

“What I’ve found at Real Madrid is what I’ve always found here,” he said. “The best club in the world.

“Obviously in the Bernabeu, I’ve won the Champions League, I’ve lost a Champions League semi-final through penalties, but I’ve had the best and the worst in this stadium.

“I’m not thinking about this. I think that I’m the coach of Real Madrid and a Champions League game is going to happen.”

But he also acknowledged the club needs to rebuild a stable foundation after a difficult campaign.

“Real is Real and at Real Madrid, you have to win,” Mourinho added.

That pressure is nothing new to him. His appeal to Real Madrid lies partly in his experience of managing elite dressing rooms and, crucially, knowing what it takes to win the Champions League.

Kylian Mbappe offered a similar assessment when asked whether Mourinho had been brought in to restore authority.

“Mourinho brings his whole career,” Mbappe said. “He is a guy who knows how to win, to have a group around him and he knows about giving motivation to the whole group.”

Hundreds of thousands of Britons may have a hidden blood condition putting them at greater risk of serious illness or early death, a study has found. 

Anaemia – most commonly caused by a lack of iron which leads to fewer red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body – can trigger extreme fatigue, chest pains, dizziness and headaches. 

It has long been linked to issues such as heart failure, pregnancy complications and dementia. 

Now researchers from the University of Glasgow say people with ‘borderline anaemia’ – who may not be identified under current diagnostic guidelines – similarly face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and premature death.

The study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, analysed data from nearly half a million UK Biobank participants over a decade.

It is one of the biggest investigations of its kind into the link between haemoglobin levels, serious disease and early death.

Scientists analysed blood samples collected at UK Biobank centres to measure participants’ haemoglobin levels – the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body.

They found that extremes at either end – having too much or too little haemoglobin – were associated with the highest risk.

Currently, anaemia is diagnosed using thresholds set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that have remained unchanged for half a century.

Under current guidelines, anaemia is only diagnosed once the amount of haemoglobin – the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body – falls below a set level.

But researchers now believe this cut-off may be missing people at risk.

They found that people whose haemoglobin was low, but still considered within the normal range, were more likely to die early than those with higher levels.

Dr Malek Ahmad, clinician-scientist at the University of Glasgow and study lead author, said: ‘Risk already starts to increase with borderline anaemia, before haemoglobin falls below the current WHO threshold.

‘Currently, many doctors do not even recognise a person has anaemia until it’s moderately severe.

‘Showing that borderline anaemia is associated with increased risk and a high prevalence of iron deficiency should encourage investigation and treatment of a broad range of patients with mild/borderline anaemia.’

Anaemia is most commonly caused by iron deficiency, which leaves the body unable to make enough healthy red blood cells. A lack of vitamin B12 or folate can also be responsible.

Common symptoms include tiredness, pale skin, irritability and a racing heartbeat.

Iron deficiency can be caused by not getting enough iron from food but heavy periods and pregnancy are also common causes.

Long-term health problems, including kidney disease and conditions that cause inflammation in the body, can also lead to anaemia.

Some medicines can make it harder for the body to absorb iron, including common heartburn drugs such as omeprazole. Calcium and zinc supplements and certain antibiotics can also interfere with iron absorption.

However, the researchers stressed that their findings do not prove that low haemoglobin itself causes people to die earlier.

They now want to investigate whether the guidelines should be updated to take account of factors such as diet, stress and obesity, which could help doctors spot people at risk earlier.

Around two billion people worldwide are thought to have iron deficiency, including 1.2 billion who have developed iron-deficiency anaemia.

In the UK, an estimated 3 per cent of men and 8 per cent of women have the condition, while more than 57,000 people are admitted to hospital with anaemia every year.

In many cases, however, the condition can be treated relatively simply. A daily iron supplement – costing as little as 10p a pill – can be enough to restore iron levels.

Eating more iron-rich foods can also help, including dark leafy vegetables such as kale, fortified breakfast cereals and red meat.

It comes amid growing concern over a rise in the number of Britons being admitted to hospital because they are deficient in essential vitamins and minerals.

Earlier this year, NHS figures revealed a dramatic increase in patients admitted with anaemia caused by iron deficiency, as well as illnesses linked to a lack of B vitamins.

The Royal College of GPs warned that the cost-of-living crisis has made a nutritious diet ‘increasingly unaffordable’ for some people, describing the figures as ‘very concerning’.

Middle class teenagers are less likely to develop eating disorders than those from poorer backgrounds, British researchers have found.

Teenagers whose parents didn’t attend university face a 25 per cent increased risk of developing the conditions, which include anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. 

Parents with above-average salaries are less likely to see their children suffer the mental illness. 

However, other measures of socioeconomic status, such as parents’ jobs, financial difficulties or receiving government benefits was less consistently linked to eating disorder symptoms. 

Experts from University College London warned that treating eating disorders as a  middle class condition could have serious consequences. 

‘Eating disorders are often stereotyped as a problem of affluence but this review shows that this is not the full picture,’ Dr Nora Trompeter, an expert in eating disorders in adolescents and study lead author, explained. 

‘Eating disorders don’t discriminate by income or education. 

‘If anything, the evidence points the other way, and treating them as a ‘privileged’ condition risks leaving adolescents most in need of support undiagnosed and untreated,’ she added. 

The review – published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders – reviewed data from 51 studies involving 26,174 adolescents from North America, Europe and Australia. 

Around two-thirds of the studies found that teenagers from lower-income families were more likely to have eating disorder symptoms. No studies found the opposite.  

Alongside diagnosed anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders, the review also included early warning symptoms of disordered eating including restricting food, fasting, negative body image and a mounting pressure to become thinner. 

The analysis also found that teenagers whose parents attended university were less likely to have symptoms of an eating disorder. 

The team, who collaborated with experts at Copenhagen University Hospital, are now calling for healthcare providers and school counsellors to be more aware of the warning signs in teenagers from lower-socioeconomic backgrounds, to get them the help they need sooner. 

Dr Trompeter added: ‘Challenging outdated stereotypes could help reduce missed diagnoses and ensure that those young people who are most in need receive timely treatment.’ 

It comes as figures published in July revealed that more than 3.5 million people in the UK could now be living with an eating disorder. 

Analysis by Beat estimated that around one in 15 people aged 11 and over are now battling an eating disorder, a figure almost three times higher than previous estimates. 

Actor Lily Collins played a woman struggling with anorexia in the Netflix film To The Bone, and in a post on Instagram, shared her own eating disorder recovery is still ‘ongoing’

Experts have warned that these patients are still being denied potentially life-saving treatment until they become critically ill, with outdated thresholds such as body mass index continuing to influence access to care. 

Admissions of children for eating disorders increased six-fold in a decade, between 2012 and 2022, from 478 to 2,938, accounting for around 4 per cent of all mental health admissions among children, UCL research shows. 

These children are also staying in hospital longer, with the NHS spending £87.5million in 2022 on all child mental health conditions, following a surge in eating disorders. 

Some 3.5 million people in the UK suffer from an eating disorder, with the most common being atypical types (ARFID), followed by binge eating disorder.

Around half of anorexia sufferers will never make a full recovery, while the same is true for roughly a third of bulimia and binge eating patients, according to NICE.

Recent NHS data show the prevalence of eating disorders in 11 to 16-year-olds increased five-fold between 2017 and 2023.

Meanwhile, the results of a poll published in April revealed almost half of primary teachers in England see pupils with eating disorders.

Experts have blamed multiple factors for the rise in the conditions, including more time spent on social media apps like Instagram, educational pressure and the residual effect of lockdowns.

For free support call the UK’s leading eating disorder charity Beat on 0808 801 0677. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 3pm to 8pm. Alternatively, visit their website.

Residents who live near the road are desperate for something to be done

Village residents have said something must be done to fix a “crazy” and “confusing” junction which has become a hotspot for accidents. Gayle Lindsay lives in Milton next to the A10, but drives through the village instead to avoid the junction with Humphries Way.

The 57-year-old said: “We don’t go out on the A10 because it’s accident prone – you get used to the noise, but they’re building a lot more houses at Waterbeach. Traffic is usually queuing through the village and at night it goes back through the roundabout – it needs upgrading. I leave work at four and they are queuing all the way up to the roundabout past five.”

She said when a crash happens all the traffic is redirected through Milton, causing the village to become congested. At one point, it felt to her there was an incident every weekend and she feels the junction needs to be replaced with traffic lights or a roundabout.

Roger Lennox said drivers on the A10 are supposed to give way to cars turning off Humphries Way, but he feels they rarely do. The 78-year-old said: “A lot of people there can’t drive properly – people coming out of here have the right of way to turn right. A roundabout would be better, or traffic lights.”

Lynley Oliver moved to Milton in June and said the junction is “crazy”. The 55-year-old said: “We came from London so traffic is not really a problem, but the junction out there is crazy – it needs lights or something.”

Paul Smith also said the junction “needs sorting” and it’s not clear who is allowed to turn. The 64-year-old said: “They’ve fixed this junction before but they didn’t seem to take into consideration anyone’s view.

“It’s very frustrating because in Cambridgeshire the roads aren’t great and some take a while to get fixed. I never know which way to go out of here to get to Tesco, if it’s best to go left or through the village – I usually choose to go through the village because of the junction.”

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A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire County Council said: “We’re aware of concerns relating to the junction of Humphries Way and the A10 near Waterbeach. Road safety is a key priority for the council and improvements to the junction are planned as part of the Waterbeach development proposals.

“Cambridgeshire County Council is currently working on plans to upgrade the junction with traffic signals to meet the requirements of the Section 106 agreement associated with the development. The scheme will be funded by the developer, Urban & Civic, and is currently expected to be delivered by early 2028.”

Salma Hayek stripped down for a nude swim and revealed she was ‘grateful’ on Monday as she marked her 60th birthday.

The actress, who reached the milestone age on Wednesday, looked happy and glowing while enjoying the water in racy new Instagram snaps.

In one image, the star rested her face in her hands and smiled as she lay down in the water. 

Ensuring her modesty was carefully covered by the water, Salma tipped her head back and looked up towards the sky, letting her hair fall down her back in a second snap.

Captioning her liberating photos, Salma penned: ’60 and grateful.’

Her post was met with a plethora of birthday wishes from her fans and showbiz pals including Vanessa Hudgens, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Olivia Munn. 

The actress, who reached the milestone age on Wednesday, looked happy and glowing while enjoying the water in racy new Instagram snaps

Salma was one of Hollywood’s biggest sex symbols in the Nineties, captivating audiences with her racy performances in films such as Dogma and From Dusk Till Dawn. 

And decades on, she has retained her pin-up girl status, even landing the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue last year. 

As the Oscar-nominated star celebrated her 60th birthday last week, fans have been left in awe at her youthful looks. 

Salma has been open about her diet, fitness and wellness secrets over the years, allowing fans to try out her methods. 

When it comes to her incredible skin, Salma stays away from invasive cosmetic procedures insisting ‘no Botox, no fillers, no peels’.

However, she has admitted to utilising modern skincare technologies, using radio-frequency and micro-frequency machines to tighten her skin and reduce wrinkles.  

Salma also swears by Tepezcohuite, a bark extract used in Mexico for burn treatment, that she claims ‘completely regenerates the skin’.

When it comes to exercise, Salma says she doesn’t have the ‘discipline’ to work out every morning, previously telling People: ‘I don’t have time to exercise, I am working. I’ve had some 20-hour days.’

Her post was met with a plethora of birthday wishes from her fans and showbiz pals including Vanessa Hudgens, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Olivia Munn

As the Oscar-nominated star celebrated her 60th birthday last week, fans have been left in awe at her youthful looks  

Instead she focuses on her posture, as she explained: ‘I work with a woman in London who taught me how to hold my body in a way where the muscles are activated all day long. So even when you brush your teeth, you’re working the muscles.’

Salma also relies on restorative yoga, saying: ‘She taught me to tone my muscles without clenching them. 

‘You relax them and focus on the parts that need to be used, but never with tension. If you’re aware of your body, you’d be surprised by the effect it can have.’

While not completely averse to traditional workout methods, Salma does occasionally hop on the treadmill, but instead of running on the pad she prefers to dance on it. 

And to keep her muscles in good shape, Salma relies on a good massage. 

‘I have a [massage therapist], but she lives in Japan,’ Salma told Inquisitr. ‘She only comes to London every once in a while. But when she comes, she’s my secret weapon. 

‘Massage oxygenates, activates the circulation, and keeps the muscles healthy and firm. I cannot tell you, even just for the lymphatic [system], what the massage does for the face.’

As for her diet, Salma doesn’t restrict herself, having confessed: ‘I don’t like to diet and I’m not good at it.’ 

Britain is facing reprisals from the US and Israel as Andy Burnham prepares to impose sanctions on West Bank settlements.

A package of measures banning imports from the disputed areas is set to be announced later, despite a mounting backlash.

The PM informed Donald Trump of his plans in a call last night, with the Government bracing for the president to respond publicly. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will face questions in the Commons. 

But the move is already causing a storm, with the US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee branding it ‘Jew hate’.

In another escalation overnight, Florida congressman Randy Fine warned that the state has a law that would ban UK imports in retaliation.

An Israeli minister has insisted it could support Argentina’s campaign to seize control of the Falklands, while terror experts have warned of the risk from disrupting intelligence from a long-standing ally. 

There is also disquiet in Labour ranks, with one MP raising alarm about ‘a real risk of increased chances of attacks on the British Jewish community’.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will face questions in the Commons on the policy later

Concern about Israeli settlements has been mounting for years. It has intensified following Israel’s recent decision to open tenders for 1,200 homes east of Jerusalem, which would divide the West Bank

Touring broadcast studios for the Government this morning, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden insisted Israel remains a key ally of the UK.

He argued the measures would be targeted and not amount to a de facto ban on trade with the state.

Mr Burnham has not spoken to Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu since becoming PM in July.

Labour has been under intense pressure from activists to toughen its position on Israel after losing votes to the Greens and pro-Gaza independents.

Concern about settlements has been mounting for years. It has intensified following Israel’s recent decision to open tenders for 1,200 homes east of Jerusalem, which would divide the West Bank.

Mr Miliband – who is Jewish – last week said the plan was ‘crossing a red line’ and ‘illegal under international law’.

He said the proposal ‘cuts through the heart of the West Bank and risks making a Palestinian state unviable’.

Mr Miliband said Labour wanted a ‘comprehensive reset’ of relations with Israel.

Mr Burnham has said the Israeli proposals could ‘imperil or end’ the dream of a two-state solution, which successive British governments have supported for years. In a call with Mr Trump last night he reiterated his commitment to a two-state solution.

But Itamar Ben-Gvir, the hardline Minister of National Security of Israel, wrote on X: ‘It’s time for the State of Israel to publicly recognize that the Malvinas Islands are Argentine territory under occupation, which the British violently steal from the Argentine people.

‘The British are not content with merely occupying the territory; they also carry out oil drilling there and steal the money from the Argentine people.

‘I call upon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recognize Argentina’s sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands and to impose sanctions on Great Britain as long as the occupation continues.’

Although Mr Trump has yet to comment, Republican Mr Fine posted on social media: ‘As the British government considers forcing British companies to boycott portions of Israel, it should be aware that a Florida law that I passed as a member of the Legislature would ban any British company forced to comply from doing business with any state or local government in Florida. 

‘It would also end any British business participating in that boycott from doing any business in Florida if it needed any official interaction with state or local government to operate (permits, tax collection). 

‘Florida is one of Britain’s largest trading partners. They should understand that their vanity project in support of Muslim terror could cost them billions of dollars. 

‘And for those who doubt the power of this policy, it was this same law that broke Airbnb’s misguided effort to boycott portions of Israel in 2019. 

The PM informed Donald Trump of his plans in a call last night, with the Government bracing for the president to respond publicly

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‘They realized that this law would have bankrupted their company. Florida has made it clear. Any company — or nation — that boycotts Israel is boycotted by Florida.’ 

Conservative shadow foreign secretary Tom Tugendhat warned at the weekend that the move to impose sanctions could imperil security cooperation credited with saving British lives.

He urged ministers to ‘put our own national interests and our own national security first’, adding: ‘That means that where we have friends and allies who provide us with intelligence in order to keep us safe we should work with them.’

Harry and Meghan have said they were ‘surprised’ by the King’s bombshell letter making it crystal clear they will be treated as ‘private citizens’ rather than working royals.

In a statement issued to the media, the couple’s spokesman struck a confrontational tone and claimed they had not been told in advance.

Palace sources told the Daily Mail this was ‘incorrect’, insisting Harry and Meghan received the letter before it was released publicly, although they were not consulted on its contents.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who returned to Britain a fortnight ago, are also understood to be concerned that the timing of the King’s announcement may be linked to a crucial meeting on their security arrangements.

Harry and Meghan are still pushing for 24/7 armed police protection now they are back in the UK with their children, Archie and Lilibet, amid concerns about their safety on the school run.

The Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), the Home Office body responsible for decisions on royal security, is reportedly due to meet as early as today to discuss arrangements for the Sussexes.

But last night the King ruled out any role for Harry and Meghan within the Royal Family on the eve of the crunch security meeting.

A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess said: ‘We were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance.’

The remark appeared to be an admission that publication of the letter had caught the couple off guard.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend The Braemar Gathering in the Highlands on Saturday

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Palace sources also told the Daily Mail that the release had nothing to do with the security issue or any meeting.

The letter was released publicly in the interests of ‘transparency’. 

King Charles’s letter told more than 100 ‘senior stakeholders’ across the country that his son and daughter-in-law are not working royals with a reminder that their HRH titles remain on ice.

It comes after sources close to the couple repeatedly briefed select media about plans for their new life back in Britain.

They include a resumption of public engagements with the media invited to attend. Some of the couple’s friends have even boasted that Harry has finally secured the ‘half-in, half-out’ deal he always wanted – with the freedom to mine lucrative commercial opportunities while undertaking limited official duties by the ‘back door’.

That model was firmly rejected as unworkable by his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, at the so-called ‘Sandringham Summit’ of January 2020, which led to the Sussexes’ acrimoniously quitting, not only royal life, but also Britain while embarking on a series of very public attacks on the institution.

Now the King has moved decisively to quash speculation over their return, and publicly re-enforce the boundaries laid down by his late mother.

And he makes clear that Harry and Meghan’s public appearances should not be treated as royal engagements and no public money should be spent on them.

Publication of the letter came as Prince Harry conducted his first official outing on Monday since arriving back in Britain – and will be seen by many as particularly timely. He was pictured smiling at the Tower Bridge Studios in London and signing a mural on a wall during a pseudo-royal engagement.

Later, Meghan’s As Ever Instagram page posted a photo of the Duchess petting a dog in the sunshine in what is thought to be the first picture of her put online since the Sussexes arrived back to the UK.  

The letter released on Monday was written on His Majesty’s instruction by his Lord Chamberlain, Lord Benyon, head of the Royal Household, following ‘a number of requests for guidance’. 

It states clearly that ‘there is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used’.

It adds: ‘The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity. In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.’

Meghan’s As Ever Instagram page posted the first picture of the Duchess since she returned to the UK today. It showed Meghan playing with a dog in the sunshine

Harry and Meghan at a David Foster Foundation event in Canada on August 7

Former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth, Ailsa Anderson-Cole, told the Daily Mail that the letter was ‘decisive and unequivocal’.

‘It was also cleverly done, making their position clear, but in response to queries by stakeholders [rather than by issuing their own statement].’ she said.

‘The King is taking charge of the narrative and acting decisively to end any speculation.’

The letter was sent to the duke and duchess’s team shortly before it was made public, without any discussion over its contents, the Mail understands.

Among the ‘senior stakeholders’ to receive it were the 98 Lord Lieutenants who are the monarch’s representatives in counties across the UK. 

The Mail understands that Buckingham Palace had been contacted by a number of officials seeking clarity about operational matters pertaining to the Sussex family while they are resident in the UK. The letter was ‘shared’ with Harry’s team and then released publicly in the interests of ‘transparency’.

Officials stressed that there was nothing new in its contents, and that it simply reiterated Buckingham Palace’s position ‘in full accordance with the Sussex family’s stated wishes to remain private citizens while in the UK’.

It was, they added, ‘in keeping’ with the Sandringham agreement, which still very much stands. However, the fact that the Palace chose to send the letter out demonstrates the level of consternation and confusion sparked by the family’s sudden return.

The suggestion that the guidance has been issued to make clear the ‘continued position for the benefit of all parties’ will be interpreted by some as a warning shot across the Sussexes’ bow.

‘People have been asking for clarity. The guidance is both consistent and clear,’ a source told the Mail.

The letter is also at pains to stress, given Harry’s continued lobbying of the Home Office to reinstate his taxpayer-funded police protection now he has returned home, that this remains a matter for the department’s executive committee Ravec to determine, and not the King.

It is expected to make a ruling on the matter in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the palace says questions over security around a visit by Harry or Meghan should be referred to the local police authority.

Since their decision to quit the UK in 2020 and his loss in the High Court against the Home Office security decision, Harry had maintained it was unsafe for him to bring his family to the UK. 

Just a year ago he publicly stated that he could not foresee a time this would ever happen. 

But in July he brought Meghan and their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, over for a short holiday during which they met King Charles at Highgrove for the first time in four years.

Then last month sources close to the prince revealed they had suddenly decided to return to the UK. The King was only told of the move four days before the news was made public and the family arrived just two weeks later. It is understood they have settled in the Cotswolds, with the children enrolled in a local private school.

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