Seven in ten GPs believe adult ADHD is over-diagnosed and some say they have never known a private provider reject a diagnosis.
Increased awareness of the condition has driven up waits for NHS assessments and in turn pushed patients towards private clinics.
Some patients pay more than £1,000 for a consultation while others are able to secure an NHS referral to an assessor of their choice, with taxpayers footing the bill.
The diagnosis can aid benefits claims, such as personal independence payments, which have soared in recent years.
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Family doctors estimated that more than eight in ten patients referred for specialist assessments ultimately received an ADHD diagnosis.
Those responding to a poll by GP publication Pulse raised concerns about ‘superficial’ assessments and warned that trauma and other mental health problems could be overlooked.
A GP from Berkshire revealed that of over 1,000 patients they had referred, only one did not receive a positive ADHD diagnosis.
Other respondents said they perceived the diagnosis rate for those referred to private provider routes was higher than via NHS routes.
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A diagnosis of ADHD can aid benefits claims, such as personal independence payments, which have soared in recent years
A Dorset-based GP said: ‘Occasionally NHS services do not make a positive diagnosis, but I don’t think I have ever seen a private provider not give a positive diagnosis.’
It comes ahead of the publication of a government-commissioned review into the rising demand for ADHD, autism and mental health services.
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Professor Peter Fonagy, the clinical psychologist leading the review, is expected to recommend providing more support based on people’s needs, without requiring a formal diagnosis.
The costs of meeting the ‘soaring’ demand for autism and ADHD services in England have become ‘unsustainable’, health chiefs have warned.
The NHS Alliance said that spending on ADHD and autism has risen by up to ten-fold over the course of a year in some areas, citing one integrated care board (ICB) which reported its monthly spend had risen from £146,000 in 2024/25 to £1.5m last year.
Another reported an increased spend on adult ADHD services from £11m in 2023/24 to a projected £51m this financial year, Pulse reported.
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The sharp increase in demand has led to an influx of new providers, fuelled by the Right to Choose, which allows people seeking diagnosis for themselves or a child to opt for any qualified provider.
But the NHS Alliance said that the rapid expansion of new providers has also prompted concerns from ICBs about quality assurance and regulation.
Rebecca Gray, the NHS Alliance’s mental health network director, said local health leaders were ‘caught between a rock and a hard place’.
‘They understand the anguish and frustration caused by long delays in the system as people wait for assessments, treatment and support,’ she said.
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‘But in working to meet rising demand they face soaring costs that are running out of control.
‘The current situation is unsustainable and delivers a bad deal for patients and taxpayers.’
One ICB told the NHS Alliance it now has 80 providers on its patch, while another said that two years ago it had received invoices from 12 to 14 providers, a figure which has now risen to 48.
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) said there has been a more than 200 per cent rise in complaints about ADHD and autism services over the past five years.
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The Pulse survey of 829 GPs found 410 consider adult ADHD ‘very over-diagnosed’ and 173 consider it ‘slightly over-diagnosed’.
Another GP, based in Devon, who responded to the survey, said: ‘ADHD seems to be considered a more socially acceptable diagnosis than, for example, PTSD.
‘I am stunned by how superficial some assessments are, and how little reference is made to some patients’ significant history of trauma or adverse childhood experiences, which would in themselves be an adequate explanation for the patient’s difficulties.’
Greater Manchester GP partner Dr Liz Clarke, who responded to the survey, said the current system of having single pathways for the diagnosis of single conditions does not provide a holistic patient assessment and ‘creates the risk of overdiagnosis because the focus is to diagnose or exclude only one cause’.
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She also raised concerns of ‘harm’ that could be caused to patients as a result, ‘as they can be put on the wrong medications or have the wrong psychological interventions when neurodiversity is not recognised, as well as vice versa’.
The Government said: ‘Professor Fonagy’s final report will be published shortly, and will inform our new national approach in this area.’
GTA 6 – two characters but only single-player (Rockstar Games)
The Monday letters page hopes that GTA 6 will get an online co-op option, as one reader looks forward to Dino Crisis: The Movie.
Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk
Partners in crime So everyone’s busy looking forward to GTA 6 but I’m still a little put out that despite 25 minutes of gameplay footage they still didn’t show anything that was really new. I remember when they had the GTA 5 trailers they had a voiceover describing all the features, but we never got that this time. So does that mean there could still be features we are unaware of?
Ever since they confirmed there were two playable characters I’ve felt that a co-op mode seemed like a shoe-in. But they haven’t said the game’s got one and there’s been no rumours either. I realise that split-screen is probably technically impossible (but wouldn’t that be great?) but is it just as impossible that we’d get online co-op?
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For me, that would be a dream feature for GTA 6 and since you have plenty of people running around in GTA Online at the same time I don’t see why it wouldn’t be possible. Heck, retrofit GTA 5 to have three-play co-op if you can!
At this point I think I’ve got to accept it’s not going to happen at launch, but I hope that they can maybe add it later via DLC or some kind of separate mode. Montara
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Zelda achievements So far, the Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake appears to be a faithful recreation of the original and my nostalgia level is already hitting the roof. However, for anyone who was there nearly 30 years ago(!), faded memories will probably come out and the story will be completed quite quickly.
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It’d be amazing if they made a new Master Quest for veterans. Even better would be some kind of score attack or time attack modes that is unlocked when you complete the story.
How many fish can you catch in X amount of time? How quickly can you complete this horse-riding obstacle course around Hyrule Field? The Zelda titles have always had minigames within the game world but a dedicated mode with online leaderboards would be the icing on the already eagerly awaited cake. Tony
Fortnite forest Finally! Some good news from the world of computer games. Tim Sweeney, the founder of free-to-play Fortnite, has spent around £150 million in buying forests so that they won’t be demolished and turned into rich peoples’ housing developments and unnecessary golf courses.
It’s good to know that customers’ money has helped gone to a really good cause.
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And now knowing this, even though it won’t really help, I’m off to spend a(nother) small fortune on V-Bucks. LeeDappa
Lost battle After reading Woodstain’s bit on Sunday, about how much he respects gamers standing up to Sony, got me thinking how there is a chance of changing Sony’s mind. Asking gamers to stay off their PlayStation four weeks on end will never work. Sony knows sooner or later you will turn on to hear the beep.
The only way you have a chance of changing Sony’s mind is buying their games physical. Only if you can get enough players buying the game on disc it might make Sony realise people want to own their games and not rent them. David
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GC: There is no chance of them changing their mind. The best you can hope for is Sony giving permission for other companies to manufacture discs for the PlayStation 5, but there’s been no sign of that.
Payday special With payday being more than a week away for most of us who get paid monthly, may I suggest Crystal Crisis on the Nintendo Switch e Shop. It is only another puzzle block game with a slightly different element, so it is not going to pull up any trees.
Yet it is a fun take on the genre and features (apparently) a lot of different characters.
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Astro Boy was the only one I knew and I was familiar with the game and character from The Binding Of Issac. At £1.79, it will keep you entertained until payday my fellow gamers. freeway 77
Resident critic I saw the latest attempt to turn a video game series into a movie. I thought it was OK. Quite entertaining. I think the best thing to do when watching this film is to try and forget Zach Cregger was involved because I thought, with respect to its script and story, Resident Evil 2026 wasn’t really fit to lick the bootlaces of either Barbarian or Weapons.
There were some nice inclusions from the games, and I guess it was fun spotting those, but I sort of expected something better. There were a few well directed action sequences too. Overall, the monsters and the wintery setting sort of made me think I was watching a slightly fumbled reimagining of John Carpenter’s The Thing.
Maybe I was expecting too much. Perhaps my admiration for Barbarian and Weapons prejudiced my judgement. For me, the first Silent Hill film remains the best video game movie. After so many misfires you have to wonder why film studios meddle with game franchises at all. These films must be an easy sell since they have a ready made audience of video game players, like me. Michael Veal
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GC: It’s already the highest grossing entry in the film franchise.
Single wish I can see how GTA Online was always going to be Rockstar’s priority, given how much money it makes, but I would’ve hoped that with everything they were making off it they could’ve pumped some of the money into single-player DLC, whether it was Liberty City or not.
I guess you’ve got the problem of having to take people away from working on GTA Online updates. But when you’re making more money than you can count surely you can hire a few more people? Obviously, that’s not how they thought of it though, since it never happens, but I hope GTA 6 isn’t going to be one and done in terms of single-player content Cambo
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Action cinema I’m so excited by the fact that the new Resident Evil movie is reviewing so well. I haven’t seen it yet, as I type this, but I will this weekend and I can’t wait, especially as I loved Barbarian and Weapons. It was a surprise Zach Cregger would make an adaptation after his previous two original films did so well but it’s great to know he did it because he’s a fan of the series.
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Games have been around for so long now that any movie director that isn’t old school grew up with them. I think that’s what will lead to some truly great adaptions. It makes me wonder what could be done with Mario, and especially Zelda, if it was put in the hands of people that love the games and know how to make a movie.
I don’t think games will ever be taking over from comic books as the hot thing to base a movie on but I do think we are reaching a new level where you can make the movies work without having to cheat with something that was 90% story already, like The Last Of Us.
They should get back into making films of action games. Things like Doom, Devil May Cry or Ninja Gaiden. They’re dumb games, in terms of the plot, but so is Resident Evil. Given them proper characters and plots is what the movie would be for. That way you’re actually getting something useful out of it, that can then feed back to improve the games.
I’m not sure Hollywood thinks about it that deeply, but that’s my idea. Whatever happens, Capcom is definitely going to be hot for a while. So maybe the Dino Crisis comeback will be via movies rather than games! Lovitz
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Inbox also-rans Just noticed in the end credits for Star Fox on Switch 2 that the soundtrack was performed by a full live orchestra at Abbey Road Studios in London! How cool is that? Tim Keeling
Although I’m glad that the rumours of a Super Metroid remake don’t seem to be true I wonder where they came from? They’re very specific and I don’t see any way you could mistake Metroid Ravenous for Super Metroid. Hopefully Nintendo just realised it was a bad idea and that was the end of it. Jonesy
The small print New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.
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Whether you’re chasing glacier hikes, boutique wine tastings, or epic coastal campervan routes, New Zealand delivers the ultimate bucket-list escape.
New Zealand’s natural beauty is extraordinary
From towering peaks to ancient subtropical rainforests, fiords and lakes to steaming geothermal valleys, New Zealand packs a lot of variety into its two islands.
Whether setting out on a hike or white water rafting, its scenery is an invitation to adventure, while vibrant cities and rich Māori culture complete the experience.
The travel experts at Flight Centre have hiked the glaciers, skydived over the Southern Alps of Queenstown, and dined on the beach among sea lions and penguins. So it’s no wonder they can put together the perfect trip for you. How about the ultimate campervan route, a scenic flight in a private plane or luxury wine tasting experiences?
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There are hundreds of reasons to visit New Zealand, but here are our top eight…
1. Two islands, endless landscapes
New Zealand’s islands have adventures for all
The North Island is a gentle home to rolling hills, cascading waterfalls and geothermal landscapes, where steam drifts over crater lakes and bubbling mud pools. Explore rich pine forest and black-sand beaches accessed by remote tracks.
In the wild South, trek the Southern Alps, including the lower slopes of the awe-inspiring Aoraki, and explore the glacier-carved valleys that slice their way down to the sea. Then take a dip in the hot pools overlooking the waters of the bright turquoise Lake Tekapo, lingering past twilight for the best stargazing.
2. Immersive Māori culture
Māori culture is alive and thriving
According to Māori legend, more than 1,000 years ago the great Māori explorer Kupe was the first to set foot on Aotearoa, Land of the Long White Cloud. Today, Māori culture is rooted in vibrant Kiwi life.
Visit Te Puia, a living Māori village and learn about traditional healing practices at Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa. Taste the ancient cooking technique of using geothermal heat to cook food with a hāngī feast and visit artisan workshops, from weaving to greenstone carving. Or for a deeper cultural immersion, watch traditional Māori performances, known as kapa haka, which include song, dance and storytelling.
3. The ultimate road trip destination
Rent a motorhome and hit the road
New Zealand is built for exploring on four wheels. With quiet open roads and jaw-dropping scenery at every turn, it’s perfect for campervan hire and exploring at your own pace.
Flight Centre can help you map out your perfect itinerary, connecting every adventure point via scenic coastal routes and alpine passes. Camp next to crystal-clear lakes and in the shadow of towering volcanic peaks, hop between stepping stones amid bubbling mud pools, before boarding the ferry between islands to continue your road trip adventure.
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4. Lively and welcoming cities
Enjoy the social scene in beautiful Queenstown
When you’re ready for a vibrant cultural buzz, intersperse your adventure with some time in New Zealand’s cosmopolitan hubs.
From Auckland’s bustling harbourfront and impressive foodie scene to the coffee culture of Wellington and the gardens of Hamilton, there’s plenty to explore on the North Island.
Then on the South Island, you’ll enjoy street art finds in Christchurch and combine steep hills and historic architecture in Dunedin, while Queenstown manages to balance alpine energy and lakeside tranquillity.
5. An outdoor adventurer’s dream
Paddle out for an on-water adventure
Whether walking, biking, or on water, there are plenty of gentle ways to explore the stunning scenery at your own pace.
Strap on crampons and hike the ice labyrinth of a glacier, or paddle your way between dolphins as you sea-kayak the dramatic coastline.
But there’s lots on offer for thrill-seekers as well. Zipline through the treetops or over rushing waterfalls, go bungy jumping over dramatic river canyons and valleys framed by mountains, or white water raft down the mighty Waikato River.
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6. Home to hobbits
Step straight into The Shire (Credit: Hobbiton Movie Set Tours)
The landscapes of New Zealand were the perfect setting for the film versions of J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary books. Beyond exploring the wild scenery, you can step straight into The Shire, the set of Bilbo Baggins’ village Hobbiton, to explore hobbit holes and the Green Dragon Inn.
The Wētā Workshop Experience in Wellington gives you a glimpse behind the scenes, where you can walk among massive set pieces on a guided behind-the-scenes tour, or try a hands-on crafting class.
7. Fine wines meet fabulous food
From fresh produce to locally made wine, New Zealand’s foodie scene is unmatched
Kiwi gastronomy is a whole world in itself, from fresh produce and local ingredients used through generations of indigenous culture, to some of the world’s best wines.
Sample crisp Marlborough sauvignon blancs or velvety pinot noirs at award-winning cellar doors. The craft beer scene is thriving too, with small-batch breweries offering tasting tours.
And as with any island nation, the seafood is outstanding, from king salmon to scallops, green-lipped mussels and kina (sea urchin). Try some of the native bush greens in indigenous cuisine, or visit Michelin-rated restaurants for an exceptional culinary journey.
8. It’s easy to add on a little luxury
Explore the breathtaking Milford Sound
Feeling like making the special extraordinary? Talk to Flight Centre about adding the experience of a lifetime to your trip.
A scenic flight over Franz Josef Glacier will see you soaring on a small plane over the crevasses and pinnacles of the icy wonder, or how about boarding a luxury cruise boat for a waterside exploration of Milford Sound?
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And for a leisurely way to see the sights, book a trip on New Zealand’s railway network which meanders through some of the most scenic stretches of natural beauty on the planet; sit back and marvel at the gorges and peaks moving past your window as you navigate from one boutique lodge to another.
It’s the kind of adventure you’ll remember forever.
Plan your New Zealand escape with Flight Centre
Let the experts at Flight Centre create your dream New Zealand escape
As the long-haul specialists, Flight Centre takes all the stress out of planning your dream trip to New Zealand.
Created by travellers, for travellers, the knowledgeable team makes it easy to book the bucket-list trip, offering insider tips, tailored itineraries and great value.
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Enjoy two holidays in one by adding a stopover in Malaysia or Singapore, all wrapped up in one ATOL-protected package. All you have to do is focus on having the trip of a lifetime.
Police were called to reports of an assault near the old Debenham’s store on Stockton High Street at around 4.50pm on Saturday (September 19).
A Cleveland Police spokesperson said officers attended the scene after receiving reports that a 37-year-old woman had been punched in the face on Saturday afternoon.
Cleveland Police Inspector Anthony Ford said: “At 4.50pm on Saturday 19 September police were called to reports of an assault on High Street in Stockton.
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“A man is reported to have punched a 37-year-old woman to the face.
“A man, aged 53, was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of a bladed article and possession of class A drugs.
“The woman was taken to hospital for treatment.
“He has since been charged in relation to possession of class A drugs and possession of a bladed article and released on conditional bail for the assault.”
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Police enquiries into the assault remain ongoing, and officers are urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who may have information, to get in touch.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Cleveland Police via its website or online reporting portal.
Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers online or by calling 0800 555 111.
An injured pensioner and his grandson were saved from a mountain in a seven-hour rescue on Thursday after an emergency call from an iPhone alerted rescuers.
The phone’s SOS feature contacted Cumbria Police around 8.30pm after two walkers found the 77-year-old grandfather, who had wrist and knee injuries, and his 19-year-old grandson near Skew Gill, a steep ravine on the route to Scafell Pike in the Lake District.
A Coastguard helicopter flew to the site but could not land because of bad weather while 14 volunteers from Wasdale Mountain Rescue made their own way to the walkers before beginning an urgent evacuation.
The two walkers who had found the pair had stayed with them until help arrived, though their head torches had run out and the rescuers gave them replacements to walk back with.
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After stretchering the grandfather from the hill, his rescuers handed him over to paramedics before returning to their base shortly before 3.30am.
A statement from the mountain rescue volunteers said: ‘The team arrived, assessed and warmed up both casualties, and found the 77-year-old also had a wrist and knee injury; an urgent evacuation of the hill was commenced.
Volunteers from Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team came to the aid of a grandfather, 77, and his grandson, 19, who were walking near Scafell Pike
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The pair were discovered by two walkers who used the emergency SOS feature on an iPhone to ask for help
‘The two walkers who had come across them had remained with them and their head torches had run out; as they were confident of their route back to Seathwaite, head torches were loaned to them to get back to their car.
‘The casualty was stretchered off the hill and handed over to NWAS [North West Ambulance Service] along with his grandson. The team returned to base to dry out the equipment before heading home.’
Brad Pitt is mobbed by fans as he arrives at San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain as friends reveal how marriage to Angelina Jolie sent his life ‘spiraling’
Brad Pitt was mobbed by fans as he arrived at the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain on Sunday – just after friends revealed how his marriage to Angelina Jolie sent his life ‘spiraling’.
The actor, 62, has arrived in the city for the 74th international film festival in order to promote his new survival thriller Heart of the Beast.
And as he headed to the Maria Cristina Hotel this weekend after landing, crowds of people had lined the streets to get a glimpse of the Hollywood heartthrob.
Brad dressed smart casually in a blue suede jacket, dark shades, a denim cap and light grey trousers as he stepped out.
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His outing comes just after an exclusive Daily Mail report detailed his friends revealing the ‘worst thing that ever happened to him’ after marriage sent his life ‘spiraling’.
A source close to Brad told us: ‘He never had a drink problem, he had an Angelina problem. He’s worked hard on himself and he’s now, finally, in a really good place.’
Brad and Angelina, 51, split back in September 2016 following just two years of marriage.
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Brad Pitt was mobbed by fans as he arrived at the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain on Sunday – just after friends revealed how his marriage to Angelina Jolie sent his life ‘spiraling’
The actor, 62, has arrived in the city 74th international film festival in order to promote his new survival thriller Heart of the Beast
It comes after in an interview with L’Officiel USA published on September 9, Angelina stated that she’s ready to leave the United States and ‘be a bit nomadic’ now that her two youngest children, twins Vivienne and Knox, have turned 18.
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The star, who listed her Los Feliz mansion for $29.85million earlier this year, admitted she is experiencing ‘the end of a certain time’ in her life.
Asked if she’s going to be swapping Los Angeles for New York, she told the publication: ‘Out of the States more, I think.
‘I don’t really plan to have a base. I’d like to have a home base for my family, a place where some of the mom stuff and the family photos are. And then I’d like to be a bit nomadic for a while.’
And as he headed to the Maria Cristina Hotel this weekend after landing crowds of people had lined to streets to get a glimpse of the Hollywood heartthrob
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Brad dressed smart casually in a blue suede jacket, dark shades, a denim cap and light grey trousers as he stepped out
His outing comes just after an exclusive Daily Mail report detailed his friends revealing the ‘worst thing that ever happened to him’ after marriage sent his life ‘spiraling’
A source close to Brad told us: ‘He never had a drink problem, he had an Angelina problem. He’s worked hard on himself and he’s now, finally, in a really good place’
Brad and Angelina, 51, split back in September 2016 following just two years of marriage (seen in 2014)
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‘The hope for the Atelier was always to be global; Brazil might become the first space that we open outside of the US,’ she continued. ‘The idea would be to visit the different locations around the world and meet local artists and makers.’
She is also planning to return to Cambodia to do ‘more hands-on work’ with her Maddox Foundation, which is a non-profit focused on community development and conservation.
‘My home in Cambodia will also be a residency a few months out of the year for Khmer culture,’ she explained.
Jolie noted that her goal with traveling is finding ‘connection and community’, rather than the idea of being a tourist.
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‘I’m not somebody who vacations or shops or things like that. I envision more field work, more travel, and just being out in the world. Get my motorcycle back, get back in a plane. I don’t know.’
While Jolie has been present for her children when they needed her, she knows they would support her getting to travel the world more now they’ve grown up.
‘That’s definitely what my kids want. They had Mom when Mom needed to be Mom. Now, they’d like me to call them from Tunisia having just landed a plane to meet with local artists. I agree that would be very nice.’
A huge fire has broken out at a field in a Scots town.
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Firefighters have been raced to the incident near Cluny Road in Kinglassie, Fife. The alarm was raised at 9.17pm on Sunday, September 20. Two fire engines have been scrambled to the scene.
It’s currently unknown if there are any injuries. Images taken from the scene show the area ignited by flames.
Fire can be seen ravaging the field, which is close to a number of homes. Crews remain at the scene.
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A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Operations control received a call at 9.17pm regarding a fire in a field off Cluny Road, Kinglassie in Fife.
“We mobilised two appliances to the scene. Crews remain in attendance.”
We’ll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.
Kevin James, managing director at Bradleys Estate Agents in the south west of England, said: “The summer months delivered better activity than expected in our areas, particularly for sellers who adapted their expectations to the affordability pressures in the market, and listened to advice to price realistically.
The MSP told the King: “From September 1 2026, Aberdeenshire Council has introduced a 200% council tax premium on second homes. This means that Balmoral Castle, one of your multiple homes away from your permanent residence at Clarence House, should be charged three times the standard rate of council tax.
Security concerns could lead to the royal couple moving back to the US “within weeks”.
Elizabeta Ranxburgaj and Ruth Suter Chief Live News Reporter
23:26, 20 Sep 2026
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could return to the US for good in just a few weeks, insiders have reportedly claimed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stunned the world when they returned to the UK in August. Their return came six years after their royal exit and move abroad.
The Mirror reports that the couple had moved from their Montecito, California, home with their kids, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5. It is said the family moved into a home in the Cotswolds. At the time of their move back across the pond, sources close to the couple said they were coming back to the UK for an “extended period” of time. Despite this, sources close to the pair have claimed one thing could force them to fly back to the US.
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Security concerns could lead to the royal couple moving back to the US “within weeks”, sources have claimed. Prince Harry, since his split from the royal family, has had his requests for taxpayer-funded security denied.
The Royal and VIP Executive Committee – known as Ravec – oversees Royal and VIP security in the UK. The committee, however, met again to discuss the couple’s level of police protection now that their two kids are residents. Sources close to the pair have reportedly claimed Harry and Meghan could move back to California if the Ravec review does not go their way, according to the Daily Mail.
A friend of Prince Harry’s reportedly said: “If he doesn’t get [security] then I believe he will go back to Montecito for good, and that could be as soon as half-term. The view is that if they don’t get security then it will have to mean that Ravec has been nobbled. The need is so clear, what else could be the explanation?
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“So if he doesn’t get it then he will take that as a sign that there are deeper elements at play. In that case then he will be safer in the US than in the UK, so he will return.”
Harry and Meghan enrolled Archie and Lilibet into a private school and the kids started the new school year in the UK. The couple however moved their kids to another school just two days after they started, due to security concerns over the school run.
Sources close to the couple said this was due to the distance between the school and their home as well as heavy traffic which raised concerns about whether the school run could be done safely. A spokesman for Harry and Meghan said this decision to move schools “was taken following a discussion with the family’s security team“.
This comes as Princess Diana’s brother Earl Spencer said he worries about Harry “not having any police protection“.
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The Earl, who is releasing a controversial memoir next week, in an interview with the BBC said: “I would say that I personally worry about the fifth in line to the throne who’s served in the military not having any police protection. As an uncle who’s seen his sister die in very, very preventable circumstances, that I would veer towards protection.”
Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.
It is startlingly quick, handles superbly and, with a £65,800 on-the-road price, makes a strong case for itself as an electric alternative to far costlier performance saloons.
Hyundai’s N division has already demonstrated that it understands how to make an EV entertaining rather than merely fast. The Ioniq 5 N proved that a heavy battery-powered car could have a personality beyond its headline acceleration figure. The Ioniq 6 N takes that thinking and applies it to Hyundai’s low-slung streamliner saloon, producing something more purposeful-looking and, on the road, even more dynamic.
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 N has sharp looks matched by dynamic performance
The standard Ioniq 6’s rounded, aerodynamic silhouette remains underneath, but the N version is transformed visually. Its front end is more aggressive, with hidden LED matrix headlamps, N-specific LED daytime-running lights, enlarged dark lower sections and a distinctly shark-nosed face. There are widened arches, 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels on Pirelli P Zero tyres, orange brake callipers, extended side skirts and a substantial rear wing.
It is a bold look, perhaps too dramatic for some, but it works. More importantly, the car lives up to the image. This is not a cosmetic warm hatch treatment applied to a normal electric saloon. It feels very quick, handles superbly and delivers the focused, athletic character its styling promises.
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Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
The figures back that up. An 84kWh battery feeds dual permanent-magnet synchronous motors driving all four wheels, producing 650PS, 478kW and 770Nm. Hyundai quotes 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds and a 160mph top speed.
It is properly rapid, but this is not simply a car for dispatching straights.
Hyundai has equipped it with electronically controlled suspension, high-performance dampers, a rear electronic limited-slip differential and huge brake discs: 21 inches at the front and 19 inches at the rear.
N Torque Distribution, N Launch Control and a configurable N Drift Optimiser underline its track-day intent, while its long, low body and 2,965mm wheelbase help it feel secure and controlled through corners.
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Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
It remains a substantial machine, weighing from 2,166kg and stretching to 4,935mm long. Yet it carries that mass well. The chassis has a composed, planted feel, and there is sufficient adjustability in its N systems to make the driving experience more than an exercise in exploiting straight-line torque.
That is important, because many fast EVs are hugely capable but emotionally remote. The Ioniq 6 N attempts to close that gap with N e-Shift and E-Active Sound Design+. The former simulates gear changes through the paddles, with momentary torque interruptions, while the latter adds adjustable synthetic sound through the cabin and exterior speakers. It is undeniably contrived, but it gives the driver more to engage with and contributes to the car’s playful character.
Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
It is also fitted out for everyday life. The Alcantara-faced bucket seats, suede headlining, heated N Performance steering wheel and aluminium pedals give the cabin a suitably focused atmosphere, while heated and ventilated front seats, heated outer rear seats, dual-zone climate control and a heat pump preserve its long-distance credentials.
Equipment levels are extensive. Standard kit includes twin 12.3-inch displays, satellite navigation, an augmented-reality head-up display, Bose audio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and five USB-C ports.
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Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
The 371-litre boot is adequate rather than vast, but the Ioniq 6 N is intended as a performance saloon that can still handle the daily commute and longer trips. Hyundai claims a WLTP range of 302 miles, although hard use reduces that, while 800V and 400V charging compatibility allows a 10-80% recharge in 18 minutes on a 350kW CCS charger.
At £65,800, it is far from cheap, but it looks comparatively well equipped at the price.
Hyundai IONIQ 6 N 84kWh 650 PS 4WD
PRICE: £65,800
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BATTERY: 84.0kWh lithium-ion polymer
POWER: 650PS / 478kW
TORQUE: 770Nm / 567.9lb ft
DRIVE: Dual-motor, all-wheel drive
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0-62MPH: 3.2 seconds
WLTP RANGE: 302 miles
RAPID CHARGING: 10–80% in 18 minutes on 350kW CCS charger
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