Donald Trump celebrated Independence Day with World War II veterans, Gold Star families and the largest firework display in US history, delivering a patriotic speech just hours after thousands were evacuated and told to seek shelter.

Trump also displayed one of the oldest American flags in existence during the celebration, as he noted the delays to the much awaited event.

‘I said it doesn’t work next week, this is the big day,’ Trump said. ‘We want July 4th, we’re not looking for July something else.’

‘If you think that was easy, it wasn’t,’ the President added.

During his speech, Trump brought Pearl Harbor survivor Captain Ken Schubring, 104, on stage as the crowd roared and he stood in front of a flag flown during World War II.

Trump also used the the Spanish–American War of 1898 to take a jab at Iran, remarking that the US sank ‘the entire Iranian Navy, 159 ships, to the bottom of the sea, all done in just a moment’s time.’

The President repeatedly blasted communism during his address, saying that ‘communists haven’t got a chance’ and ‘we don’t want communists in our country.’

‘The stars and stripes cast the hammer and sickle into oblivion before and we will do it again if necessary,’ Trump said.

Trump, with First Lady Melania Trump, on stage at the Independence Day celebration on the National Mall

The President showed off some of the earliest American flags as part of his remarks

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Trump brought the Artemis II crew on stage during his patriotic Fourth of July speech, which lasted under 40 minutes

The 250th anniversary celebration wrapped up with a huge fireworks display over the National Mall

The President called communism a ‘loser’ and ‘the opposite of the American system.’

‘It’s like a cancer, you got to cut it out,’ Trump added.

At a separate point, Trump brought out the Artemis II flight crew, as he lauded the US’ space capacities. 

The President touted the SAVE America Act during his remarks, which would require people to provide documentary proof of American citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.

‘And there will be no mail-in ballots except for illness, disability, military deployment or travel,’ he added. 

Trump also said the US stock market was the strongest it has ever been, as he said that ‘there is nothing that Americans can’t do and we are proving that right now.’ 

In total, Trump’s speech commemorating America’s 250th anniversary lasted just under 40 minutes. 

The commemoration started with a performance from American tenor Christopher Macchio, who sang Ave Maria and God Bless America.

Lee Greenwood followed Macchio, performing God Bless the USA and subsequently introducing the President.

The massive celebration was capped off by a huge fireworks show, with 850,000 fireworks launched. That marked the largest in US history, according to Reuters.

Trump commented on the display about half an hour past midnight on Truth Social, writing, ‘Best fireworks show, EVER!’

While the event was postponed, Trump posted shortly after 9pm: ‘Storms bring luck to whatever the occasion. They also make events a little bit more exciting! We will wait it out, I don’t care if it’s 2:00 O’Clock in the morning, or in one hour from now. 

‘It’s Saturday night, LETS HAVE SOME FUN, even if we are out late tonight. They say 11:00 O’Clock for the speech. Who cares???’ he added. 

After arriving, photos captured Trump in a temporary building as he waited to deliver remarks. The President was seen speaking with First Lady Melania Trump and appeared to be watching himself on television.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and House Speaker Mike Johnson were among those who joined Trump.

Capt. Ken Schubring, 104, was brought on stage in front of a flag that was flown at Pearl Harbor during World War II 

Before the adverse weather conditions, organizers of the 250th anniversary event had advertised Saturday’s fireworks show as the largest in the world

The full spectacle included 850,000 fireworks, making it the largest ever in US history

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The President appeared to be watching himself on screen before his remarks at the America 250 celebration

Trump announced his arrival on Truth Social, writing ‘I’M HERE!!!’ at 10.16pm ET

In a phone interview with Fox News‘ Bret Baier, the President said that if the veterans could storm the beaches of Normandy on D–Day, he could give his Independence Day address in bad weather. 

Trump was originally scheduled to speak at 9.45pm ET ahead of what is being billed as the world’s largest fireworks display to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday.

Thousands of Independence Day guests were forced to evacuate the National Mall as thunderstorms approached the capital. 

The Daily Mail was on the scene at the Mall when the evacuation orders were issued. Attendees were initially encouraged to head to the white tents that had been constructed for the Salute to America event, but a second announcement instructed them to head to three nearby federal buildings and take shelter.

At that point, revelers started booing the announcements. 

At another, someone onstage doing a mic check prompted a portion of the crowd to run back toward the stage, only to be pushed out again by Secret Service and other law enforcement. 

Flyovers continued after the crowd was asked to leave, doubling down on attendees’ resistance to exit. 

Amid the chaos, actor Dennis Quaid was spotted being shuttled through the crowd in a golf cart. 

Other MAGA names were part of the crowd, including Glenn Beck and his family, who were wearing matching T–shirts, and conservative activist Scott Presler.

Not everyone responded to the evacuations with anger, however. 

Clusters of attendees broke into song while slowly making their way toward the exits, belting out the national anthem as dark clouds formed above. 

Several USA chants were shouted as Maryland state troopers, Secret Service officers and US Park Police asked people to move.

Members of the US Secret Service direct attendees of the Salute to America on the National Mall to leave the area after a weather evacuation was announced. Many attendees dragged their feet, hoping the order would be reversed 

On Saturday evening, thousands were ordered to evacuate from the National Mall because of incoming thunderstorms

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On Wednesday, the President had promised to deliver a ‘really long speech’ despite the triple–digit heat, which already temporarily closed Friday’s Great American State Fair for several hours. 

‘Just to show that I can do anything,’ Trump said on Wednesday. ‘It’s gonna be 107.’

DC is under an extreme warning through 9pm tonight, while a severe thunderstorm warning is also in effect until 10pm. 

As of Saturday, the nation’s capital had a real feel temperature of 107, according to AccuWeather.

After the temporary shutdown, the organizers of the Salute to America event, Freedom 250, later said on X that Trump would give remarks at 11pm.

The Secret Service added that everyone who evacuated the site would need to be screened again upon reentry. 

Organizers urged guests to evacuate event grounds and seek temporary shelter in a nearby building. 

The Department of Education, Internal Revenue Service, VOA Building, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, National Museum of American History, National Museum of Natural History, and the Ronald Reagan Building were among those listed as shelters.

As of shortly before 8.30pm local time, the IRS building was at full capacity, the organizers said on X.

A deadly heat wave impacted America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, with scorching temperatures blasting Washington DC on Saturday

The Freedom 250–backed Great American State Fair, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US, opened at noon Saturday because of the extreme heat

America 250 revelers booed the announcement when the evacuation orders rang out due to the severe weather

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National Guard members were seen passing out water bottles to guests in order to guard against the dangerous heat dome

As some guests sheltered inside the Department of Agriculture building, they broke out into a rendition of the ‘The Star–Spangled Banner.’

Brooke Rollins, the Secretary of Agriculture, shared video on her X account while lauding the ‘incredible patriots.’ 

To battle the heat, cooling stations and tents, as well as water distribution points, had been set up for guests, who have come to DC from all over the nation.

Trump addressed the scorching weather again shortly before 3pm today on Truth Social.

‘Despite the heat, which isn’t as bad as predicted, the crowds in D.C. are INCREDIBLE!’ Trump wrote.

A temperature reading taken from the thousands of chairs came out at roughly 160 degrees on Saturday afternoon, NBC News reported.

The President also noted that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool at the National Mall ‘looks great, despite all it went through with the Vandal Thugs.’

‘Will quickly drain and fix the damage done right after this big weekend,’ Trump added.

The opening of the Great American State Fair was pushed back from 10am to noon today due to the heat, according to NBC Washington. People had braved the blazing heat and waited in lines for hours to get in.

The severe weather also caused evacuations in Boston, where thousands of revelers were evacuated the city’s esplanade due to the storms, MassLive reported.

A severe thunderstorm warning was in effect until 10pm Saturday in Washington DC. Freedom 250 asked guests to take shelter

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Visitors who evacuated the National Mall were told they would have to be screened again in order to reenter

Temperatures were expected to cool in DC and across the east coast into Sunday because of thunderstorms

Washington DC had a real feel temperature of 107 on Saturday

People from all over the US braved the blazing heat to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary at the National Mall

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The DC Fire and EMS Department treated 51 people for heat-related ailments on Saturday, according to CNN. 12 of those people were taken to the hospital. 

On Friday, 44 people were treated for heat–related illnesses at the National Mall event, which at one point was temporarily closed due to the weather.

From that group, 11 people were taken to the hospital, with seven in more serious condition, according to the outlet.

Other events have also been disrupted because of the brutal temperatures. That included the National Independence Day Parade in DC, which was suddenly canceled on Friday night.

The heat dome has engulfed the eastern part of the US and even turned deadly. As of Saturday night, more than 20 weather–related deaths had been reported.

At least 19 people in New Jersey have died from suspected heat–related causes, state authorities said Saturday, NJ.com reported.

Most of the deaths involved people in homes without air conditioning, according to New Jersey Health Commissioner Raynard E. Washington.

Some were found outside of their homes on the street or in parked cars, Washington added.

He stressed that some of the people who died were ‘younger adults.’

‘It’s important to note that the age ranges for these individuals were not just the elderly,’ Washington said, per the outlet.

Washington noted that this was ‘not a typical summer heat wave,’ as it could ‘become life–threatening really quickly.’

Trump was originally scheduled to speak at the Salute to America event at the National Mall at 9.45pm, followed by a massive firework display

Washington DC was under an extreme heat warning until 9pm Saturday, which was about 45 minutes before the originally scheduled beginning of Trump’s Independence Day speech

The heat caused the opening of the Great American State Fair to be delayed from 10am to noon on Saturday

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51 people were treated for heat–related illnesses at the Great American State Fair on Saturday, with 12 taken to the hospital

The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that numerous temperature records were expected on Independence Day.

Philadelphia hit its third straight day of 101 degrees on Saturday, which marked the first time that ever happened, according to the weather service.

On Thursday, a 68–year–old man died from a heart attack due to heat exhaustion in Bethel Township, about 25 miles southwest of Philadelphia, according to CNN.

In Illinois, Cook County reported one death from organic cardiovascular disease with heat stress as a contributing factor, according to NBC News. 

Meanwhile, an at–risk missing 74–year–old man, Mitchell Ray Cooley, died in Jackson, Mississippi, on Thursday from heat exposure, WAPT reported. 

New York City reported temperatures in the high 90s throughout the day after days of triple–digit temperatures.

The city’s electric grid was under heavy strain due to the heat, with energy giant Con Edison asking some customers in Queens and Brooklyn to conserve energy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported increasing rates of heat–related illness in the Northeast.

The extreme heat was expected to ease somewhat with thunderstorms expected across the east coast into Sunday night.

Family and friends of Liam Bracken will take on the Chorley Three Peaks Challenge today (Saturday, July 4), in the hope of raising around £5,000 for road safety improvements on Jackson Heights Road.

The 17-year-old tragically died after losing control of his vehicle on the road on September 22, 2025.

His family believe more could be done to improve road safety and hope the fundraiser will help raise awareness while supporting their campaign for change.

Speaking to The Bolton News, Liam’s mum, Nicola Bracken, said: “I sadly lost my son last year and I thought it would be lovely to do some fundraising to help bring in better road safety measures.

“The council didn’t make any changes to the road afterwards, so we’re trying to raise awareness of how dangerous it is.

“We’re hoping the money raised could help towards putting a barrier on the embankment where it happened.

Nicola said the family’s aim is to prevent another tragedy.

She said: “Liam was only 17. We don’t want this to happen to any other family. We want to raise awareness, improve safety measures but also keep Liam’s legacy alive.”

The family say they contacted the council following Liam’s death but were told no changes would be made to the road.

Around 45 people, including relatives and close friends, are expected to take part in Saturday’s challenge.

Walkers will set off from The Yew Tree in Anglezarke at 10am before heading to Rivington Brewing Co at the end of the route to raise a glass in Liam’s memory.

Nicola said the support from the local community had been overwhelming.

She said: “Sharples School have been amazing. Liam was loved there and they’ve supported us so much.

“We want as many people involved as possible.

“If people can’t join us on the walk, we’d really appreciate them sharing the GoFundMe page or making a donation.”

For those wanting to make a donation can here -https://www.gofundme.com/f/chorley-three-peaks-in-memory-of-liam-bracken?ref=ed_direct

The family hope reaching their £5,000 target will help demonstrate the level of community backing for additional safety measures on Jackson Heights Road and ensure Liam’s legacy helps protect others in the future.

The Battle of Marston Moor is being remembered this weekend (July 4 and 5) with re-enactments of the 1644 clash, staged by the Sealed Knot re-enactment society.

The action has been taking place at Long Marston Village Hall Community Hub and continues tomorrow, along with a ceremonial march to the monument in Tockwith Road.

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The English Civil War skirmish saw Royalist forces under Prince Rupert and the Marquess of Newcastle – about 17,000 men – clash with some 24,000 Parliamentarian and Scottish troops near Long Marston, west of York.

The Royalists initially drove back their opponents on the left and in the centre, but broke formation to pursue fleeing soldiers, opening gaps that the allied army exploited.

Newcastle’s own “white coats” famously stood their ground, reportedly being cut from around 1,500 men to fewer than 30.

The reenactment of the Battle of Marston Moor is taking place this weekend, curated by The Sealed Knot (Image: Supplied)

The defeat broke Royalist power in the north and proved a turning point in the English Civil War.

The Sealed Knot is a registered educational charity and re‑enactment society that brings English Civil War History to life by staging costumed battles, living‑history camps and school visits across the country.

Chair Liz Wright said: “We’ve had a good turn out from The Sealed Knot.

“We got a living history village set up, with over 20 tents showing contemporary crafts from leatherworking, a blacksmith’s forge, distilling and officers’ tents which display the differences between them and the common man.”

The main difference the embroidery of the clothing but there was very little day to day differences in coats and dress.

Liz said on July 2, 1644, Parliamentarian commander Thomas Fairfax rode through the Royalist line by taking a piece of paper out of his hat.

Field signs such as oak leaves or a sprig of holly were also put into helmets to distinguish what side the combatants were on, she said.

The reenactment of the Battle of Marston Moor is taking place this weekend, curated by The Sealed Knot (Image: Supplied)

Musicians and wool-dyers added to the scenery of a very busy day, Liz said.

In the Civil War people didn’t live in tents, but they were billeted on the local townsfolk or village people, so the tents on display are a representation of the houses the forces were billeted to, she said.

Liz said: “We’ve had lots of visitors round, there’s been lots of conversations and educational themes throughout the day.

“I’ve just been watching a group of youngsters taking on our pikemen, doing pike drill.

“We’ve another bunch learning how to use a musket – a dummy version is being used – but they are being taught how to hold them and use them by our own musketeers.”

On Thursday, July 2, members of The Sealed Knot commemorated the Battle of Marston Moor at a monument close by.

It gripped the nation with its horrifying depiction of a troubled teenage boy – now I can reveal that Adolescence is set to return… and with an unexpected touch of Hollywood glamour, as Kate Winslet is joining the cast.

Amid speculation over whether the uncompromising psychological drama would return, sources tell me that the Oscar–winning actress is to front a new storyline, currently in development.

The show’s star and executive producer, Stephen Graham, teased a follow–up at the Golden Globe awards in January.

After picking up his best actor gong, he hinted that he and writer Jack Thorne had plans. ‘It’s somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind and Jack’s mind,’ he told reporters in Los Angeles. ‘We’ll pull it out in three or four years, so stay tuned.’

But news that Ms Winslet is on board suggests the project is further along than previously thought.

‘It’s happening and in development. There’s excitement that Kate’s on board’, reveals an industry source. The first series, which also starred The Crown‘s Erin Doherty and Owen Cooper as 13–year–old Jamie, told the harrowing story of a teenage boy arrested after being accused of murdering a schoolgirl.

It won a slew of awards and triggered a global debate around teen social media use and the online ‘manosphere’, which promotes harmful views about women. It also became one of Netflix’s biggest programmes, with more than 145 million views.

Both Graham and Thorne have said the story of Jamie and his family was ‘over’ and hinted that any return to the format – which innovatively filmed whole episodes in a single shot – would follow a new plot.

It is likely, however, that it will still explore the darker side of youth. In 2022, Winslet, a mother of three, starred opposite her daughter Mia in Channel 4’s I Am Ruth, about a teen driven to depression by social media.

Ms Winslet and Netflix were contacted for comment.

The first series, which starred Owen Cooper (pictured) as 13–year–old Jamie, told the harrowing story of a teenage boy arrested after being accused of murdering a schoolgirl.

Tattoo that says ‘thigh love you, Em’

Emma Corrin and her Seagull co–star Zachary Hart had plenty to celebrate – by making their relationship official at Wimbledon’s Centre Court. 

Emma who played Princess Diana in The Crown, also shared loved–up snaps and videos of Zachary, who appears to have tattooed the word ‘Emma’ across his thigh, above.

If that isn’t a declaration of love, I don’t know what is!

Emma Corrin and Zachary Hart during day six of the 2026 Wimbledon Tennis Championships

Emma Corrin’s Seagull co–star Zachary Hart appears to have tattooed the word ‘Emma’ across his thigh, above.

Crown star Emma Corrin made her relationship with Zachary official this week

A bird in the hand…

Lady Martha Sitwell has found a replacement for her beloved pet magpie Hecate who drowned, as I revealed last week. 

The new bird was found in the garden of chef Alasdair Gill, son of writer A.A. Gill. 

Not taking any chances this time, the eccentric aristocratic star of Ladies Of London took the bird to Claridge’s hotel for the opening of their Dante Bar. 

‘He’s tucked up in the cloakroom,’ she told me. 

‘I’ve been feeding him at intervals.’ 

Lady Martha Sitwell has found a replacement for her beloved pet magpie Hecate who drowned. Not taking any chances this time, the eccentric aristocratic star of Ladies Of London took the bird to Claridge’s hotel

While Harry Styles recently jogged from his Hampstead home to Wembley before his concert without breaking sweat, Gladiator star Paul Mescal doesn’t quite cut it as a runner. 

A source tells me he was jogging in a London park at the same time as Paul and adds: ‘I gave him a little tip of the cap and he smiled at me. 

‘Then he broke into a walk and I ended up lapping him.’

Paul Mescal has joined Harry Styles as another film star spotted jogging across London 

Trinny’s date with destiny

After three years of being single, Trinny Woodall, 62, has decided to try online dating.

‘I’ve joined Hinge for the day to see what it’s like.’ Trinny split from Charles Saatchi in 2023 after a ten–year relationship. 

So what is she looking for? ‘Some don’t mind a shorter man, but I’m 5ft 10in so that would be challenging.’

After three years of being single, Trinny Woodall, 62, has decided to join the online dating app Hinge

It’s no secret that the Primrose Hill set have something of a penchant for younger men; 52–year–old Kate Moss dated Count Nikolai von Bismarck, 39, and Sienna Miller, 44, is engaged to 29–year–old Oli Green.

And now I can reveal that Fran Cutler, 63, has gone and outdone them all by dating a 25–year–old!

‘My daughter, Mercy, went mental,’ she revealed. ‘I tell her, ‘I haven’t slept with him yet, we’ve only kissed!’ ‘

Pictured from left to right: DJ Fat Tony, Fran Cutler and Kate Moss

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce weren’t about to let guests leave the wedding of the decade empty-handed.

After months of feverish speculation, cryptic clues and endless wedding rumors, the superstar couple tied the knot in front of around 1,000 family members, friends and A-list celebrities during an extravagant celebration at Madison Square Garden on Friday.

The morning after the lavish bash, country star Maren Morris gave fans a peek inside the festivities by sharing a series of glamorous Instagram snaps from the wedding, including one unexpected keepsake.

Tucked at the end of the carousel was a custom handkerchief gifted to guests as a wedding favor – and Swifties were quick to spot a subtle nod to the singer’s music.

The personalized memento featured the couple’s bespoke wedding logo, made up of two intertwined Ts framed by hearts, alongside the wedding date, July 3, 2026, and the location, New York City.

But the sweetest touch was embroidered in one corner: the opening lyric from Swift’s 2014 hit Blank Space – ‘So it’s gonna be forever…’

The morning after the lavish bash, country star Maren Morris gave fans a peek inside the festivities by sharing a series of glamorous Instagram snaps from the wedding, including one unexpected keepsake

Morris even nodded to the newlyweds in her caption, borrowing a famous line from Swift’s 2008 hit Love Story as she wrote: ‘Baby just say yes.’

But the custom handkerchief wasn’t the only lavish keepsake guests received during the wedding weekend.

Those invited to Thursday night’s intimate rehearsal dinner – attended by around 100 of the couple’s closest family members and friends – also left with an extravagant gift.

Guests were spotted carrying mysterious velvet boxes embossed with the couple’s intertwined ‘TT’ monogram wrapped in two hearts – the same logo featured on the handkerchief.

Inside, according to Page Six, was a champagne flute adorned with real diamonds.

The outlet also reported that each box included a frayed fabric card printed with what appeared to be the garden from Swift and Kelce’s now-famous engagement photos.

As Morris gave fans their first glimpse of one of the wedding’s personalized keepsakes, it became clear she wasn’t the only guest willing to pull back the curtain on the ultra-private celebration.

Just hours after the lavish festivities wrapped, AMC CEO Adam Aron shared an unusually detailed account of the ceremony in a since-deleted post on X, offering the first real insight into what Swift and Kelce said to each other at the altar.

Morris even nodded to the newlyweds in her caption, borrowing a famous line from Swift’s 2008 hit Love Story as she wrote: ‘Baby just say yes’; Above, Morris with Kelsea Ballerini

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According to Aron, the couple exchanged vows that were ‘long, entertaining, personal, charming, emotional, irreverent and endearing.’

‘Then the vows. Long, entertaining, personal, charming, emotional, irreverent and endearing explorations by each as to how they met, why they want to be with each other for all eternity, the promises they made in joining their much-beloved two whole families (Kelce’s and Swift’s) as one, and committing to their new mutual life together,’ he wrote.

Aron said the ceremony took place inside a transformed Madison Square Garden that ‘did not look like Madison Square Garden,’ with the venue draped in ‘peach and white’ and decorated with oversized photos of the bride and groom from childhood through their teenage years.

According to Aron, Kelce looked ‘handsome’ in a white tuxedo while Swift stunned in a white wedding gown with a long veiled train before an officiant who was ‘warm and welcoming, funny and eloquent’ led the ceremony.

After the couple sealed their marriage with what Aron described as a ‘sweep you off your feet kiss,’ guests moved into an elaborate ‘Secret Garden’-themed reception featuring five-story illuminated trees, an A-list crowd, lavish food and drink and plenty of music.

He ended his post by calling the ceremony ‘real, pure, true joy’ and declaring that, in a world filled with conflict and division, the couple’s wedding proved ‘that love conquers all.’

Aron wasn’t the only wedding guest to offer a glimpse inside the ultra-private ceremony. 

During Saturday’s Good Morning America, hosts Robin Roberts, Michael Strahan and George Stephanopoulos revealed they had all attended the star-studded celebration.

The guest was AMC CEO Adam Aron, who shared an unusually detailed account of the ceremony in a since-deleted post (above)

During Saturday’s Good Morning America, hosts Robin Roberts, Michael Strahan and George Stephanopoulos revealed they had all attended the star-studded celebration

They also echoed Aron’s description of an event that somehow felt intimate despite taking place inside Madison Square Garden. 

As the trio reflected on what Strahan called the couple’s ‘dream wedding,’ conversation soon turned to the ceremony itself and the vows that had captivated fans.

‘Oh, and their vows,’ Roberts said, sounding visibly impressed. ‘They wrote their own. Mmm.’

While Roberts didn’t divulge any further details, her comments appeared to reinforce Aron’s account that the personal exchange between Swift and Kelce was one of the standout moments of the day.

The heartfelt vows came after the first night of the wedding extravaganza, when the couple hosted a far more intimate celebration for around 100 of their closest family members and friends.

A Daily Mail insider revealed there were ‘lots of speeches’ throughout the evening, with both Swift and Kelce acting as emcees.

In an adorable personal touch, Kelce introduced Swift’s loved ones before they addressed the room, while the singer returned the favor by inviting his closest friends and family to the microphone.

By LIAM MORGAN, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Published: 22:57 BST, 4 July 2026 | Updated: 02:29 BST, 5 July 2026

England fans could be set for an all-nighter when the Three Lions face Mexico after forecasters warned delays to the match are ‘increasingly likely’ due to adverse weather.

Thunderstorms are forecast in the afternoon and early evening in Mexico City, with the last-16 tie scheduled to kick-off at the Azteca Stadium at 6pm local time (1am GMT).

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FIFA’s rules dictate a match be suspended if lightning strikes anywhere within an eight-mile radius of the stadium. The game then cannot resume until there are no further strikes in the area for 30 minutes.

Players will be taken from the field to the dressing room in the event of lightning strikes, while fans will be told to return to the concourses.

The possibility of thunderstorms in Mexico City has raised concerns there could be a suspension to the knockout clash between the co-hosts and Thomas Tuchel‘s men.

ITV News reported a weather forecaster had claimed thunderstorms were ‘increasingly likely’, while an Accuweather spokesperson said lightning ‘occurring near the stadium before or during the match will be a possibility once again, which could potentially lead to delays of the match’.

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England fans watching the clash with Mexico could be in for a long night because of weather

Thunderstorms are forecast in Mexico City around the time the last-16 tie is due to kick-off 

Any delay will impact the millions of England fans who will be watching at home or in pubs across the country as it will push the game even further into the early hours of the morning.

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Supporters are already braced for the tie to finish close to 4am if it goes to extra time and penalties but suspensions to the match because of weather could see it end closer to 6am, and possibly beyond.

England captain Harry Kane said: ‘We know how much the World Cup means to everyone and all the fans at home, so I’m hoping there will be a few all-nighters to be honest, just going all the way through and celebrating until the next day and then catch up on some sleep after that.’

Pubs have been granted special permission by the government to remain open until the early hours because of the kick-off time – further raising the prospect of fans calling in sick for work on Monday morning – while schools are also allowing students to start later.

Such issues would have been allayed had FIFA stuck to their controversial plan to bring kick-off forward by six hours on what proved to be a chaotic day on Friday. 

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Talks were held about moving the match and Daily Mail Sport understands that a decision to move the game to start at 7pm – rather than 1am – was ‘all but done’ according to those with knowledge of the situation.

Sources added that significant pressure was placed on FIFA to make the change by the Mexican government following the deaths of three fans amid chaotic scenes after their last-32 victory over Ecuador. The expected adverse weather was another factor in the discussions, with flash flooding a particular concern.

However, the proposals – which the FA was stunned to learn of via Mexican media – were met with an angry response from both England and Mexico, whose coach publicly lambasted the prospect.

FIFA eventually decided that the game could not be moved and, to cap a shambolic few hours, confirmation that the time would not be shifted, after all, came while England were in the air on their way from their training base in Kansas City to Mexico City.

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Two matches at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico have already faced delays because of thunderstorms. 

England arrived in Mexico City on Friday ahead of their crunch tie with Mexico on Sunday

Mexico’s victory over Ecuador in the last 32, played at the Azteca, was suspended for an hour, while France’s win against Iraq in the group stage was delayed for more than two hours.

England arrived in Mexico City on Friday ahead of the game on Sunday and Mexican fans could disrupt the Three Lions’ preparations after the location of their team hotel was leaked.

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Their hotel is being guarded by 100 riot police and steel barriers blocking access but they failed to keep the location a secret as hundreds of fans turned up to give them a hostile reception.

Before the tie with Ecuador, Mexico fans used loud speakers, horns and motorcycles, and set off fireworks, in the early hours in an attempt to disturb their opponents’ sleep, leading to a formal complaint from the South Americans.

England remain favourites to progress despite the chaotic build-up and the winner will face either Brazil or Norway in the quarter-finals. 

How much is David Beckham set to pocket from his World Cup brand deals? Take on our quiz in our newsletter HERE. 

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An extremely rare copy of the Declaration of Independence has been found hidden amongst Revolutionary War letters in London.  

Michael Scurr has been volunteering at Britain’s National Archives for the last 11 years, spending his Thursday mornings painstakingly cataloging documents for the benefit of future researchers.

Then one day last May, the retired insurance executive made a discovery of his own while sifting through the letters of an 18th-century Royal Navy captain.

There, attached to a report on the capture of the American privateer, Dalton, on Christmas Eve 1776, was an enclosure identified only as ‘another paper.’ 

Carefully unfolding the document, Scurr stopped when he saw the word Declaration printed across the top.

‘I thought: “Oh, right, okay, this is definitely a Declaration of Independence,”‘ he told The Associated Press. ‘How exciting is this.’

He told the BBC that he felt butterflies in his stomach when he discovered the historic document.  

Researchers at the National Archives have since identified the document as a rare early copy of America’s founding document, printed just days after the original was signed on July 4, 1776, to spread the news that 13 rebellious North American colonies had severed ties with Britain.

It is one of just 11 original copies of the so-called Exeter printing of the Declaration that are known to exist, and the only one identified outside the United States, the National Archives said on Thursday, when it unveiled the document. 

The National Archives unveiled the find ahead of today’s 250th anniversary of American independence. 

This version was printed in Exeter, New Hampshire, by John Dunlap between July 16 to 19, 1776. One way to tell is that Founding Father Charles Thomson’s name is misspelled, The New York Times reported. 

But it isn’t just the age of the document that makes it important; it is also the fact that it was captured from a ship under the direction of the recently formed Continental Congress, with orders signed by its president, John Hancock, said Amanda Bevan, head of the National Archives’ project to catalog the correspondence of Royal Navy captains during the American Revolution.

While the public has heard about the dreadful conditions faced by the Continental Army at places like Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, little attention has been given to the Americans who went to sea to disrupt British trade and battle the mighty Royal Navy, Bevan said.

Finding a copy of the Declaration of Independence on board the ship also suggests how it might have been used, Bevan said. She believes the Dalton’s captain would have read out his orders, as was customary, and also the declaration itself.

‘They know why they’re fighting, but this puts it in a language which makes it greater than them,’ Bevan said. ‘They’re not fighting because they’re aggrieved in particular. They’re fighting for an ideal. 

‘And I think that just to find the Declaration in a theater of war where people are committing themselves to fight for their country on the wide ocean is really something special.’

As a privateer, the 18-gun Dalton was a privately owned vessel that fought under the auspices of the Continental Congress to supplement the tiny navy of the new nation.

The document was taken off the privateer the Dalton, which was a boat captured by the British in 1776

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He found it in May, but it was unveiled by the Archives on Thursday. This version was printed in Exeter, New Hampshire, by John Dunlap between July 16 to 19, 1776. Pictured: A different Declaration on display at the archives 

Captain Thomas Fitzherbert, commander of the 64-gun HMS Raisonnable, chased the Dalton for seven hours on Christmas Eve 1776 before capturing her off the coast of Portugal. 

The Dalton’s 120-man crew was imprisoned in Plymouth, England, under harsh conditions.

Charles Hebert, who was just 19 when he was captured, described hunger, illness and repeated punishment in the journals he kept during more than two years of captivity before his release in a prisoner exchange.

Despite it all, many survived.

The letter containing the copy of the Declaration of Independence should have gone to a wartime court, The Times reported, but Fitzherbert, instead, sent it to the Admiralty, which oversaw the country’s navy. 

He described it as ‘another document.’ Some researchers believe Fitzherbert knew the significance of the document, which is why he sent it to the Admiralty.  

Historians in the United States are also excited about the National Archives’ discovery.

This copy of the Declaration of Independence provides a direct link to the Dalton’s captain, who carried news of American independence to the world, said Matthew Skic, director of collections and exhibitions at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.

The National Archives’ copy is the only one known to be outside of the US

‘It’s not just a document, it’s an artifact,’ he said. ‘It’s a tangible connection to the past, because holding that piece of paper in the archivist’s hand today is a way to transport us back to 1776. The baton being passed, in a way.’

The document did suffer a tear that historians had to repair after Scurr discovered it, The Times reported. 

It is believed 200 Dunlap-printed copies were produced, but only 26 are known to have survived, the outlet said. 

Only 10 copies of those printed in Exeter are thought to have survived. One sold for $5.6 million in January.  

The discovery is also proof that there’s still more for historians to uncover, Skic said.

‘Even though 250 years has gone by, we still do not know everything about the American Revolution, and there are still finds left to be discovered.’

Humberstone’s recent introspection shines through on the diaristic Cruel World, which traverses long-distance relationships, earth-shattering break-ups and a wavering sense of self-worth. It is overwhelmingly romantic, full of nectarous love songs and declarations of yearning (“So kiss me like you f***ing mean it,” Humberstone begs on sing-along stand-out Red Chevy, an ode to her long-term boyfriend, whose speaking voice features at the end), but tinged with loneliness and a palpable sense of longing. To Love Somebody, a song written for Humberstone’s sister while she was in the heartbreak trenches, has quickly become a fan favourite for its universal lyrics, the pop girlie equivalent of Lord Alfred Tennyson’s In Memoriam AHH. “It all breaks down, it always does, it all works out, it always does,” she reminds her sister, her fans, herself.

Vitor Reis spent last season playing against the likes of Vinicius Junior and Lamine Yamal in La Liga as the up-and-coming centre back seeks to challenge for a place in Manchester City’s first-team picture.

The Brazilian spent the 2025-26 campaign on loan at Girona in Spain and while it ended in relegation, Reis impressed and showed exactly why City spent nearly £30million to sign him from Palmeiras in 2025.

The 20-year-old now returns to Manchester, with any prospect of a second loan at Girona over given the team will be in the second tier next term. Reis will have eyes on the first team squad at the Etihad, a path that has become clearer with the news that Nathan Ake is set to join Turkish side Fenerbahce for around £7million.

The departure of the Dutchman would create a vacancy in the City squad for a fifth centre back behind established quartet Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi, Abdukodir Khusanov and Josko Gvardiol. Internally, Reis seems to be at the head of the queue.

He has already made senior appearances for the Blues and his loan spell in Spain reinforced his ability and mentality. Reis will likely head off on City’s pre-season tour of Asia with new boss Enzo Maresca set to be without a host of senior stars because of the World Cup.

That will open up an avenue for Reis to lay down a marker and stake his claim to be part of Maresca’s thinking next season.

But the Blues must also be mindful of the homegrown rules that apply in the Premier League and Champions League next season.

Competition rules state that four players have to have come through a club’s academy and four more must have come through the youth system in England in order for teams to be able to name a maximum of 25 players in their squads. Regardless of whether these quotas are filled, there cannot be more than 17 players registered who are not homegrown.

And Reis could potentially fall foul of the quota. The Brazilian would evidently not qualify but Ake did qualify as an association-trained player, as do Antoine Semenyo, Marc Guehi, Marcus Bettinelli and Elliot Anderson. As it stands, James Trafford, Rico Lewis, Nico O’Reilly and Phil Foden count as club-trained.

But there are doubts over the futures of Trafford and Lewis, potentially leaving City short of association-trained players if they want to name a full quota of 25 in their squad.

Unlike in the Premier League, the Champions League does not make an exception for Under-21 players that aren’t homegrown so Reis, Claudio Echeverri, Sverre Nypan and others would all have to count as one of 17 if they stay with the first team this year.

In relation to Reis, City have homegrown alternatives, including Max Alleyne, who was recalled from a loan spell at Watford in January to play his part in the first team. Alleyne would qualify as club-trained as he has spent at least three years with City prior to his 21st birthday.

Eighteen-year-old Stephen Mfuni, another highly-rated centre back at the Etihad, is also an option, should he recover fully from the season-ending injury that curtailed his season on loan at Watford. Kaden Braithwaite, who played for City’s first team as a 16-year-old, is another option having captained City to FA Youth Cup glory last season.

While City won’t make a first team decision purely on the homegrown rules it will nonetheless have to be a factor. And it’s a factor that could work against Reis.

Wimbledon, and a mutual love of tennis player Boris Becker, also brought together Jacqueline Webb-Watson and Nicola Dawson, forging a 40-year friendship.

Jacqueline, from Loughton in Essex, says her “love affair” with SW19 began in 1977 through listening to matches on the radio before her first visit with family in 1984.

“We arrived at 11:30 and walked straight in – I’m still baffled by the lack of queues that day,” the 58-year-old recalls.

By then, she had connected with fellow Becker fan Nicola and the pair had “great adventures” camping at Wimbledon over the years.

But her “absolute highlight” is watching the 2013 men’s semi-finals – the year Andy Murray eventually claimed his first title.

“That day was pure magic. Hot, sunny, incredible matches from a prime seat on Centre Court, and the sheer joy of seeing a British man reach the final. I’ll admit, I definitely shed a tear when Andy finally won it,” Jacqueline says.

She said Wimbledon’s “distinct Britishness… the traditions, the immaculate grounds and the legendary organisation” of the queue made it the best tournament on the circuit.

“Having visited all four Grand Slams, I might be biased, but Wimbledon is truly in a league of its own,” Jacqueline adds.