Royal Ascot has been scrubbed off Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie’s social calandar with the Palace reportedly banning them from the event in light of their parents, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson’s links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
It’s a sad and cruel blow for the sisters, who until now have considered the horse racing event in June — a favourite of their grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II — a basic normality of their existence. This was the place where the “blood princesses” could not only show their support for the wider family, but also show off some wild and wacky headgear too.
But it’s over. No longer will they join senior royals in the royal procession in fancy carriages or take their seats in the royal box. In a situation described succinctly by friends of the princesses as a “never-ending sh** show” regarding their parents, this latest move has “blindsided” them, according to the Mail on Sunday. And it doesn’t stop at a day at the races either. They are not invited to any other royal events for the “foreseeable future”. How much worse can it get?
With millions of Epstein files still waiting released, the answer to that question suggests, probably a lot worse. And the sisters will be left to pick up the pieces of the shattered lives left in their wake.
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Whatever their father may deserve, it can’t have been much fun watching him being dragged by the police on suspicion of misconduct in public office. While the rest of the world may have revelled in the humiliation of the former prince as he was held at Aylsham Police Investigation Centre in Norfolk for 11 hours, the girls will have been left trying to explain it to his grandchildren.
And now thanks to their father’s public disgrace, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, have been cast out in the cold even further than they could ever have imagined possible. Prince William reportedly already warned royals not to be photographed anywhere near them for the “rest of the year”.
The York brand is tarnished – and there is no escape for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie (PA)
The only royal left in a possibly worse position is Prince Harry, who of course understands exactly how it feels to be persona non grata, and is rumoured to have offered his cousins a listening ear and a safe refuge at his Montecito home with his wife Meghan in California. This is the most intense family cooling-off session imaginable — and it must be blowing their minds.
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The sisters have their own, no doubt complicated, relationship with both their father and mother. They will need to make sense of any remaining sinew of loyalty to their disgraced parents, while disentangling themselves from the increasing horror of the situation.
My heart goes out to them — and yes I feel huge sympathy for their plight. I never thought I’d say that, or care so much, but the fact Beatrice and Eugenie, like me, have young children and are mums makes the shame and rumours swirling around family dysfunction and wrongdoing far worse.
How will they broach the ins and outs of their family madness with Beatrice’s daughters, Sienna, four, and Athena, one, as well as her nine-year-old stepson Edoardo, and Eugenie’s sons, August, five, and Ernest, two? How do you explain that they won’t see parts of their wider family in public anymore — unless it’s under the cover of darkness? It’s one thing reconciling their own egos and vanity with not being part of the royal “show” any more, but how do you explain this new “keep out of the way” lifestyle to their children?
While they are living this public reality, I know how painful it can be to feel like an outcast in an extended family. I became estranged from mine after a spat over my late dad’s will — and the toxic fallout had started years earlier when I was his sole carer. I also have to explain a milder version of this to my children every Christmas and at birthdays — and the sadness I feel about it is crushing.
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Princess Beatrice excitedly watches the King George V Stakes during Royal Ascot in 2025 (PA Wire)
They will feel like they are dragging their own families into a drama that is not of their making. Known to be polite and thoughtful, the York sisters have had to cope with the chaos their parents have brought since they were small.
On the surface it might all look like pretty dresses and tea parties at the palace, but the girls have endured a life marked by divorce, lewd public headlines, and a father known for his arrogant demeanour, alongside a grift-prone mother all their lives.
Despite Sarah calling herself and Andrew the “happiest divorced couple in the world” after separating and divorcing in 1996, it was clearly never the full picture. A childhood with a desperate, needy mother must have taken its toll on Beatrice and Eugenie. While Fergie would happily refer to herself and her girls as “The Tripod”, it hints that her daughters were propping her up instead of being parented properly.
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This might explain their own bad judgements. It has been reported that Beatrice helped advise her mother on how to get back into Epstein’s good books, and that she also encouraged her father to take part in the catastrophic Newsnight interview in 2019. There are fears that the princesses may have had indirect financial links to Epstein. Anything feels possible with Sarah and Andrew at the helm.
You only have to look at the family photo of the Yorks at Beatrice’s 18th birthday party at Royal Lodge in Windsor in 2006 — which Jeffrey Epstein attended — to realise how surreal their world was. Sarah, Beatrice and Eugenie, dressed in period costumes resembling something from Frozen, with Andrew in military attire, looked more like characters on the set of Bridgerton than members of a modern royal family.
Not only have they long been a laughing stock, now they are having to face the reality of seeing their father kneeling on all fours over a female lying on the floor and read how their mum once told Epstein that she was waiting for Eugenie to return from a “shagging weekend”. It just adds to dysfunction that they have had to endure all their lives.
The Epstein files shown revealed their mother told Epstein “Just marry me”, referred to him as the “brother I always wished for” and asked him “When are you going to employ me” . We now know they were reportedly taken to lunch with Epstein in 2009 at his Palm Beach home less than a week after he was released from prison for soliciting a child for prostitution. We also know Andrew sent photos of his daughters to Epstein in 2010 and 2011 of Beatrice climbing Mount Blanc and Eugenie in a charity bike ride.
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Of course what the girls are going through is nothing compared to the trauma of Epstein’s victims, who recall years of being used and abused and trafficked to some of the most powerful men in the world. But the shame of knowing your father was cosying up with a paedophile and having his sex life sliced and diced by millions is bound to cause deep shame and pain.
So where do they go from here?
At one point, Beatrice was rumoured to be preparing to move Sarah into a modest granny annexe at her Cotswolds home after she was reportedly forced out of Royal Lodge. Luckily for Beatrice, that never materialised. Instead, Sarah is believed to have travelled to the French Alps to stay with friends before later taking refuge at the world-renowned £13,000-a-day Paracelsus Recovery Clinic in Zurich, Switzerland, over a month ago.
How does any child come to terms with such parental betrayal and shame by association. I hope they both have access to strong emotional support and that, in time, can build happy and stable lives far removed from the current nightmare.
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I truly believe the best thing Beatrice and Eugenie could do is step away from royal life, relinquish the public burden of their titles, and focus fully on raising their families in a calm and stable environment — something they themselves were rarely afforded. They should devote their lives to meaningful work and ensure there is never even a whisper of hypocrisy in the paths they choose.
The sisters have survived a childhood defined by chaos, scandal, and parental misjudgements. Now, as mothers themselves, they face the cruel irony of protecting their own families from a world their parents helped to make so incredibly messy. Walking away from the glare of public life may not erase the past, but it will gift them something more precious: the chance to raise their children in calm, stability, and dignity — and finally live a life that belongs to them alone
Drivers in Ramsbottom have been warned to expect delays as a busy main road is due to shut overnight on Tuesday, March 3. A road closure on Bolton Road West (A676) is taking place so United Utilities can carry out urgent works.
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The block will be put in place between 8pm to 10pm near the junction with Ada Street so the water company can replace an access chamber cover. Diversion will be in place and will be ‘clearly signed’.
Residents will have to access Ada St, Smith St, and Mary St via Alfred St. Drivers can avoid the closure via Lumb Carr Rd.
Bury Council said the works have been planned in the evening ‘to reduce disruption’, including on the nearby Hazelhurst Community Primary School. But motorists are warned to ‘plan ahead and allow extra travel time’.
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The closure coincides with maintenance being carried out by BT between Cemetery Rd and Adelaide St, where temporary traffic lights are also in place.
The works should only take one evening to complete.
George was saved by Dr Mellor and two other NHS employees, who stopped to perform CPR.
A student is set to run the Cambridge Half Marathon two years after his heart stopped during the same event. George Collyer, 23, was close to the end of the 13.1 mile course in March 2024 before he collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest.
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He is from South London but is studying architecture at Loughborough University. Back in 2024, George said: “The half marathon was going very well and I was on for a good pace.
“I was pushing myself hard and I remember feeling really tired. I was about 1km from the finish and then the next thing I remember, I woke up in an ambulance having survived a cardiac arrest. I’m lucky that three people with medical expertise were passing as without their swift actions, I might not be here today.”
Dr Greg Mellor, a consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, stopped to perform life-saving CPR on George, alongside two other runners – also NHS employees.
Dr Mellor, Dr Ben Straughan, anaesthetic registrar, and Dr Helen Nuttall, trauma and orthopaedic registrar, were able to restart George’s heart without a defibrillator. George was then taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge for testing.
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He was transferred to Royal Papworth Hospital where he received a new type of cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implanted by a team led by Dr Mellor. An ICD is a small device usually implanted under the skin that helps protect against sudden cardiac arrests by delivering defibrillation.
Dr Mellor added: “I was running the half-marathon with my brother when we came across George on the ground, experiencing a cardiac arrest. Instinct just kicked in and between myself and two other NHS colleagues who stopped to help, we started CPR whilst also calling for an ambulance and a defibrillator. Thankfully the CPR was successful in restarting George’s heart.”
He continued: “George had no known heart condition and no abnormalities were found as a result of extensive testing, so ultimately we don’t know what happened to him. However we do know that up to 25% of individuals who survive an unexplained cardiac arrest will have another arrest within five years.
“Nobody knows what George’s personal risk will be in the future, but we were very open with him and his family that the consequences of another cardiac arrest without the protection of an ICD could be fatal.”
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George added: “I was informed in hospital that Dr Mellor was one of those who had helped resuscitate me. A couple of days later he came in, introduced himself and explained his background. I couldn’t believe it and it feels like fate that he is now overseeing my care.
“From our early discussions it became apparent that an ICD might be an option for me and after discussions with family, it was a fairly straightforward decision.”
George was given an Aurora EV-ICD from Medtronic, which is the first major development in ICD technology in over 10 years. In January 2024, the first people in the UK were fitted with this device and were also Royal Papworth Hospital patients.
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Dr Mellor continued: “Patients with EV-ICDs have no limitations placed on them in the long-run. We would anticipate and hope for our patients to return to their normal activities, involving exercise, travel, driving or whatever they want to do.
“Of course there are recovery periods after anyone’s operation and depending on people’s underlying heart condition, there may be recommendations to avoid certain activities. However we are very supportive of George going back to running and there are no restrictions. That includes running the Cambridge half marathon again.”
Since his surgery, George has spent a year working in Canada, on placement from university. The Aurora EV-ICD also has the ability to provide remote monitoring that links to the device and sends data back to Royal Papworth Hospital.
If any anomalies are detected, the NHS team will be in touch with George immediately. George said: “I’m aware of my device but it’s not uncomfortable and it never stops me from doing anything. Thanks to the remote monitoring there’s also a real peace of mind that the hospital will get in touch if anything ever comes up again.”
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Dr Mellor continued: “It was a very unusual situation to be involved at both ends of George’s care. It was unique and a real privilege to be able to do that for him.”
George will be taking on the Cambridge Half Marathon this year on Sunday, March 8, in aid of Royal Papworth Charity.
Starmer stands by refusal to join Iran strikes after Trump lashes out at UK
Starmer stands by refusal to join Iran strikes after Trump lashes out at UK
Namita Singh3 March 2026 07:11
Flights resume on Emirates from Dubai – but on a tiny scale
Emirates, the biggest of the Gulf airlines, has dispatched five Airbus A380 “SuperJumbo” aircraft from its hub at Dubai International Airport this morning.
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One is heading for Manchester, another to London Heathrow; both are expected to touchdown around lunchtime on Tuesday. The other three aircraft are flying to Jeddah, Paris CDG and Frankfurt.
An Emirates airliner sits parked at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, California on 2 March 2026, after its return flight to Dubai International Airport (DXB) was cancelled due to the war in the Middle East (AFP via Getty Images)
While this is an encouraging move, given the complete shutdown of the past three days, it barely scratches the surface of the problem facing hundreds of thousands of travellers in the UAE and around the world.
On a typical day, six of those aircraft would be flying to and from London Heathrow alone.
Namita Singh3 March 2026 07:11
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Australia tells consumers no need to panic-buy petrol over Iran war as stocks remain high
Australian Energy Minister Chris Bowen said Tuesday that motorists do not need to fear fuel shortages despite concerns that the widening U.S.-Israeli war involving Iran could strain national reserves.
Australia currently holds 36 days of petrol, 34 days of diesel and 32 days of jet fuel in reserve – the highest level in more than a decade, Bowen told reporters.
“There is no need to rush to the service station and fill up,” he said.
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“I do understand people’s concerns but it’s important that people know we do have a good stock of petrol in reserve in Australia, there’s no immediate threat to petrol supplies in Australia.”
Oil prices rose for a third straight day on Tuesday amid growing fears of supply disruptions, with Israel striking Lebanon and Iran responding with attacks on energy infrastructure in Gulf states and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
Bowen acknowledged petrol prices could come under pressure if global oil prices continue to climb, but said regulators would act against price gouging.
“There is no need for panic buying, that will just make the situation worse,” he said.
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Namita Singh3 March 2026 07:06
Pictures: Israel bombards Iran and Lebanon
Escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Beirut (Reuters)
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut on 3 March 2026 (AFP via Getty Images)
Smoke plumes billow following Israeli bombardment on Beirut’s southern suburbs on 2 March 2026 (AFP via Getty Images)
Firefighters extinguish fires at the site of an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut on 3 March 2026 (AFP via Getty Images)
Namita Singh3 March 2026 06:56
Attacks on Iran have drawn in proxy forces from around region
The conflict has also spread to Lebanon, where the Iranian-supported militant group Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel on Monday, prompting Israel to retaliate.
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At least 52 people have been killed and 154 wounded so far, according to Lebanese authorities.
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut on 3 March 2026 (AFP via Getty Images)
Israel hit Beirut with more airstrikes early Tuesday morning, saying it was targeting “Hezbollah command centers and weapons storage facilities”.
Hezbollah also said it launched drones targeting an Israeli air base. The Israeli military said it downed two drones.
An Iranian-linked militant in Iraq has also claimed strikes on U.S. military facilities there.
Namita Singh3 March 2026 06:50
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Qatar Airways to remain grounded
Qatar Airways said it would remain grounded Tuesday over the war.
This comes as governments scramble to help travelers get home after the attack on Iran by the United States and Israel shut down flights through the Middle East.
Planes are parked at Terminal 3 of the Dubai International Airport (Reuters)
Tourists and business travelers found themselves stuck unexpectedly in hotels, airports and on cruise ships, with no word on when many airports would reopen or when flights to and through the Middle East would resume.
Governments told stranded citizens to shelter in place.
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Namita Singh3 March 2026 06:45
Israel striking Tehran and Beirut
The Israeli military said Tuesday it was conducting “simultaneous targeted strikes against military targets in Tehran and Beirut,” without elaborating.
Across Tehran, the sound of explosions rang out through the night and into the early morning hours Tuesday, as the U.S. and Israel have continued to pound Iran since killing its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.
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Aftermath of an Israeli and U.S. strike on a police station in Tehran (Reuters)
Tehran and its allies have hit back against Israel, neighboring Gulf states, and targets critical to the world’s production of oil and natural gas.
The intensity of the attacks and the lack of any apparent exit plan set the stage for a prolonged conflict with far-reaching consequences. Israel and the U.S. have given conflicting answers about what exactly the war’s objectives are or what the endgame might be.
Namita Singh3 March 2026 06:37
Iran threatens shipping in Strait of Hormuz
Iran is continuing to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Perisan Gulf through which a fifth of all oil traded passes.
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Brig. Gen. Ebrahim Jabbari, an adviser to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, issued the threat on Iranian state television on Monday.
A sign with current gas prices is displayed at a gas station in Los Angeles, California on 2 March 2026 (AFP via Getty Images)
“The Strait of Hormuz is closed. Anyone who wants to pass, our devotee heroes in the IRGC navy and the army will set those ships on fire,” he said. “Don’t come to this region.”
Namita Singh3 March 2026 06:30
Megyn Kelly slams Trump’s Iran strikes as ‘Israel’s war’
Megyn Kelly slams Trump’s Iran strikes as ‘Israel’s war’
Namita Singh3 March 2026 06:27
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Trump claims wars can be ‘fought forever’ as munition stockpiles ‘never been better’
In a new statement, Donald Trump declared that the United States’ munitions stockpiles at the medium and upper-medium levels are “higher or better” than ever before, describing the supply as “virtually unlimited”.
He asserted that, if necessary, wars could be fought “forever” and “very successfully” using these reserves, which he claimed surpass the finest arms of other nations.
Trump acknowledged that while high-end weapons supplies are strong, they are “not where we want to be,” noting that additional top-tier weaponry is stored in allied countries abroad.
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Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, says wars can be fought ‘forever’ using US Munitions Stockpiles (Donald Trump/TruthSocial)
He criticized Joe Biden for sending what he described as hundreds of billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine, accusing the administration of giving away advanced weapons without adequately replenishing U.S. stockpiles.
In the statement, he also likened Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to P.T. Barnum – the fabled American showman and huckster, who popularized the three-ring circus.
Trump credited his first term with rebuilding the U.S. military and said those efforts continue. He concluded by asserting that the United States is fully stocked and prepared to “win, big,” emphasizing confidence in the nation’s military readiness.
Taking place on Friday, July 17, the evening promises to bring together top-quality racing and live entertainment from Scottish folk band Tide Lines, to celebrate 100 years of racing on the Bothwell Road site.
Hamilton Park have announced Jordan Electrics as the new title sponsor of their Glasgow Stakes Centenary Racenight.
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Taking place on Friday, July 17, the evening promises to bring together top-quality racing and live entertainment from Scottish folk band Tide Lines, to celebrate 100 years of racing on the Bothwell Road site.
The Motherwell family-owned business, Jordan Electrics, has been providing expert electrical services across domestic, commercial, industrial and retail sectors since 1975.
Renowned for their commitment to quality, reliability and innovation, they are a trusted name across Scotland. Alongside their wide range of electrical expertise, the company is now placing a strong focus on renewable installations, including solar panel systems, supporting homes and businesses in the transition to greener, more energy-efficient solutions.
Brian Jordan, Director of Jordan Electrics, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be part of Hamilton Park’s centenary celebrations.
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“Supporting such a historic evening in our local community is a great pleasure and we are looking forward to sharing the excitement with racegoers ahead of the night.”
The racenight takes place on the same mid-July double fixture as Hamilton Park’s very first opening race days in 1926, making the evening a centrepiece of the resort’s 100th year and promises to be one of the most memorable in the racecourse’s history.
Ashley Moon, Racecourse Managing Director at Hamilton Park, said: “The Jordan Electrics Glasgow Stakes Centenary Racenight is set to be one of the standout evenings of our 2026 season.
“It is one of the most valuable fixtures of our year, showcasing some of the best flat racing anywhere in Scotland, including the Scottish Stewards’ Cup and the British Stallion Studs EBF Glasgow Stakes, our highest-grade race of the season with record prize money of £80,000.
“Sure to keep the celebrations going, after racing, we look forward to welcoming Tide Lines to the stage. Known for their anthemic indie folk sound and incredible live performances, they’ll bring a fantastic atmosphere to round off what promises to be an unforgettable evening both on and off the track.”
Early bird tickets for Glasgow Stakes Centenary Racenight featuring Tide Lines on Friday, July 17, are on sale now from only £27, saving £5 when booked in advance, with free entry for under 18s.
All tickets include access to both the day’s racing and after-racing entertainment from Tide Lines. For more information on fixtures and tickets visit www.hamilton-park.co.uk.
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The Daily Telegraph focuses on Donald Trump’s criticism of Sir Keir Starmer for, as he put it, taking “far too long” to let him strike Iran from British bases. “I am very disappointed in Keir” reads the paper’s headline. The Daily Mail quotes the Pentagon, which has accused the prime minister of “hand-wringing” and “pearl-clutching” over the operation. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says Sir Keir has distanced himself from US actions to placate voters who are swayed by conflicts in the Middle East, not the British national interest, according to the paper. The i Paper notes Sir Keir’s response to the criticism, in which he said the UK didn’t believe in “regime change from the skies”.
Mohammed Algasim, 20, was stabbed in the neck on August 1, 2025.
A family has paid tribute to a “dutiful” and “loving” 20-year-old student who was killed in Cambridge last year. Mohammed Algasim was stabbed in the neck in the late hours of August 1, 2025, in Mill Park.
In a statement, the family said: “Muhammad Yousef Algasim. A young man brimming with enthusiasm, brimming with chivalry and courage.
“He was a dutiful son, a loving brother, and the leader of the family in spirit, not in appearance. He was cheerful, chivalrous, pure of heart, quick to give, and passionate about others.
“Over time, he became the family’s charisma, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy in every gathering. He was his father’s support, his familiar companion, and the assistant to his uncles and maternal uncles.
“He was the most compassionate person to ever visit a mother’s heart and the closest to his sisters’ embrace.” Mohammed, from Saudi Arabia, was on a 10-week placement to study English in the city.
On the night of his death, Corrigan stabbed Mohammed with a kitchen knife. Mohammed ran from the scene, but he collapsed, and a member of the public called an ambulance.
Three off-duty doctors and paramedics found Mohammed bleeding heavily on the pavement, and despite their best efforts to save him, his injury to his neck was so severe that he was pronounced dead at 12.19am.
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The incident was captured on CCTV, which was shown to jurors in court. Throughout the trial, Corrigan, of Holbrook Road, Cambridge, accepted he was the man in the CCTV footage and had been carrying a knife to scare off any attackers, but claimed he had no intention of using it.
He said he didn’t intend to cause harm but aimed to wave the knife between himself and the victim. Corrigan is due to be sentenced at a later date.
Detective Inspector Dale Mepstead, who led the investigation from the major crime unit, said: “This was a senseless and devastating attack on a young man with his whole life ahead of him. Corrigan armed himself with a knife and chose to carry it onto the streets of Cambridge — a decision that had tragic consequences.
“I want to thank the members of the public who came forward, as well as the medical professionals who tried desperately to save Mohammed’s life. Our thoughts remain with his family, who have shown incredible strength throughout this investigation.”
Former Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City players are among the ex-footballers joining big name celebrities at Soccer Aid in 2026
Premier League legends from clubs including Arsenal and Manchester United will be among the big sporting names joined by Champions League winner Jordi Alba in the 2026 edition of charity fixture Soccer Aid.
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Former Barcelona star Alba, who retired in 2025, is one of nine debutants set to feature this year. He is also one of two European Championships winners, with iconic Italy centre-back Leonardo Bonucci returning after catching the eye last year.
A number of well-known celebrities are also set to take part, including Adolescence actor Owen Cooper – the youngest participant in either squad at only 16 years of age – and Gladiators star and ex-Team GB Olympian Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, more commonly known as Nitro.
Alba is one of three footballers set for a first appearance in the charity game, which will take place at the London Stadium in May. United States women’s international Ali Krieger and former Arsenal and Scotland women’s star Jen Beattie are the others set to feature in the mixed-gender fixture.
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Since its first edition back in 2006, Soccer Aid has generated an impressive £121million for Unicef. The 20th anniversary edition sees the match return to London after taking place at Old Trafford in Manchester last year, with former England internationals Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott and Joe Hart among the others signed up for the game.
Nine newcomers will be making their Soccer Aid debuts, with ex-pros Alba, Beattie and Krieger – joined by celebrities in GK Barry, Owen Cooper, Damson Idris, Joe Marler, Nitro and Jordan North. Dermot O’Leary and Alex Scott will present the match, which will also include an extended half-time show to mark Soccer Aid’s 20th anniversary.
The classic England XI versus World XI format continues, with the World XI having clinched a dramatic 5-4 victory in 2025. England’s most recent win came in 2024, with Walcott and Jermain Defoe scoring that night and chasing more goals this time around.
Soccer Aid co-founder Robbie Williams will manage the England team from the touchline. Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt, who scored in the 2023 edition as a player, will be on managerial duty for the World XI.
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“It’s an absolute dream come true for me to be playing in Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2026,” Gladiators star Nitro said. “I’m a massive football fan and a big kid at heart. I’ve never stopped playing, whether that’s been on the playground, the athletics track, the Gladiator arena — and now the football pitch. I’ve watched Soccer Aid for years and now I get to share the experience of being involved with my daughter, who’s even more excited than I am!
“Fellow Gladiator Diamond, who played last year, told me it’s one of the best things she’s ever done. Childhood should be all about play, imagination and fun but for so many children around the world that freedom is taken away by things completely outside their control, like conflict, disease and disasters.
“That’s why being part of this incredible match, playing alongside legends of the game and supporting UNICEF’s life-changing work, means so much to me. I’m proud to be involved and I hope we can raise even more than last year. Please come and support us on Sunday May 31.”
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Footballers confirmed for Soccer Aid 2026: Jordi Alba, Jen Beattie, Ali Krieger, Leonardo Bonucci, Jermain Defoe, Toni Duggan, Joe Hart, Steph Houghton, Wayne Rooney, Edwin van der Sar, Jill Scott, Theo Walcott.
Celebrities confirmed for Soccer Aid 2026: GK Barry, Owen Cooper, Damson Idris, Joe Marler, Nitro, Jordan North, Maisie Adam, Usain Bolt, Alex Brooker, Richard Gadd, Angry Ginge, Tom Grennan, Tom Hiddleston, Paddy McGuinness, Olly Murs, Sam Thompson, Robbie Williams, Big Zuu.
The twentieth anniversary of Soccer Aid for UNICEF takes place on Sunday 31st May at the London Stadium. Tickets are on sale now at socceraid.org.uk/tickets
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.
Actor James Cartwright has shared what Theo Silverton’s next move will be and it’s not looking good for Todd Grimshaw and his loved ones
Coronation Street star James Cartwright has said that Theo Silverton is ‘so dangerous’ as his next plan is seemingly uncovered in spoilers for next week’s episodes of the long-running show.
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It’s approaching a year since the character was first seen in Weatherfield, and he has quickly found himself involved in a hard-hitting, coercively controlling, and abusive relationship with Todd Grimshaw, played by Gareth Pierce since 2020.
When they randomly met on the cobbles, with Theo working as a scaffolder on a local site, there was an instant spark between the pair. But Theo’s true self has slowly come to light and Todd is struggling to cope in their abusive relationship.
However, as fans know, Todd had finally decided to leave Theo after Billy Mayhew discovered the full extent of what his friend and former partner had been going through.
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But Billy’s plan to help Todd leave Theo was dramatically torn apart as when they prepared to head back to Weatherfield from Debbie Webster and Ronnie Bailey’s wedding in Yorkshire in the minibus, Theo arrived, making for an uncomfortable journey.
And as viewers are aware, the minibus ended up being one of the vehicles caught up in a horror multi-vehicle pile-up which was at the centre of the dramatic crossover between Corrie and fellow ITV soap Emmerdale, dubbed Corriedale. While most of the passengers managed to escape, but Billy was trapped by his seatbelt.
Despite him seemingly freeing himself, when an evil Theo returned to see who was still trapped inside the minibus, he appeared to clip Billy back into his seat as he read his last rites, before leaving him to burn alive as the vehicle exploded with him still inside.
And while Theo has appeared guilty for what happened with Billy, it hasn’t stopped his cruelty towards Todd, trying to make him feel guilty for Billy’s death, while also turned to financial abuse, cutting up Todd’s cards and giving him access to limited amounts of cash to control him further.
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Spoilers for next week have revealed that as Todd and Summer Spellman sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Theo Silverton, he unwraps his presents and he’s clearly underwhelmed.
Later, in the Bistro, Theo invites Gary and Maria Windass to join him for his birthday lunch as Todd is running late at work and when he eventually rushes in, Theo shoots him daggers. With lunch over, Theo hands Todd the bill and insists they treat Gary and Maria, but Todd sheepishly tells Nick Tilsley that he’s only got £80.
Back at home, Theo accuses Todd of ruining his birthday and orders him to get a bottle of wine. When Todd suggests coffee instead, Theo loses it.
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Speaking about the violence that unfolds, James admits: “It’s like any violence; you become conditioned to it. It takes on a life of its own and becomes more extreme every time it goes unchallenged. Violence is an awful, awful thing; in a relationship, it’s just unthinkable. And it becomes another tool of control for Theo. Theo’s just trying to absolutely give him the consequences of not doing his will.
“It’s just abhorrent. And the more Todd bites back, the more Theo is trying to knock that out of him and impose himself physically. There’s a big size difference there. Theo’s this larger, bigger muscular scaffolder; and to impose his physicality on him is a tool that he’s now using. It’s something that he’s using to his advantage to make sure he gets what he wants.”
The following day, as Todd tidies up the broken crockery from last night’s fight, he tells George Shuttlewroth he won’t be coming into work. Meanwhile, Gary clocks Theo waking up in his van and Tho makes out that Todd’s worried about money and they had an argument.
At the flat, Todd makes some soup but when he can’t get the blender to work, he loses his temper and throws it. Soon after, Gary arrives to pick up some clothes for Theo and surveys the mess. Upset, Todd tells Gary that he wants to patch things up. Later, having been summoned by Gary, Theo calls at the flat to talk.
As the week progresses, alone in the flat, Todd worries that Theo could return at any time. Meanwhile, at the undertakers, an agitated George receives another funeral cancellation.
In the Rovers, George, Christina Boyd, Sarah Platt and James Bailey rally round Todd in a bid to cheer him up, but when Todd spots Theo, he’s overcome with emotion and leaves. Theo follows and suggests they need to talk but soon, as James guides a drunken Todd home, Theo watches from the shadows.
Things only get worse when later, Theo overhears Summer telling George how James stayed the night on the sofa. In Speed Daal, Theo clocks Adam Barlow with a client, when Gary reveals it’s Annie, the woman accusing George of fraud, With a new plan forming, Theo sidles over.
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Explaning Theo’s decision, James commented: “Theo’s trying to isolate Todd because he doesn’t want anyone else’s opinions getting into his head. And so, the last person who really has Todd’s ear is George; he’s his closest ally. Seeing this opportunity to get George out of the picture is too good to miss. So he sees it, and he thinks, ‘Do you know what, with a little bit of Machiavellian manoeuvring, I might be able to get George out the picture, which is the right thing to do because then me and Todd can be together, and George is an old fusspot anyway, we’ll be happy then.’
“So when he sees this woman accusing George of something, he goes over to her and he makes up a complete lie that George did the funeral for his ex-wife’s mother and tried to fleece them and that he’s got it coming, which just isn’t the case. It’s a complete lie, but he’s doing what he thinks is necessary to get George out of the picture.”
Asked what viewers will see from Theo in the coming weeks, James added: “He’ll do some things that you expect and some things that you don’t. As ever with Theo, he’s a ball of unpredictability, and that’s what makes him so dangerous, it also makes him so thrilling to watch. You just never know.”
Rachel Reeves will resist pulling rabbits out of a hat when she delivers her second spring statement today, as the crisis in Iran brings new turbulance to world markets
Rachel Reeves will today present her second Spring Statement as Chancellor.
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The Labour frontbencher is set to present her forecast against alarming turbulance in the Middle East following strikes on Iran. Government insiders have repeatedly stressed there will be no policy announcements, and Ms Reeves will not be tempted to pull any rabbits out of a hat.
It is expected, sources say, that she will only be at the dispatch box for around half an hour. During that time she will pick through forecasts by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
The Chancellor will also point to progress on tackling the cost of living, which Keir Starmer has put at the heart of the Government’s mission.
Ahead of the Spring Statement, the Mirror has pulled together a rundown on the life of our Chancellor Ms Reeves.
The Chancellor has overseen the scrapping of the two child benefit cap in a busy start to the year. In February she told The Mirror: “I am proud to have been the Labour Chancellor that removed that cap and, alongside the roll out of free breakfast clubs and free school meals for those with parents on Universal Credit, we are lifting more than half a million children out of poverty by 2030.
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“That’s half a million children who will have a better start in life.” 2025 was a difficult year for the Chancellor, who came under fire after accepting free tickets to a Sabrina Carpenter concert, arguing security concerns mean she couldn’t sit in the crowd.
She also appeared to be in tears in the Commons during a tense PMQs in July, shortly after the PM swerved a question over whether Ms Reeves would still be Chancellor at the next election. Mr Starmer backed her immediately after PMQs, and a spokesperson for the Chancellor explained it had been over a personal matter.
There were further issues in October when she admitted an “inadvertent mistake” after failing to obtain a rental licence on her family home. She had failed to obtain a “selective” licence from Southwark council to rent out the house. The local authority requires licences on privately rented properties in certain areas.
Ms Reeves wasn’t elected as a Member of Parliament until her third attempt. In 2010 she became MP for Leeds West, where she won a majority of just over 7,000. She served the constituency until boundary changes last year, when she was re-elected as an MP for the slightly altered Leeds West and Pudsey area with a majority of 12,392.
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Just five months after being elected in 2010 Ms Reeves was promoted to Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions under then Labour leader Ed Miliband. The following year she became Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury and in 2013 the Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions.
She became a backbencher during Jeremy Corbyn’s tenure and would later distance herself from his leadership. Under Mr Starmer she became Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, before being appointed Shadow Chancellor in 2021. After the election, she took on the role of Chancellor.
Ms Reeves has previously spoken about Alistair Darling, the last Labour Chancellor and who steered the country through recession in 2008, being a mentor to her when she first joined Parliament. Ms Reeves described Mr Darling, who died in 2023 aged 70, as the person who she would love to be able to pick up the phone to now. “I hope that he would be proud of what I’m doing as the next Labour Chancellor after him,” she said.
Banking career
Ms Reeves studied the prestigious degree of PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at Oxford University, a course taken by the most recent Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and ex-PM Liz Truss. She also completed a masters in economics at the London School of Economics.
Despite having a photo of former PM Gordon Brown on her desk at university (apparently bought for her as a joke because he was a hero of hers), Ms Reeves wanted to get a “proper job” before considering any sort of career in politics. She pursued a career at Bank of England as an economist and later worked for the Bank of Scotland for more than three years.
Dame Sue Owen, who was her boss in Washington DC when Ms Reeves became the Bank’s first member of staff posted in the US capital, told the i newspaper last year: “I think she was quite conscious that there were people, even people like Gordon Brown, who’d only ever been in politics and that to have some credibility, she thought you needed to have done a real job first.”
At one point, she turned down a job at Goldman Sachs – a decision she says she does not regret but has joked: “I could have been a lot richer.”
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Interests
One of Ms Reeves’ biggest and most well-known passions is chess. As a child, she had clear skills and talents in maths and was taught to play chess by her dad when she was seven. She went on to become under-14s British girls chess champion.
And she has gained skills that should come in handy this Budget, having told the BBC in a 2021 interview: “It’s about getting you to look ahead; to think strategically and not just tactically and to think about what your opponent’s next move is going to be as well as your own.”
As well as being a dedicated chess player, she is known to be a huge fan of Beyoncé. Ex Labour MP Michael Dugher, with whom Ms Reeves once shared an office in Parliament, told the i this week: “She is someone who is great company and great fun. She’s a bit more Beyoncé than Taylor Swift in her musical tastes. She also loves Ronnie Scott’s [jazz bar in London’s Soho]. She takes being a mum extremely seriously as well, so she’s just normal is what I would say.”
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Family life
Ms Reeves was born in 1979 in southeast London to teacher parents Graham and Sally, who split up when she was seven. She went to a comprehensive school in Beckenham – Cator Park – with her sister Ellie and would spend her school holidays with their grandpa and grandma at their council maisonette in Kettering. The pair would go on to become the first sisters in history to sit around the Cabinet table – with Ellie also being a Labour MP and Cabinet minister.
Having been a Labour member since 1996, she has spoken of memories of her dad telling her to vote for the party when she was under the age of 10. She has also talked about her dad instilling a competitive spirit in her at a young age, with him never letting her win at chess. Ms Reeves is married to a senior civil servant, Nick Joicey. The pair have two children, whom they try to keep out of the spotlight.
Emmanuel Macron has announced France will increase its nuclear arsenal – claiming that France needs to be “feared” on the world stage.
The French President will also allow temporary deployment of its nuclear-armed aircraft to allied countries for the first time ever.
The move is part of a new strategy aimed at strengthening Europe’s independence amid heightened geopolitical tension, but has been condemned by disarmament campaigners.
“To be free, one needs to be feared,” Macron said at a military base at Ile Longue on Monday.
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The base, in northwestern France, hosts the country’s ballistic missile submarines.
Image: France’s Rafale aircraft, which are used to carry nuclear weapons, flying overhead before Macron’s speech on Monday. Pic: Reuters
Macron said the new posture could “provide for the temporary deployment of elements of our strategic air forces to allied countries”, but insisted decision making regarding deployment would remain solely with France.
Since Brexit,the country has been the only nuclear power in the European Union.
It is understood his speech was planned long before the recent outbreak of war in Iran.
Britain, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark are currently locked in talks about deterrence, Macron added.
France will also allow European partners to join in deterrence exercises, which has been welcomed across the continent.
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In a joint statement, Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the two countries would deepen integration in deterrence starting this year, “including German conventional participation in French nuclear exercises and joint visits to strategic sites”.
Image: Macron pledged to ramp up France’s nuclear arsenal in response to growing global instability. Pic: Reuters
In a letter to Dutch politicians, defence minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius and foreign minister Tom Berendsen said the Netherlands was in strategic talks with France on nuclear deterrence as “a supplement to, and not a replacement for, NATO’s collective defence and nuclear deterrence capabilities”.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X that “we are arming up together with our friends so that our enemies will never dare to attack us”.
France is increasing its number of warheads for the first time in 34 years.
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They currently sit at below 300, however Mr Macron did not say how many more his country would maintain.
“I have decided to increase the numbers of warheads of our arsenal,” Macron said.
“My responsibility is to ensure that our deterrence maintains – and will maintain in the future – its assured destructive power.
“If we had to use our arsenal, no state, however powerful, could shield itself from it, and no state, however vast, would recover from it,” Macron said.
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He did, however, rule out the possibility of German Air Force planes being used to carry French nuclear bombs – an idea floated by Merz last month.
European leaders have voiced growing doubts about American commitments to help defend Europe since President Donald Trump took office last year.
Image: Macron’s speech took place in front of France’s Le Temeraire nuclear submarine. Pic: Reuters
France and Britain have since adopted a joint declaration in July that allows both nations’ nuclear forces, while independent, to be “coordinated”.
The move has prompted fury from The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017.
The group’s executive director, Melissa Parke, said: “This announcement from French President Macron is a direct threat to the peace and security of the region, and the world.
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“France already spent $6bn on its nuclear weapons in 2024 and it is unclear how much this unexpected increase will add to that exorbitant sum.
“This is not progress, it’s a nuclear arms race that no one can afford.”
