The scheme, which took effect on August 28, includes a wide range of furniture and home essentials.

In a statement, IKEA said: “From much-loved favourites to everyday essentials, customers can discover New Lower Prices both online and in-store, helping make it easier to create a home you love, whatever your budget.”

Among the discounted items is the KALLAX shelving unit, soon to be available for £49—down 18% from £60.

The HEMNES daybed, which functions as a sofa, single bed, double bed, and storage unit, will be reduced by 15% from £329 to £279.

In addition to these savings, IKEA is offering more than 1,000 exclusive in-store-only prices with discounts up to 25%.

The company said: “In time for cosy season, in stores nationwide, IKEA is also offering 20% off throws, bedspreads, candles, floor and table lamps, plus selected rugs, thermal curtains, seasonal duvets and cookware, from 7th September to 1st November nationwide.”

The history of IKEA

IKEA was founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad when he was just 17 years old.

Originally, the company sold small goods such as pens and wallets, but in 1948, Kamprad expanded into furniture.

This was facilitated by Ingvar’s father, who gave him a small sum of money for doing well in school, which he used to set up a company.

In 1953, the company adopted flatpack furniture, solving costly transportation problems.

IKEA grew steadily throughout the 1950s in Sweden, before expanding into Denmark and Norway in the 1960s.

By the 1970s, the brand had entered markets in Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Switzerland.

The first UK store opened in Warrington in 1987, marking the start of IKEA’s growth in the British market.

Today, IKEA employs nearly 12,000 people across its 22 UK locations.

Have you bought items from IKEA before? Let us know in the comments.

From sporting suits and smart skirts for a night out at the theatre to cheering each other on for a day of carriage racing the Royal Windsor Horse Show; 22-year-old Lady Louise and her boyfriend Felix da Silva-Clamp may look young and fresh-faced, but channel an ‘old-fashioned’ romance typically seen in pairs decades older than them.

The couple, who met at university, are more likely to be spotted at the garden centre than a rowdy night out at a club.

So it’s perhaps no wonder that they remind royal fans of another sensible, down-to-earth courtship – that of late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. 

According to author Robert Jobson, Louise first met Felix at St Andrews, where they became friends after being cast in a student play at the Byre Theatre. 

The pair were first linked in 2024 and have been together since June 2025, but have kept things remarkably low-key – so much so that royal reporters simply called Felix Louise’s ‘pal’ for a time. 

Now they are appearing together at family events and royal engagements, but their quiet romance is a world away from the drama surrounding other royals.

They reportedly grew closer during rehearsals, with their friendship eventually blossoming into romance. 

Yet, even after dating for over a year, the couple have managed to keep things private. 

Louise, 22, first met Felix, 22, at St Andrews University, where they became friends after being cast in a student play at the Byre Theatre

That changed this summer when Felix joined Louise and her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, at a performance of the Zulu ballet Inala at the Edinburgh International Festival, where they were pictured chatting to cast members. 

He has also supported Louise at carriage-driving competitions, including Ashfields in Essex, where, according to Mr Jobson, ‘onlookers watched him punch the air as she came through the water’. 

The author added: ‘Nothing royal about him, just a young man in love standing in a wet field in Essex, cheering his girlfriend on.’ 

According to Mr Jobson, Felix’s background is well-suited for Louise, given that her mother, Sophie, originates from a middle-class background.  

Born in Kensington in 2004, he is the son of London solicitor Jonathan da Silva-Clamp, a former Conservative parliamentary candidate, and Australian doctor Kendall Searle.

The family later moved to Australia, where Felix attended Melbourne Grammar School before heading to St Andrews. 

He and Louise also joined the same reserve army unit and share interests including theatre and traditional Scottish dancing.

Their low-key relationship is a far cry from Prince Harry’s ‘Party Prince’ days, when his nights out stumbling out of nightclubs and relationships with former girlfriends Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas regularly made headlines. 

The same could be said for other relatives like Princess Eugenie, who earned a reputation in her early twenties as a regular on the London club scene, frequently photographed leaving popular West End and Mayfair hotspots. 

Felix has supported Louise at carriage-driving competitions, including The Sandringham Festive of Carriage Driving (pictured) and Ashfields in Essex

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attended the Edinburgh International Festival TRH alongside Lady Louise and Felix, where they met the cast of INALA 

The couple’s low-key relationship is a far cry from Prince Harry’s ‘Party Prince’ days, when his nights stumbling out of nightclubs regularly made headlines 

The same could be said for other relatives like Princess Eugenie, who earned a reputation in her early twenties as a regular on the London club scene

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According to royal author Robert Jobson, there has long been a striking resemblance between Lady Louise and her grandmother Queen Elizabeth II – both physically and in temperament

Instead, it appears Louise and Felix appear happy to keep their heads down and get on with life. And in many ways, that is very much keeping in line with Louise herself. 

According to Mr Jobson, there has long been a striking resemblance between Lady Louise and her grandmother – both physically and in temperament. 

He wrote: ‘Some say it is her grandmother all over again. Elizabeth made up her mind as a teenager about a Greek prince with royal blood, Philip – even though he has no money and unhelpful German relations, and never moved an inch while the courtiers sniffed. 

‘Constancy and steadfastness was at the heart of her character, in marriage as in everything else, and it was perhaps underestimated.

‘Like Lady Louise, Princess Elizabeth was a quiet girl who knew exactly what she wanted when it came to love.

‘People say Lady Louise looks like her grandmother. There is a resemblance. But the likeness that matters more is not in the face.’

Before her passing aged 96 in 2022, Louise was known as the granddaughter who spent huge amounts of time with the Queen, regularly staying at Windsor Castle during her childhood. 

While some of her older cousins came and went, Louise was often there at weekends, giving her years to watch how her grandmother lived. 

What the young royal appears to have picked up was the Queen’s unfussy approach to life.

Experts say the young royal appears to have picked up the late Queen’s unfussy approach to life

While some of her older cousins came and went, Louise was often at Windsor Castle at weekends, giving her years to watch how her grandmother lived

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Pictured: Lady Louise Windsor views the flowers left by mourners for Queen Elizabeth II outside Balmoral Castle on September 10, 2022 in Aberdeen, Scotland 

Lady Louise bear similar traits to her grandmother, who, aged 19, trained as a mechanic and driver with the Auxiliary Territorial Service during the Second World War

Mr Jobson added: ‘[The Queen] regarded clothes as a uniform; a way of being visible in a crowd. Taking good care of them so they would last. Always immaculately turned out, she gave them very little further thought.

‘Lady Louise is the same. Always smart, but unfussy. She wore her coronation dress again to Trooping the Colour. 

‘At Christmas she was in her mother’s beige Prada coat, first worn at Royal Ascot a decade earlier, with a Jane Taylor hat Sophie had worn to a Rifles homecoming in 2017.’

But that level of modesty extends beyond her outfit choices – her mother Sophie has spoken openly about bringing her children up with the expectation that they would have to work for a living, and Louise certainly has. 

At 18, she spent the summer working at a Surrey garden centre for around £6.60 an hour, serving customers and working behind the till. 

One shopper described her as ‘really modest and sweet’, saying you would ‘never imagine the Queen’s granddaughter’ working there.

She later worked in the university canteen while studying English literature at St Andrews.

This very trait links her once more to her grandmother, who, aged 19, trained as a mechanic and driver with the Auxiliary Territorial Service during the Second World War, after pushing her father, King George VI, to let her play a role in the war effort.  

Felix (left) with Louise’s mother Sophie at a carriage driving competition at the Royal Sandringham estate in Norfolk

While Prince William and Kate’s romance at St Andrews became a media obsession, Louise and Felix have enjoyed something much closer to an ordinary student relationship

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Louise’s love of horses and carriage driving, meanwhile, comes from Prince Philip, taking the sport up seriously after his death, driving his carriage at Windsor Castle and competing herself.

Mr Jobson wrote: ‘She has her grandmother’s temperament and her grandfather’s hobby.

‘Level headed, thoughtful and kind. Those who knew the late Queen at that age would recognise a good deal of her in this young woman.’

And now, her relationship with Felix seems to fit the same mould.

While Prince William and Catherine’s romance at St Andrews became a media obsession, Louise and Felix have enjoyed something much closer to an ordinary student relationship.

A royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told The Telegraph: ‘They look like a very normal, well-suited couple who have been able to lead normal university lives and develop common interests.’ 

He has also said Louise and her younger brother James, the Earl of Wessex, are ‘clearly of conservative tendencies’.

For now, Louise is taking a gap year after graduating from St Andrews and is considering a career in the Armed Forces, while continuing with carriage driving, with Felix seemingly content with cheering her on from the sidelines.

According to Jobson, the late Queen was often at her most relaxed away from the cameras – at the racecourse, in the stables or simply getting on with the job.

Lady Louise appears very much the same, grounded and happiest when nobody is really watching. 

The 31-year-old will face no further action after the blaze in Grangetown, which killed Valentina Foster, seven, and Natalie McDonald, 34,

A second man, 23, remains in custody for questioning.

An investigation into the fire on Birchington Avenue on Wednesday (August 26) morning remains ongoing, Cleveland Police said.

Police stand outside the house on Birchngton Avenue, Grangetown, following the fatal fire (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Over the weekend, further tributes, balloons and stuffed animals have been left near the scene of the devastating fire.

A48-year-old woman left fighting for her life remained in a “critical but stable” condition at the RVI in Newcastle, Cleveland Police said on Friday (August 28). The Northern Echo has asked the force for an update.

Andy Burnham has said the Government is offering “all of the support that the authorities need” after a “terribly tragic” Grangetown house fire that killed Natalie, 34, and her niece Valentina, seven (Image: UGC)

Following the tragic incident, tributes, messages and floral arrangements were left near the home on Birchington Avenue.

Pictures of the victims have been left, with messages attached to flowers, cuddly toys and a set of balloons.

Tributes left at the scene of a fatal fire on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

A 27-year-old man also injured in the fire remains at James Cook University Hospital, where he is receiving treatment.

Two teenage girls who suffered non-life-threatening injuries were discharged following treatment.

The property remains unstable and work to make it safe will be carried out in the coming days.

Police previously confirmed that they are not treating the fire as linked to the fatal crash on the A66 which killed seven, including two police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.

Officers initially said they could not rule out a link with wider gang violence breaking out on Teesside after the smash, which also killed five young men in a VW Passat going the wrong way up the A66.

In the letter, his legal team is understood to have alleged the head of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) was aware of a threat made by al Qaida, but did not pass this to his security staff or to the authorities in the United States, where he was living at the time, The Sunday Times reported.

Barcelona are closing in on a move for Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus in a deal worth £8.6m (10m euros).

A deal for the Brazil international is believed to be at an advanced stage and, while the finer details still require finalising, the transfer is expected to be completed before Tuesday’s deadline.

Napoli had shown an interest in Jesus, but the 29-year-old is set to join last season’s Spanish league champions and will travel for a medical on Monday.

Jesus joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022, scoring 32 goals and adding 22 assists in 123 appearances for the Gunners.

Enzo Fernandez has been left out of Chelsea’s squad for their last two games and Blues boss Xabi Alonso has discussed the midfielder’s future ahead Tuesday’s transfer deadline

Xabi Alonso has said that keeping Enzo Fernandez out of the Chelsea team is ‘for the best’, while suggesting Robert Sanchez could be shown the exit door. The Argentine midfielder has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge over recent days.

Manchester City have emerged as suitors and Enzo Maresca’s side are expected to lodge a big-money bid soon despite having already signed Elliot Anderson and Ayoubb Bouaddi to bolster their midfield.

In the meantime, Fernandez has been exiled from first-team action. He was left out of the side that took on Luton Town in the second round of the Carabao Cup in midweek, while he was also sidelined for the clash with Brighton at Stamford Bridge.

Asked why he was left out once again, Chelsea boss Alonso said: “We assess what’s best for the team. We need the team to be focused.”

Meanwhile, another absentee was goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, the Spaniard having lost his starting berth to summer arrival Emi Martinez. And asked about the stopper, the Chelsea boss was somewhat cryptic. He said: “We will see. Sometimes you have to take tough decisions.”

Alonso’s comments on Fernandez come after he made a similar claim in the week. Asked about Fernandez’s situation, the Spanish coach said: “I have said we need the players that are in the best situation to play.

“We need to take everything into consideration — players that are in a good moment, players that are not feeling that energy to play. For me, it is very important that they feel this desire to play and to have good preparation.”

Asked if Fernandez had lost the desire to play, Alonso replied: “We talked, and we decided for [Luton] it was better not to be part of the squad. He is a top player.”

Fernandez, 25, signed for Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 and he has gone on to make 170 appearances for the club and scored 31 goals. He still has six years left to run on his deal in West London.

It has previously been suggested that Chelsea will only sell for around £120m. Should Fernandez move to the Etihad, he would become the latest high-profile midfield addition of the summer after Anderson and Bouaddi.

City’s spending is also not expected to stop there either. They are also in pole position to seal a deal for Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, with the two clubs now in talks to find an agreement.

Asked this week if more additions could be on the way, City boss Maresca said: “We have experienced players, for sure we have leaders. Now we need to wait 4-5 days for when the transfer window closes also to see if we can add one or two more captains to Ruben [Dias] and Erling [Haaland], at the moment they are the two captains. It’s a young squad and also we have some experienced players.”

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By KATHERINE LAWTON, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Published: 14:24 BST, 30 August 2026 | Updated: 14:28 BST, 30 August 2026

The Met Office has issued yet another yellow weather warning for Wales as the end of the summer holidays comes to a very wet and stormy end.

The thunderstorm warning, covering the whole of the country on Sunday, is the latest in a series of weather warnings issued by forecasters which have disrupted the August bank holiday weekend for many.

Some local events organised for the last bank holiday of what has been a very dry and warm summer were cancelled on Saturday due to the severe weather with flash flooding seen in parts of Bridgend where water poured through the roof of a McDonald’s restaurant.

The latest warning covers the whole of the country from midday on Sunday until 11.59pm with the Met Office warning the public to expect heavy and thundery showers, frequent lightning, and gusty winds. Full details here.

Swansea look set to seal another signing before Tuesday’s deadline

Swansea City are close to sealing a move for Huddersfield Town midfielder Tom Iorpenda.

The highly-rated 21-year-old enjoyed a largely successful spell on loan at League Two side Notts County last season, where he made 53 appearances for the Magpies as they eased their way to promotion.

He now looks set to make the step up to the Championship, with Swansea close to sealing a move ahead of Tuesday night’s deadline.

It’s been suggested the Swans will pay an initial £750,000, with around £250,000 in add-ons.

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Should a move be completed, he would become the ninth new arrival of what’s been a busy summer, and will also add further depth to City’s midfield options.

The departure of Ethan Galbraith to Stoke City, and the return of Malick Yalcouye to parent club Brighton and Hove Albion, meant a central option in the middle was a key priority for Vitor Matos this summer.

Having previously missed out on Andre Almeida and Ousseynou Fall Seck, the club recently moved to tie down Stephen Eustaquio in an eye-catching move from FC Porto.

They have now moved to further strengthen their hand, in a move that will further boost the feel-good factor around the club, which has of course been buoyed further by a strong start to the season.

Swansea’s 3-0 demolition of Derby County on Saturday was their second away win of the campaign, and leaves them with seven points from their opening three games.

There could yet be more arrivals through the door. Another centre-back could potentially be in the mix, despite the recent arrival of Sunderland’s Jenson Seelt on loan.

Departures may well be on the cards too.

Questions are still hanging over the futures of Florian Bianchini and Zeidane Inoussa, neither of whom were involved at the weekend.

Despite weeks of speculation, however, there’s a growing feeling that star striker Zan Vipotnik is now likely to stay.

*Follow all of our social channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Swans news. Sign up to our daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here. Our Swansea City correspondent Tom Coleman is also on social media. He can be found on his X account here, on Instagram, on TikTok and on Facebook.

Emergency services were called to Swan Lane Mills on Saturday, August 29, after the man was seen on scaffolding surrounding the building.

Video from the scene showed fire crews outside the mill with an aerial ladder platform deployed.

The incident attracted a crowd of onlookers, with one witness telling The Bolton News at the time that the man appeared to be “dancing away” on the scaffolding.

Greater Manchester Police has now confirmed that the man was brought down safely.

A GMP spokesperson said: “This looks to be mental health related.

“The man was on scaffolding but safely brought down.”

Fire crews had attended the scene while efforts were made to bring the man down from the structure.

The former cotton mill was once recognised as the largest cotton spinning mill in the world and remains one of the borough’s prominent surviving industrial buildings.

The site has been surrounded by scaffolding while work has been taking place at the historic complex.