Chicago’s Chicken, in Linthorpe Road near St Barnabas Church, has been told to up its game – with a spokesperson saying it will be undergoing a re-inspection shortly.

The inspection, which took place on June 10, 2026, found standards across the board to be lacking.

In all three separate categories, “major improvement” was deemed necessary. These categories were hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building. and management of food safety.

A rating of zero is at the bottom of the Food Standards Agency scale, which goes up to five.

Middlesbrough-based Chicago’s Chicken advertises paninis, wraps, desserts, sandwiches and of course, fried chicken on the store frontage.

A spokesperson for the business, which also sells ‘buckets’ and ‘nugget meals’ among other items, confirmed the establishment would be undergoing a re-inspection within three months of the initial check, in a bid to improve the rating.

The representative said the firm was content that improvements had been made in the meantime.

Google reviews rate the takeaway highly with 4.6 out of 5 stars. One reviewer said: “Great quality chicken kebab. Flavour, quality, quantity and freshness all on point.”

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has handed back, or is handing back, money paid by claimants who accepted penalties instead of facing prosecution.

The penalties, known as administrative penalties, can be offered to people suspected of benefit fraud when investigators believe there is enough evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.

They are calculated at 50% of the overpaid amount, capped at £5,000, and are charged on top of the original benefit overpayment.

But a DWP review found 197 cases where penalties had been unreasonably offered and should not have been issued.

This included 128 cases from 2023/24 and 69 from 2024/25.

The department said procedural errors, insufficient evidence and circumstances not being fully considered contributed to some of the cases.

A DWP spokesperson said: “In an effort to identify opportunities for improvement, we proactively reviewed our use of Administrative Penalties and identified a small number of cases where they were incorrectly applied.

 “We have put this right by removing and refunding those penalties, contacting affected customers, and strengthening our processes to ensure decisions are made consistently and appropriately in future.”

Your Top 12 Cost of Living Concerns

Earlier this week I asked which cost-of-living areas you most want @andyburnham and @JohnHealey_MP to focus on. Many thousands replied across various of my social platforms. As well as looking at individual suggestions – we’ve now tallied the…

— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) July 24, 2026

DWP strengthens fraud checks

The department has introduced a series of changes following the review, including updated guidance for investigators, revised customer letters and communications, enhanced training and a new permanent independent decision-making panel.

It has also strengthened quality assurance and oversight and introduced mandatory two-investigator attendance at all Interviews Under Caution.

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Under the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025, the DWP is also introducing independent inspection of end-to-end criminal investigations.

The department said cases from before 2023/24 were not included in the review and no further cases are being examined.

Importantly, having an administrative penalty removed does not cancel any underlying benefit overpayment.

Any outstanding overpayment will still need to be repaid.

Man Utd play their final friendly of pre-season against AC Milan in Wroclaw on Saturday and they have confirmed their squad for the game.

Marcus Rashford could make his first appearance for Manchester United in 20 months after being included in the squad for Saturday’s friendly against AC Milan.

Rashford hasn’t played for United since December 2024, but he returned to pre-season training this week and the 28-year-old is set to feature against Ruben Amorim’s Milan in Poland.

Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo also return to the squad for the first time this summer, having both reported for pre-season training in Ireland this week.

United are travelling to Wroclaw from Dublin on Friday afternoon after training for the final time at their County Kildare training base earlier this morning.

They took a large group over the Irish Sea for that camp, but some players have returned to Manchester and a smaller squad will travel to Poland for the fixture against the Italian giants.

The presence of Amorim in the Milan dugout adds some extra spice to the occasion. Amorim was the head coach who discarded Rashford at Old Trafford, while he also overlooked Mainoo during his 18 months in charge at United.

Manchester United squad to face AC Milan:

Goalkeepers: Lammens, Mee, Heath

Defenders: Dalot, Mazraoui, Amass, Dorgu, Heaven, Maguire, Shaw, Yoro, Martinez

Midfielders: Tielemans, Mainoo, J. Fletcher, T. Fletcher, Collyer, Santos, Fernandes

Attackers: Lacey, Mbeumo, Zirkzee, Amad, Rashford, Cunha, Gabriel

A baby who endured an extraordinary medical ordeal has finally returned home to his family after weeks of uncertainty

A baby who was pronounced dead before being discovered alive inside a body bag has finally returned home to his family after almost a month in hospital.

Noah Gabriel da Cruz Santos was discharged on Wednesday, August 12, following weeks of intensive treatment after the extraordinary incident in Brazil.

The two-month-old was welcomed back to his home in Rio Claro, São Paulo, where his family marked the occasion with cake, snacks, balloons and a celebratory sign.

Noah’s relatives also thanked those who had followed his story and supported them with prayers and messages throughout his ordeal.

“God was faithful in every detail and continues to watch over our little miracle. Thank you to everyone who prayed, sent messages, and followed our story. This victory belongs to you, too!” his father Lenildo Santos wrote on social media.

Despite being back with his family, Noah remains in recovery and is currently being fed through a small tube. His relatives said he cannot yet have visitors or be taken into crowded environments because of recent episodes.

His ordeal began on July 15, when Noah, then just one month old, suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest while receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at Santa Casa de Rio Claro.

Doctors reportedly attempted to resuscitate him for around 45 minutes before he was pronounced dead.

But when funeral worker Regina Célia Paschoal arrived to collect his body, she noticed something that changed everything.

After spotting movement inside the taped-up body bag, she opened it and found Noah alive.

“I opened it, and the baby started moving even more; he was making a noise, as if trying to breathe,” Regina recalled.

She said she had never experienced anything comparable during her 17 years working in the funeral industry.

“It was a shock, an overwhelming feeling, to realise that we had gone to collect someone who was dead, only to find him alive,” she said.

Her colleague Matheus Batagello was also there and immediately called for medical assistance.

“It was a desperate moment, but also a relief,” he said.

Matheus initially questioned whether the movement might have been a spasm, but alerted nurses and urged them to examine the baby.

“Look, I need you to go check, because he’s moving and making a sort of hiccuping sound, like he’s choking. So I need you to go over there and make sure,” he told them.

Noah was rushed back into intensive care before being transferred to a specialist hospital in Bauru on July 17.

He was treated at a University of São Paulo-affiliated facility specialising in craniofacial conditions and was also due to undergo surgery for a cleft palate.

By July 31, he had been removed from a ventilator and was breathing without mechanical assistance.

Santa Casa de Rio Claro has maintained that there was no error in declaring Noah’s death, saying all technical and legal procedures had been followed.

“The Brazilian protocol for confirming death is recognised for its high standards of rigor and safety,” the hospital said.

Medical manager Nelson Horigoshi told Fantástico that the circumstances could potentially be linked to Lazarus syndrome, an extremely rare phenomenon in which circulation returns after resuscitation attempts have stopped.

However, he stressed just how unusual Noah’s case appeared to be.

“It usually takes minutes. Roughly 70% of those who return do so within five minutes. Just look at how exceptional this child’s case is. We are talking about hours,” Horigoshi said.

After weeks of treatment and uncertainty, Noah is now recovering at home, where his family said his progress will continue to be monitored “in the comfort of home”.

Mollie Gallagher is leaving Weatherfield as she takes on a new project on stage

Coronation Street star Mollie Gallagher celebrated her theatre debut as her exit as Nina Lucas will air later this month on the ITV soap.

The actress made her debut as Nina Lucas, the niece of Weatherfield favourite Roy Cropper, in 2019, quickly becoming a regular presence on the ITV soap.

Mollie was soon at the centre of some of the show’s biggest storylines, including a harrowing hate crime plot that resulted in the death of Nina’s boyfriend, Seb Franklin. Her powerful portrayal earned her a National Television Award for Serial Drama Performance.

Last month, after six and a half years on the famous cobbles, it was confirmed that Mollie would be leaving the Salford-based soap to make her stage debut as Clarice Starling in the UK and Ireland tour of The Silence of the Lambs.

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Now, Mollie has revealed that the opportunity to take on the iconic role played a key part in her decision to leave. Speaking to Inside Soap, she said it was a difficult choice because of how much she loves Corrie, the cast and crew, and Nina.

She explained: “Yeah, it was a tricky one because I love Corrie so much. I love everyone there and I love Nina, too. When I graduated from drama school and got the audition for Corrie, I thought that Nina was a dream character for me to play.

“I was really passionate about portraying this alternative character. We kept her quite similar the whole time, which was important to me. I never wanted Nina to lose her goth look and who she is – I think the audience have always really appreciated that.

“So it was a really hard situation, but as an actor, you do want to challenge yourself by trying new things. This new job is completely different because it’s theatre. It was sad – in an ideal world I’d be doing both, but that just wouldn’t work!”

Taking to her Instagram, Mollie shared a stunning snap of herself on the red carpet for her theatre debut. She gushed: “Theatre debut complete @curve_leicester

“The most brilliant rehearsal process with @nikolaifostertheatre @juliathomas967 @bentleighmarie and the brilliant writer @gina_gionfriddo_ I haven’t been on a stage since I left drama school 7 years ago, so it’s been amazing to learn from some of the best. I’m v excited to keep being able to learn and grow on stage.

“I still can’t believe I get to be part of this amazing play as my first ever theatre job!!! Here’s to a year of Clarice Starling and @sotlplay Book ya tickets- Dr Lector is waiting”.

Her Corrie co-stars rushed to show their support as Sally Carman penned: “Oh I’m SO EXCITED to see you in this!!!” and Sue Devaney added: “So so proud of you our Mols! Can’t wait to see you shine my darling xxxxx Have the best run xxxx”

Competitors in the Tour de France Femmes raised eyebrows recently after it was alleged that some riders were stuffing their bras to go faster during the time trials. Race organisers started checking riders’ clothes more closely before the race.

While this story sounds like a joke, there is a real reason that competitors would do this – and it all comes down to winning.

Adding extra chest padding is a strategy known among triathletes and cyclists as chest fairing. By changing the shape of your chest, it alters how air flows around the body. In cycling, less air resistance means you go faster – so even a small change can help.

But the Tour de France scandal is not the only time something like this has happened this year.

Earlier this year, some Olympic ski jumpers were accused of using injections to make their penis look bigger before getting measured for their suits.

Bigger measurements meant they could wear bigger suits, which create more lift in the air. The story drew enough attention for anti-doping officials to investigate.

The details may sound bizarre, but the reason behind them is not. As someone who studies human body size, shape and composition, I find these stories fascinating. They remind us that sport depends on body shape as much as fitness and hard work.

It’s pretty well accepted that athletes from different sports have different body shapes. Rowers are often tall with long arms and legs. Gymnasts are usually small and compact. Sprinters are strong and muscular. Long-distance runners tend to be lean. None of this is random. Certain body shapes make certain movements easier.

However, sport keeps getting more competitive. Most professional competitors have access to the right training, good coaching, proper nutrition and recovery. So athletes increasingly have to chase marginal gains – tiny advantages that mean little alone but add up when combined.

Anything from a slightly better racing position, a lighter piece of equipment or different clothing could provide some marginal gain for competitors. On their own, these do not seem like much. But added together, they can make a big difference.

Take padded bras. In 2024, scientists ran a computer simulation study to test how chest fairing changes drag on a bike. The best shape (of the chest) they tested cut drag by 3.6%. During a 15-mile time trial, that could save about 19.5 seconds, which is certainly enough to win or lose a race.

Cycling’s rule-makers already ban this. The Union Cycliste Internationale, known as the UCI, has clear rules against it. One rule says clothes cannot be used to change a rider’s body shape. Another bans anything hidden under clothes to cut wind resistance.

Riders have tried to get around these rules for years. Some have hidden water bottles or radios down their jerseys to do the same thing.

Triathletes have tried it too. In 2023, tests reported by the publication Triathlete found that hiding a water bottle in a jersey cut drag by 5-7%.

The ski jumping story follows the same pattern. Scientists tested how suit size affects a jump. Making a suit just 2cm bigger increased lift by 5% and drag by 4%. That added about 2.8 metres to a jump for every extra centimetre. In ski jumping, medals are won or lost by centimetres, so that is a big deal.

Swimming had its own version of this. In 2008, Speedo released a full-body suit called the LZR Racer, built with help from Nasa. The suit squeezed swimmers into a smoother shape and trapped air to help them float higher in the water, which allowed swimmers to go faster.

Swimmers wearing it won 94% of the medals at the Beijing Olympics and broke dozens of world records in two years. Swimming’s rule-makers banned full-body suits like this in 2010, saying the sport should test the swimmer, not the suit.

All of these tiny details matter because races can be won by fractions of a second. That is why stories like the Tour de France one get so much attention. The real question is whether athletes are changing their bodies in ways the rules do not allow.

Most people think athletes should be free to get better through training, nutrition and practice – as long as everyone can use similar strategies and they follow the rules. But even that isn’t as clear cut.

Someone can follow the rules but still have access to things that aren’t available to everyone, such as a better wind tunnel, a custom suit or a full-time biomechanics team. These cost money most athletes don’t have. So a rule that looks fair on paper can still hand an advantage to whoever can afford the best equipment and testing.

The real problem is telling the difference between cheekily pushing the boundaries and cheating. Then sports officials have to decide if something is a clever idea or an unfair advantage.

Athletes will always look for an edge and some will try new ways to go faster, jump further or perform better. Sometimes that leads to real scientific discoveries – while sometimes it leads to strange headlines.

Either way, these stories illustrate the same thing: winning in sport depends on understanding the body and how it moves through the world, not just on talent and effort. At the highest level, every gram, every centimetre and every second can matter, which is exactly why these weird stories get so much attention.

The KLM aircraft took off Amsterdam around 7.20pm on Thursday (August 13), bound for Teesside Airport.

But as Embraer aircraft, operating flight KL967, was heading over the English Channel it was forced to make a U-turn and return to Schiphol, landing less than an hour after take-off.

KLM has confirmed the almost ten-year-old plane suffered a technical issue.

Teesside Airport. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

After the passengers landed back in Amsterdam, they were moved to a separate KLM aircraft which took off over an hour later, at 9.30pm.

It landed back at Teesside around 10.30pm.

A spokesperson said: “After the aircraft returned to Schiphol due to a technical issue, the flight to MME was able to operate with a replacement aircraft, with a delay of approximately two hours.”

Were you on the plane? Share your story by emailing amelia.anderson@newsquest.co.uk.

A major factor behind the rise is the soaring number of people claiming PIP for disabling psychiatric disorders – such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD

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Almost 230,000 people in Northern Ireland were claiming personal independence payments (PIP), the main disability benefit, as of February 2026, marking a massive 49% rise in the last five years.

A major factor behind the rise is the soaring number of people claiming PIP for disabling psychiatric disorders – such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Mental illnesses now account for nearly half of all PIP claims (46%).

Musculoskeletal conditions – including chronic pain syndromes like fibromyalgia and degenerative diseases like arthritis – represent the second-largest category, followed by neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s.

Belfast West has the highest proportion of PIP claimants in Northern Ireland. As of February, 21,650 people were claiming PIP in Belfast West.

That’s more than one in five people who live in Belfast West (21.0%) according to recent population figures published by the House of Commons Library.

Foyle has the second-highest PIP claimant rate in Northern Ireland, with just under one in five people receiving benefits (18.3%), followed by Belfast North with one in six (16.7%).

Nationally, one in nine people claim PIP (11.9%), which shows people in Northern Ireland are far more likely to claim the main disability benefit than in Great Britain.

The local figures come as welfare spending dominates national policy debates across the UK.

Broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson recently sparked outcry after claiming young people could receive up to £194 a week “if they’ve got ants in their pants, or ADHD as it is now called, or some other head-based issue with an acronym”. He suggested claimants should send a weekly “thank you” email to taxpayers.

However, disability advocates point out that PIP is a non-means-tested extra-cost benefit rather than an income replacement. In many instances, it covers essential expenses – such as adapted transport and personal care – enabling disabled individuals to remain in work.

Despite this, an independent review of disability benefits recently concluded the current system is “no longer fit for purpose”.

Meanwhile, the independent Timms Review, led by disability minister Sir Stephen Timms, concluded that the PIP application process causes severe distress, describing a system that often “breaks” applicants. A final report on potential system reforms is expected next year.

Addressing wider social care and welfare across the UK, Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated he plans to bring “substantial change”.

While committing to lowering the national welfare bill, Mr Burnham told the BBC he would not “go straight to blaming those people” who rely on support, advocating instead for better in-work mental health support and guaranteed opportunities for young people.

Because Northern Ireland operates under a policy of parity for social security, any major structural reforms enacted at Westminster directly impact funding and delivery overseen by Stormont’s Department for Communities.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

By ELIZABETH HAIGH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Published: 13:46 BST, 14 August 2026 | Updated: 13:51 BST, 14 August 2026

Two men have been charged with attempted murder over an attack on Sara Sharif‘s father at HMP Belmarsh.

Steven Sansom, 47 and Adam Watson, 39, are accused of trying to kill the child murderer in January 2025.

Sharif, 44, was jumped by to prisoners in his cell on New Year’s Day, it was reported at the time.

He was left in a critical condition in hospital after allegedly having his throat slashed with the lid of a tuna can, but ultimately survived. 

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It came just weeks after Sharif was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 40 years for the harrowing abuse and killing of his ten-year-old daughter, Sara. 

A prison source was said at the time: ‘Urfan was sliced up badly in his cell by two others who rushed in. It was planned and they used a makeshift weapon — made from the lid of a tin of tuna.

‘He was sliced in the neck and face, and is still in healthcare and in a very bad way.

‘He was lucky to survive, has had to have stitches and will have scars as a permanent reminder of the attack. The guards tried to keep him safe because he obviously had a target on his back after the case was such big news.

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Urfan Sharif, 44, was jumped by to prisoners in his cell on New Year’s Day and suffered serious injuries

Sara Sharif, 10, suffered ‘unimaginable pain’ during more than two years of abuse and was ultimately tortured to death, a judge ruled

‘Something like this was always on the cards, and an attack was probably only a matter of time.

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‘Sharif has tried to keep his head down since coming into the jail, but word quickly got round about who he was.

‘Inmates were not happy he is in there with them and, although the other prisoners are in for heinous crimes, a lot of them don’t like people who attack children. A lot of them are saying how it couldn’t have happened to a more deserving guy.’

The pair have been charged with attempted murder and section 18 offences, the CPS said.

They will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for a first hearing on 26 August 2026.

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During Sharif’s trial a court heard that the 10-year-old schoolgirl suffered ‘unimaginable pain’ during more than two years of abuse and was ultimately tortured to death by her father and stepmother Beinash Batool, 30.

Mr Justice Cavanagh began his sentencing remarks by describing the degree of cruelty shown towards Sara as ‘inconceivable’, and jailed Sharif to a minimum term of 40 years, Batool to 33 years and her uncle, Faisal Malik, to 16 years in prison.

Daren Streeter, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor in CPS London, said: ‘The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to charge Steven Sansom and Adam Watson with attempted murder in connection to an incident at HMP Belmarsh in January 2025.

‘Our prosecutors have worked closely with the Metropolitan Police to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and pursue criminal proceedings.

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‘We remind all concerned that proceedings against the defendants are active and they have the right to a fair trial. It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings.’

Princess Beatrice has attended the funeral for her mother’s ex-boyfriend Paddy McNally – after the late Formula One mogul reportedly left Sarah Ferguson ‘an allowance’ in his passing.

The King’s niece, 38, appeared solemn and wore black as she arrived for the service at St James’ Church in Wiltshire this afternoon.

McNally, who died aged 88 last month, left a fortune estimated at around £600million, built on the 2006 sale of his hospitality business Allsport Management for £262million.

For years, despite them parting ways, the colourful tycoon had supported the ex-Duchess of York, who was last spotted in April, at a luxury ski resort in the Austrian alps.

However, Fergie was not pictured in attendance today, and it is not known if she was present, amid her recent step-away from the spotlight following criticisms over her friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr McNally died peacefully following a long illness – just two months after the sudden death of his son Sean, one of his two boys by his late wife Anne.

For years, despite them parting ways, McNally – who did aged 88 last month – had supported the ex-Duchess of York, who was last spotted in April, at a luxury ski resort in the Austrian alps

Mr McNally died peacefully after a long illness – just two months the sudden death of his son Sean, one of his two boys by his late wife Anne

‘He was in a bad way for a while so this comes as good news,’ reflected one old friend to the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden after his passing.

His truly was a life lived in the fast lane, taking him from Gravesend, his Kent birthplace, to the Swiss ski resort of Verbier, where he owned no fewer than three chalets, one of which became mischievously known as ‘Cocaine Castle’, and also to Sevenhampton Place in Wiltshire, a property in St Tropez and a grouse moor in Scotland.

Fergie met Mr McNally, 22 years her senior, after she was recruited to look after Sean and his brother Rollo, following Anne’s death in 1980.

McNally, a charmer who’d been educated at £54,000-a-year Stonyhurst College, was well on his way to amassing a fortune, thanks to his work alongside Bernie Ecclestone, revolutionising F1 corporate entertainment with the Formula One Paddock Club. 

It would be a business that ended up making him the 238th richest man in Britain, with a £600million fortune by the time of his death on July 22, 2026.

His wealth allowed him to indulge chums in all manner of adult entertainment – much to Fergie’s delight.

But their three-year affair ended in 1985. A year later, she became engaged to the then Prince Andrew.

Princess Beatrice has attended the funeral for her mother’s ex-boyfriend Paddy McNally – after the late Formula One mogul reportedly left Sarah Ferguson’an allowance’ in his passing

Beatrice wore all black as she attended the funeral this afternoon, in Wiltshire

The Princess appeared solemn as she was seen in attendance

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When the sad news broke, it led many to speculate that McNally, a widower before he met Fergie and who never remarried, could solve the disgraced ex-duchess’s financial woes for good.

After all, they had stayed friends for over four decades, through Fergie’s marriage and divorce from Andrew and her years of profligate spending and debt.

McNally stood by her to the end, even in recent months when the shame of her 20-year friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was made public.

After she and Andrew were kicked out of Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park last February, she fled to an Austrian spa and then to McNally’s home in Switzerland.

Fergie reportedly stayed in his £25million chalet – nicknamed ‘Cocaine Castle’ for the parties he hosted – ‘because he always wanted to help her’.

One associate of Sarah’s told The Mail On Sunday’s Caroline Graham: ‘The first question everyone thought was, “Is Paddy going to bail her out for good?” He was fiercely loyal to her throughout her scandals, and there were many.

‘Even in recent months he’s let her stay in his chalet. If he’s left her life-changing money, wouldn’t that be something?’

Another man, who moved in the same circles as Fergie, added: ‘Paddy was shrewd. No one would be surprised if he’s left her a house and cash, but you can bet it’s in a private trust with a monthly income. He’d never give her a lump sum because he knows how easily she’d blow through it.’

Sarah Ferguson and her ex, Paddy McNally pictured together at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone

Fergie is said to be ‘devastated’ by the death of the man she once described as a ‘father figure’ and ‘mentor’, telling one interviewer: ‘He taught me so much about life. When I wanted advice I turned to him. He seemed to have seen and done everything.’

The last time Ferguson was seen in public was in December 2025, photographed ducking down in a car on her way to the christening of Beatrice’s second daughter, Athena.

Meanwhile, Beatrice was last spotted last month in Athens, Greece, as she joined her husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi for a holiday – amid rumours that their marriage is on the rocks.

No doubt still revelling in their sixth wedding anniversary celebrations, the pair met up with art curator Aliki Lampropoulos.

Though it’s not certain when the image was taken, Aliki, who served as a host committee member alongside the royal at The Charge charity gala in London in 2014, took to Instagram to share a selfie with the couple, who were seen beaming from ear to ear, yesterday.

While the Greek art expert forwent a written caption, she added a bee emoji, perhaps indicating her nickname for Beatrice.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson‘s eldest daughter and her husband have scarcely been spotted out together in recent times, setting rumours of marital struggles alight.

Beatrice tied the knot with property developer Edo, 42, during a ceremony at the Chapel of All Saints on the Windsor estate, after the Covid pandemic forced the couple to cancel a larger wedding.

However, the nuptials were somewhat overshadowed by Beatrice’s disgraced father, Andrew, after the Epstein scandal forced him to step down from public life in November 2019.

Six years later, the couple’s anniversary on July 17 faced a similar eclipse after new revelations about Andrew’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein allegedly forced a ‘distance’ between Edo and Beatrice in recent months.

It comes as, on the latest episode of the Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential, senior Editor-at-Large Richard Kay revealed one of the hideaways where disgraced former Duchess Sarah Ferguson has been spending her summer.

It comes as, on the latest episode of the Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential , senior Editor-at-Large Richard Kay revealed one of the hideaways where disgraced former Duchess Sarah Ferguson has been spending her summer 

Kay was joined by Diary Editor Richard Eden to discuss McNally’s passing – and said he believes Ferguson has been staying at McNally’s ‘luxuriously appointed’ Verbier villa this summer.

‘That makes sense because these places have a completely different vibe during the summer. They’re not packed with Brits out there for skiing,’ he explained.

‘You get a few middle-aged people who like walking in the hills, but it’s much more laid-back and low-key. A perfect place to hide up.’

‘People like Paddy would have had all sorts of trusts and things in place to take care of inheritance tax and other requirements. I have always been led to believe that he wanted to leave a sizeable amount of his money to various charities.

‘I also hear that he took the view that he had provided for her a great deal throughout her life.’

Elsewhere, among recent reports that Fergie may get cash – or a nest egg – from McNally, royal author Phil Dampier recently warned that ‘you can never write her off’.

He believes that she may well soon try and tell ‘her side of the story’ – and ‘try and get back in with the King for the sake of her daughters’.

‘It’s quite extraordinary how Sarah Ferguson bounces back time and time again,’ he told the Daily Mail.

‘She has had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra and it looks like she may pull off her most incredible yet.

‘She seemed down and out after the Jeffrey Epstein scandal which ruined her and ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and she disappeared for months on end until she was tracked down to an Austrian spa resort.

‘But now it seems she spent some time recently living with her first serious boyfriend Paddy McNally, and with his death she stands to solve her financial problems.

‘He was said to be worth £600million and I’m sure he would have left her a substantial sum as they always remained close and were best friends.

‘His wife died some years ago and one of his sons sadly died earlier this year so he only had one son left.

‘So I’m sure he would have made provision for Fergie.’

He added, however, that Paddy knew Sarah ‘spends money like water as soon as she gets it’ – and it’s likely he would ‘be more likely to give her an annual regular allowance rather than a lump sum, as she would fritter it away’.

‘That makes sense to me as she is a notorious spendthrift,’ Phil continued. ‘Indeed, it was her need for money which led into the orbit of Epstein in the first place and led to a trail of destruction for the former Duke and Duchess of York.

‘My first assignment as a royal journalist was exactly forty years ago in 1986 when I covered her wedding to Prince Andrew.

‘So it’s unbelievable to have seen how things have turned out.

‘She had only just split up with McNally a year or two earlier and very much married Andrew on the rebound, as he did from his relationship with the American actress Koo Stark.

‘But Fergie always carried a torch for Paddy and remained in touch.

‘She would always go back to him or stay with him in times of trouble and he always baled her out.

‘So what now?’

Phil believes Sarah’s future may find her back in the UK soon. 

‘Up until this turn of events I would have said Fergie might have moved abroad, possibly to Portugal where her daughter Eugenie lives much of the time, or Australia, where her sister lives,’ he explained.

But now I think it’s likely she will stay in the UK and there have been reports she is house hunting in the Windsor area.

‘She has had a lot of time to think in the months she has been keeping a low profile and she may have plans already to launch a new business, re-invent herself yet again as a media personality, and she will definitely want at some stage to try and tell her side of the story.

‘She will want to salvage her reputation and portray herself as a victim of Epstein’s lies and circumstances.

‘Whether that is possible is another matter, but with financial security it will enable her to take her time and hire some good PR people.

‘I think it’s less likely she will write yet another autobiography and spill the beans on the royals.

‘And she will want to try and get back in with the King for the sake of her daughters, or at least not upset Charles.

‘Fergie still has her fans, and you can never write her off.’