Author: Deborah Smith

Sarah Ferguson organized a trip to visit convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein in the United States just 48 hours after his release from jail, bringing her daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie with her, newly released documents have revealed. Epstein’s assistant Lesley Groff sent an email on July 24, 2009 requesting approval to purchase flights for the Duchess of York and her two daughters from Heathrow to Miami and from New York back to London. The correspondence, released in the Epstein Files, detailed travel costs totalling nearly $15,000. According to the email, Fergie would fly business class at a cost of…

Medical professionals have secured authority to launch further industrial action over the coming half-year after an overwhelming ballot result, though union leadership has indicated strikes may not be necessary if negotiations progress. British Medical Association members working as resident doctors in England delivered a 93 per cent vote in favour of continued industrial action, with 53 per cent of eligible medics participating in the ballot. Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, emphasised that the mandate does not automatically translate to walkouts. He stated the government has demonstrated an improved approach in recent weeks compared to what…

The mayor of Greater Manchester has launched a stinging attack on Westminster’s political culture, accusing unnamed Labour advisers of dishonesty following his rejection as a parliamentary candidate. Andy Burnham used a BBC Radio Manchester phone-in to denounce what he described as a long-standing practice where individuals “think they can just lie” when briefing journalists. The comments came after Labour blocked his application to stand in the Gorton and Denton byelection. Speaking publicly about the matter for the first time in detail, Burnham drew parallels with treatment of other politicians, referencing similar incidents involving Health Secretary Wes Streeting. He traced the…

The North East of England recorded the steepest regional increase in tuberculosis notifications during 2025, with health officials reporting 42 additional cases representing a 34.1% rise compared to the previous year. The surge contrasts sharply with trends elsewhere in the country, according to provisional data released by the UK Health Security Agency. The West Midlands experienced the largest decline, with 74 fewer notifications marking a 10.4% decrease, whilst five of England’s nine UKHSA regions maintained stable case numbers. Across England, tuberculosis notifications remained broadly steady throughout 2025, with 5,424 people reported compared to 5,487 in 2024. This represents a marginal…

Storm Chandra has forced the closure of facilities at Sandringham Estate whilst Prince Andrew prepares to relocate to a property situated on a designated flood plain just metres away. The King’s Norfolk estate shut its Children’s Play Area on Tuesday as dangerous wind conditions swept across the region. Officials posted a notice advising visitors to exercise extra care when exploring the grounds, though the wider estate remained open to the public. The closure comes as Andrew faces imminent relocation to Marsh Farm, a property located on flood-prone land near the Sandringham estate. His departure from Royal Lodge is expected shortly.…

Unsupervised sunbed sessions will be banned and mandatory ID checks introduced under new Government proposals after investigations revealed teenagers as young as 14 are routinely accessing tanning salons despite existing laws prohibiting under-18s from using the equipment. The measures form part of the forthcoming National Cancer Plan and aim to crack down on rogue operators who continue to sell sunbed sessions to children, putting them at significantly increased risk of developing skin cancer. Under the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010, it is already illegal for under-18s to use commercial sunbeds, but evidence suggests the law is being widely flouted. Polling from…

Princess Eugenie has severed contact with her father so completely that insiders are comparing the estrangement to one of the most notorious family rifts in British celebrity history. A source close to the princess told The Mail on Sunday there was “no contact at all, nothing” between Eugenie and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, likening the situation to Brooklyn Beckham’s reported falling out with his parents. The younger York sister has made no attempt to maintain a relationship with her father following revelations about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Her elder sister Princess Beatrice has taken a markedly different approach.…

Prince William has warned Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor he will not shield him from further fallout if additional allegations surface following disturbing claims made to the FBI by a British accuser. A source told Heat World that the heir believes the institution has “already paid more than enough” for Andrew’s mistakes and is no longer prepared to absorb the damage. The warning follows a victim statement given to US federal investigators alleging abuse parties linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. According to News Nation, the accuser claims they were drugged and taken to paedophile ring gatherings…

The United Kingdom has suffered the steepest year-on-year fall of any nation in global passport rankings, losing visa-free access to eight destinations in just 12 months as its travel clout continues to weaken. Britain now sits at number seven on the Henley Passport Index with access to 182 countries — trailing behind 26 nations including Singapore, Japan, South Korea and a host of European neighbours. The United States fared little better, dropping visa-free access to seven destinations over the same period. America has slipped to number 10, its lowest position in two decades, with 37 countries now outranking it. Singapore…

The first dumping of the current Love Island series produced an unprecedented moment as Millie Court chose to eliminate her own partner Charlie Frederick from the villa. Millie had been voted the public’s favourite girl, giving her the power to decide which of the three at-risk boys would leave. Sean Stone and Konnor Edwuzi were also vulnerable following the vote, but it was Charlie who received the news. The 29-year-old told the personal trainer she was “going with her heart” as she delivered the shock decision. Host Maya Jama noted during the subsequent exit interview that this marked the first…