Author: Tara Whitman

King Charles has announced the government’s intention to introduce a national digital ID scheme as part of a sweeping legislative programme unveiled at today’s State Opening of Parliament — a move that will allow citizens to interact with public services through a single digital profile, but which has already drawn scepticism from experts and civil liberties groups. King Charles set out the government’s legislative plans for the second session of parliament today, 13 May, including the introduction of digital IDs, framed as a measure to modernise how citizens interact with public services under a proposed Digital Access to Services Bill.…

Prince Andrew is pushing for his taxpayer-funded security to be reinstated after a balaclava-clad man armed with a crowbar confronted him while he was walking his dogs near his home on the Sandringham estate, leaving the former Duke of York shaken. The incident took place in the village of Wolferton on the King’s Norfolk estate shortly after 7.30pm on Wednesday evening, close to Andrew’s residence at Marsh Farm. Police were called to reports of a man behaving in an “intimidating manner” in the village. Andrew was unhurt but visibly shaken by the encounter, according to sources. Norfolk Constabulary confirmed that…

A man has been charged with harassment after allegedly approaching and shouting at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor during a dog walk near his home on the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, leaving the former royal visibly shaken by the incident. Alex Jenkinson, 39, of Stowmarket, Suffolk, has been charged with two counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to harass someone or cause alarm or distress, as well as failing to provide a specimen of blood in custody. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Friday. According to Norfolk Constabulary,…

Footage showing women being chased, stripped and sexually assaulted by groups of men during an annual festival in southern Nigeria has sparked widespread international condemnation, prompted a police investigation and led to multiple arrests. The videos, recorded during the Alue-Do fertility festival in Ozoro, Delta State, have been viewed millions of times across Facebook, Instagram and X, with many viewers expressing shock at the scale and openness of the violence. Multiple clips show women being pursued through crowded streets in broad daylight before being surrounded by groups of men who tear at their clothing while bystanders film the scenes. Several…

Harrowing footage from Odessa has shown women physically fighting with Ukrainian military recruitment officers as their husbands and partners were forced onto a van during a street conscription operation, in scenes that have gone viral and reignited fierce debate about the human cost of Ukraine’s mobilisation drive. The approximately 38-second clip, posted on 2 May , shows uniformed Territorial Recruitment Centre officers detaining and escorting a group of civilian men toward a white-and-teal minibus parked on a city street. Several women can be seen intervening aggressively — arguing face-to-face with officers, grabbing at them and throwing themselves in front of…

Princess Charlotte has celebrated her 11th birthday with a new photograph and video released by Kensington Palace, showing the young royal enjoying the Easter break in Cornwall with her family in a rare and warm glimpse behind the scenes of royal family life. The birthday portrait, taken by photographer Matt Porteous during the family’s Cornish holiday, shows Charlotte smiling in a sunny field wearing a black and red striped jumper with blue jeans. A video posted hours later captured a series of candid moments from the same trip — Charlotte bowling a cricket ball, patting the family’s two spaniels Orla…

The Prince and Princess of Wales have marked their crystal wedding anniversary with a sun-drenched family portrait photographed by Matt Porteous during the family’s Easter break in Cornwall, sharing the image on social media alongside a simple message: “Celebrating 15 years of marriage.” The candid photograph shows William and Catherine relaxing on the grass alongside their three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — the whole family at ease in a moment of rare public informality. It is an image that speaks quietly but powerfully to how far the couple have come since they exchanged vows at…

A video has emerged showing Prince Harry playfully telling his wife to calm down as she warmly embraced a lifeguard in a Bondi swimming vest during the couple’s visit to meet survivors of the Sydney terror attack, drawing laughter from the gathered crowd. The footage, captioned “the crowds could not get enough Harry and Meghan,” captures the lighthearted moment on the final day of the Sussexes’ four-day tour of Australia last week. After Harry had himself shared a hug with a well-wisher, Meghan threw her arms around a man wearing a Bondi vest and swimming cap as she said her…

Millions of London commuters are facing significant disruption across the capital’s Underground network after the RMT union confirmed a series of 12 strike days spread across April, May and June, with the first walkout set to begin this Tuesday. The dispute centres on working conditions that emerged following the introduction of a compressed four-day working week for Tube drivers. Around 1,800 RMT members are involved in the action, with union representatives citing concerns over shift lengths, fatigue risks, working time arrangements, and the processes by which staff are transferred and allocated across the network. The union argues that the current…

Sarah Ferguson has declined an approach from BBC Newsnight for an interview, with advisers citing the programme’s role in her ex-husband’s spectacular public relations collapse as sufficient reason to avoid similar exposure during her current period of exile. The 66-year-old, who has been residing at an exclusive Austrian health resort since departing Royal Lodge in February, has rejected multiple media requests as she maintains silence following the loss of her royal title, privileges and position alongside Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Sources confirmed Newsnight featured amongst “a lot of offers” the former Duchess has turned down whilst “spending her time reflecting” with “no…