Author: Tara Whitman

Technical failures plaguing Europe’s new biometric border controls have left thousands of travellers facing marathon waits at major airports despite a six-month implementation period, with industry experts warning the Entry/Exit System remains fundamentally “not ready” as Easter holiday chaos unfolds. Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of travel business network The Advantage Travel, told BBC Breakfast this morning the digital border rollout across 29 European countries has been “blighted by problems” since autumn’s unveiling, with “multiple IT failures” forcing some airports to completely disable kiosks after passengers waited “hours and hours.” Lisbon Airport descended into “complete chaos” today according to former UK…

Westminster City Council has overruled objections from affluent Mayfair and St James’s residents to approve plans for a national Queen Elizabeth II memorial in St James’s Park, dismissing concerns about crime, antisocial behaviour and heritage damage raised by millionaire homeowners. The Labour-run authority ruled on Tuesday evening that potential negative impacts would be “fully outweighed by the substantial public benefits” of the tribute, which encompasses an equestrian statue, bridge, golden sculpture and Prince Philip memorial. Two residents’ associations—Queen Anne’s Gate Residents’ Association and The Residents’ Society of Mayfair & St James’s—had mounted unsuccessful campaigns against the proposals, arguing the installations…

An accommodation row at Sandringham has seen Prince Edward forced to confront his elder brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor over the disgraced royal’s reluctance to vacate temporary lodgings, sources have claimed. The Duke of Edinburgh, 62, and his wife Sophie were compelled to stay in the main Sandringham house over Easter after discovering Andrew, 66, occupying Wood Farm—the Norfolk property Edward had booked for the break—despite his permanent residence at neighbouring Marsh Farm nearing completion. A source told the Sun that Edward “has had a quiet word with his brother” regarding the delay, adding: “Andrew has been dragging his heels. He could…

Britain’s health service faces imminent depletion of essential medical equipment within days as the Iran conflict wreaks havoc on global supply chains, the NHS chief executive has warned. Sir Jim Mackey disclosed he is “really worried” about potential shortages of fundamental supplies including syringes, masks and surgical instruments, with deliveries directly compromised by Tehran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and broader international shipping disruption. The NHS England head told LBC Radio that virtually every category of medical provision faces risk, stating: “Honestly, everything. Everything is at risk.” Sir Jim revealed stockpile durations vary dramatically depending on product type, with…

Buckingham Palace has confirmed King Charles and Queen Camilla will undertake a State Visit to the United States in late April following President Donald Trump’s invitation to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. The formal announcement issued on Monday morning stated the visit would proceed “on advice of His Majesty’s Government” despite weeks of political pressure to cancel the trip over Mr Trump’s military campaign against Iran. “Their Majesties’ programme will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, marking the 250th anniversary of American Independence,” the Palace confirmed. The…

Sarah Ferguson’s chronic debt problems became a source of crude humour amongst Jeffrey Epstein’s circle, with the convicted paedophile receiving a mocking email suggesting Prince Andrew would “sell his daughters” to see his ex-wife financially solvent. Documents released from the Epstein Files reveal an unnamed associate sent the disgraced financier a purported newspaper headline reading “Andrew sold daughters to pay Fergie debts” in March 2011, describing it as so amusing they “choked and shot snot out of my nose” whilst laughing. The friend signed off the message “Best one yet!!!”, suggesting stories about the Duke and Duchess of York’s financial…

Sarah Ferguson has had her Freedom of the City of York removed by local councillors following a vote on Thursday evening, as scrutiny of her association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continues to grow. Members of York council voted to withdraw the ceremonial honour from the former Duchess of York, who is mentioned on multiple occasions in files related to Epstein released by the US Department of Justice. Being named in those files does not imply wrongdoing. Epstein, who died in a New York prison in 2019, had connections to a number of high-profile figures whose associations with him…

Matt Brittin, the former president of Google’s European, Middle East and Africa operations, has been appointed as the BBC’s 18th Director-General, taking up the role on 18 May following an interim period under Rhodri Talfan Davies from 2 April. The 57-year-old Cambridge alumnus spent nearly two decades at Google after beginning his career as a McKinsey consultant, rising to lead the technology giant’s operations across three continents before announcing his departure last year. He will receive a salary of £565,000 in the role and has said he will also be appointing a Deputy Director-General. Brittin replaces Tim Davie, who announced…

Jack Kay, the Newcastle-born internet sensation known as the Ibiza Final Boss, was reportedly targeted by four masked men carrying weapons at a pub in Ryton, Tyne and Wear, last Friday evening, with Northumbria Police now appealing for witnesses. The 26-year-old former construction worker, who shot to global fame after being filmed dancing at Wayne Lineker’s O Beach Club in Ibiza last August, was inside The Runhead bar and grill on Holborn Lane when the incident unfolded at around 5.45pm. According to an eyewitness, four masked individuals entered the premises armed with weapons, grabbed Kay and threw him across the…

A bishop’s public appeal to King Charles to stand up for Britain’s Christian identity has attracted more than two million views on X and gathered over 3,500 signatures of support, after the letter was posted on social media and quickly spread across the platform. Bishop Ceirion H Dewar FSHC addressed the open letter directly to the monarch, urging him to use the authority of the Crown to defend what the bishop described as a faith that had shaped the foundations of the nation. The post received 56,000 likes and prompted widespread discussion online within days of being published. The letter…