London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 26, 2026

Prince Andrew's 'extraordinary' TV interview

Prince Andrew's BBC interview about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein leads many front pages.Most of the front pages are filled with pictures of Prince Andrew being interrogated by Emily Maitlis about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for this evening's BBC Newsnight special.

"TV grilling for prince at palace" is the headline in the Daily Express, while the Daily Mail says he was "machine-gunned" with questions about everything from his family to his sex life in "excruciating detail".

The Daily Mirror says Buckingham Palace is braced "for a potential backlash" over the interview, after months of issuing strong denials over the scandal involving the Duke of York's links to the disgraced financier, Jeffrey Epstein, who was found dead in prison in August while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Royal sources tell the Daily Telegraph that Prince Andrew decided to grant the BBC access in the hope it might "draw a line" under the affair before his 60th birthday next year.

The paper adds that he reportedly overruled aides who thought it was a bad idea to go in front of the cameras.

The i newspaper describes it as a huge but necessary gamble amid despair among the duke's closest supporters that his response to the allegations has been "inept".

The motives behind Prince Andrew's decision to speak to the BBC are explored in the inside pages.

"This is more than just an air-clearing exercise," writes Richard Kay in the Daily Mail. "It is the act of a gambler - and the stakes could not be higher".


More adults living with parents

Official figures featured in the Guardian show that record numbers of young adults in the UK are living with their parents.

According to the Office for National Statistics, 3.5 million 20 to 34-year-olds are still living at home - about one million more than 20 years ago.

Over the same period, average house prices have nearly tripled from £97,000 to £288,000.

Campaign group Generation Rent tells the paper that young people are facing an "impossible choice: either stay in your childhood bedroom in the hope you can save a deposit - or rent and face a struggle to put money aside".

The Financial Times reports that the former head of the advertising giant, WPP - Sir Martin Sorrell - was allegedly involved in an altercation with a former protege at a conference in Lisbon last week.

The paper claims that Sir Martin slapped the face of Jim Prior, who had made unflattering comments about his new business venture in the Press last year.

In text messages sent to an FT reporter, Sir Martin insists that he did "not slap" Mr Prior as suggested - describing the exchange as "very brief, with no injuries or complaints on either side".

Mr Prior confirmed the two men had met - but would not comment further. WPP said it had spoken to Sir Martin about the alleged incident.

According to the Guardian, the price of crisps and chips could rise sharply in the new year as the flooding seen in the north of England over the past week hits the supply of winter vegetables such as potatoes.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board says there are "increasing reports of crops being abandoned" in areas such as South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where farmers have been counting the cost of the deluge.

The British Growers Association says the brassica harvest has also been badly affected - with sodden ground making it difficult to get cauliflowers and cabbages off the fields.

The Times reports that the de facto chairman of the People's Vote campaign for another EU referendum has resigned, after weeks of fierce internal wrangling about its direction.

The millionaire businessman, Roland Rudd launched what was described as a boardroom "coup" last month, ousting two senior staff - James McGrory and Tom Baldwin - in a move that prompted mass staff walkouts.

One source tells the paper that Mr Rudd's departure may just be "window dressing" and workers would not return until a deal aimed at getting the campaign "back on track" had been signed off.

The group isn't expected to appoint a new chairman until after the general election.


Greggs boss 'goes vegan'

Several papers including the Daily Mirror report that the chief executive of Greggs the bakers - famous for its sausage rolls - is going vegan.

Roger Whiteside says he was inspired to make the change after watching a documentary on Netflix but was doing so for health rather than environmental reasons.

Greggs launched a vegan version of its sausage roll - to mixed reviews - at the start of the year.

Finally, several papers including the Sun and the Times says a rail passenger with a standard season ticket has been fined for having one foot in a first class carriage.

Fellow commuters took to social media to defend the woman, who was stopped by an inspector on a packed train travelling from London to Clacton in Essex on Wednesday.

The operator, Greater Anglia, said the woman had been informed there was more space available further down the train - and that first class carriages are for the use of first class ticket holders only.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Robert Jenrick Defends £5 Million Donation to Nigel Farage Amid Political Scrutiny
Plymouth Museum The Box Wins 2026 Art Fund Museum of the Year Award
UK Government Faces Backlash Over Plans to Use Former Military Sites for Asylum Accommodation
Labour Party Faces Pressure Over Cabinet Stability as Senior Figures Clash on Policy Direction
Heathrow Airport Forecasts Passenger Decline in 2026 as Costs and Climate Disruption Mount
UK Energy Regulator Approves Expansion of Long-Duration Storage to Boost Power System Resilience
Crown Estate Reports Third Consecutive Year of £1 Billion Profit as Debate Over Royal Finances Intensifies
Teenager Charged With Murder in Wales Following Death of 14-Year-Old Boy
Nottingham University Hospitals Maternity Failures Trigger Calls for Public Inquiry Into Patient Safety
EasyJet Rejects £4.9 Billion Takeover Offer From Castlelake but Keeps Door Open for Further Talks
Record Heatwave Triggers UK Transport and Infrastructure Strain as Heathrow Revises Passenger Forecast Downward
Ofgem Approves Sixteen Long-Duration Energy Storage Projects to Strengthen UK Grid Stability
Labour Government Faces Internal Tensions Over Cabinet Decisions and Net Zero Policy Direction
British Food and Drink Exports Fall to Decade Low Amid Trade Friction and US Tariffs
Great Britain Grid Operator Spends £10 Million to Stabilize Electricity Supply During Heatwave Demand Surge
UK Parliament Committee Calls for Urgent National Adaptation Strategy as Extreme Heat Strains Public Infrastructure
Record-Breaking Heatwave Pushes England’s National Health Service to Critical Incident Status as Hospitals Struggle With Surge in Emergencies
UK Government Launches Review of Voluntary National Insurance Contributions System
UK Planning Inspectorate Reports Key Infrastructure and Planning Milestones in Annual Review
UK Government Reviews Travel Expense Reimbursement Rates for Employers and Employees
Civil Nuclear Constabulary Launches National Digital Memorial for Officers Killed in Service
UK and US Expand Collaboration on Nuclear Fusion Research and Workforce Exchange
Environment Agency Secures £275,000 Enforcement Deal with Anglian Water Over Permit Breaches
Independent Inspector Flags Ongoing Failures in UK Home Office Border Case Management
UK Government Considers Zero VAT Rate on Land for Social Housing Development
Bank of England Reports Sharp Drop in Emissions and Warns on Climate-Driven Financial Risk
Consumer Confidence in the UK Falls at Fastest Quarterly Rate Since 2022
UK Borrowing Costs Rise Sharply on Gilt Markets Amid Fiscal and Political Concerns
UK Government Plans Legislation to Bring British Steel into Public Ownership
UK Government Secures £210 Million Nuclear Fuel Deal to Support Ukraine Energy Security
London Ambulance Service Reports Record Emergency Call Volume Amid Severe Heatwave
United Kingdom Faces Record June Heatwave as Temperatures Hit 36.7°C in Somerset
UK Financial Services Reform Debate Intensifies Over Ministerial Regulatory Powers
UK Energy Price Cap Rise Expected to Keep Inflation Above Target Through 2026
UK Biohacking and AI Wellness Trends Drive Surge in Personal Health Monitoring
UK Social Care Sector Sees Workforce Shift as Overseas Recruitment Masks Domestic Labour Decline
Nuffield Trust Warns UK Health Budgets Remain Vulnerable Despite Record Spending Levels
UK Coal Pension Surplus Debate Returns to Parliament as Reform UK MP Seeks Clarity on Distribution
UK MPs Consider E-Petition Calling for NHS Newborn Screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
UK Parliament Debates E-Petition Calling for Inquiry Into Pro-Israel Influence in Politics
UK Economy Grew 0.6 Percent in Q1 2026 but Business Sentiment Weakens Over Geopolitical Risks
UK Financial Services Bill Enters Lords Committee Stage With Expanded Ministerial Powers
UK Armed Forces Bill Advances With Plans for Defence Housing Service and Drone Defence Measures
UK Treasury Proposes Higher Electricity Generator Levy and Updated Mileage Allowance Rules
UK Parliament Debates Health Bill Amid Persistent GP Access and Patient Satisfaction Concerns
UK Financial Sanctions Regulator Signals Faster, Intelligence-Led Enforcement Strategy
British Chambers of Commerce Warns Business Confidence Crisis Is Dampening UK Investment
UK Parliament Debates Carbon Budget Order as Pressure Mounts on Net Zero Delivery
UK Energy Price Volatility Reinforces Pressure for Faster Electrification of Economy
UK Defence and Aerospace Strategy Gains Momentum as Keir Starmer Pushes Industrial Cooperation in Berlin
×