London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 02, 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
Luxury bags take over the World Cup: style, status symbol, or just showing off?
UK Parliamentary Committee Launches Inquiry Into Falling Primary School Rolls and Public Service Impact
UK House of Lords Debates Electoral Commission Powers and Political Finance Reform
UK Parliament Considers Expanding Carbon Rules to International Aviation and Shipping Emissions
UK Traffic Commissioner Revokes Hampshire Haulage Operator Licence Over Regulatory Failures
UK Parliament Examines Risks in Public Contracts Awarded to Technology Firm Palantir
UK Competition Watchdog Moves Toward More Flexible Merger Rules to Support Efficiency and Growth
UK Government Seeks Approval for £1.15 Trillion Public Spending Plan Amid Scrutiny Over Department Budgets
UK Parliament Debates Sweeping National Security and Steel Industry Nationalisation Bills
UK Government Issues Formal Apology for Historic Forced Adoption Practices and Announces £4 Million Support Scheme
UK DEFENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY TILTS TOWARD SOVEREIGN CAPABILITY AND INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT
UK ECONOMIC POLICY OUTLOOK SHAPED BY LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AND FISCAL SIGNALS
STERLING STRENGTHENS AMID SHIFTING MONETARY OUTLOOK AND GLOBAL LABOUR MARKET SIGNALS
UK HPV VACCINATION PROGRAM NEARLY ELIMINATES CERVICAL CANCER DEATH RISK IN YOUNG WOMEN
UK EXPANDS PRISON SAFETY REVIEW AS GOVERNMENT SEEKS WIDER SYSTEM REFORM
UK DRIVES DIGITAL ASSETS STRATEGY WITH NEW STABLECOIN REGULATORY MODEL
UK TO EXPAND AI INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH NEW EUROPEAN TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP
UK LAUNCHES £15 BILLION DEFENCE TECH SHIFT TOWARD ADVANCED MILITARY SYSTEMS
CIVIL SERVICE FACES SHIFT IN POWER STRUCTURE AS REGIONAL GOVERNANCE PLANS EXPAND
WHITEHALL CONSIDERS MAJOR DECENTRALISATION PLAN WITH SECOND GOVERNMENT HUB IN MANCHESTER
UK TARGETS SERVICES EXPORT GROWTH IN TRADE TALKS WITH CHINA AMID GEOPOLITICAL TENSIONS
POLICE WATCHDOG PROBES OFFICERS OVER HANDCUFFING OF DYING TEENAGER IN HAMPSHIRE CASE
UK REGULATORS UNVEIL DUAL OVERSIGHT FRAMEWORK FOR STABLECOINS AND DIGITAL ASSETS
KEIR STARMER ANNOUNCES £15 BILLION DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY BOOST IN FINAL MAJOR POLICY MOVE
ANDY BURNHAM SIGNALS STRICT FISCAL RULES AS LABOUR LEADERSHIP RACE SHAPES MARKET OUTLOOK
POUND STERLING HITS ONE-YEAR HIGH AS BANK OF ENGLAND SIGNALS NO IMMINENT RATE CUTS
UK Government Confirms Rejected Asylum Seekers to Remain Amid Enforcement Challenges
UK-China Economic Talks Focus on Services Trade and High-Value Sectors
Buckingham Palace Revamp Plans Unveiled to Modernise Royal and Public Facilities
Two Dead After Light Aircraft Crash in Essex Field, Investigation Underway
Princess Diana Marked at 65 With UK Tributes Reflecting on Her Public Legacy
England Teachers Face New Pay Cap Rules for Academy School Leaders Under Education Reform
Dublin Security Alert Escalates After Stabbing and Reports of Transport Disruption
UK Government Faces Scrutiny Over £10,000 Asylum Living Cost Contribution Requirement
England Prepares World Cup Knockout Match Against Democratic Republic of Congo
Northern Rail Project Warned of HS2-Style Cost Risks by UK Parliamentary Committee
UK Tightens Asylum Rules as Most Rejected Applicants Expected to Remain in Country
UK Heat Health Alert Issued as Temperatures Expected to Exceed 30°C Across England
Halifax Brand to Disappear From UK High Streets in Lloyds Banking Group Restructuring
England Teachers Receive 6.6 Percent Pay Rise Over Two Years as Schools Warn of Budget Strain
UK Defence Spending Plan Sparks Budget Clash as Regional Infrastructure Projects Face Pressure
Inquest Continues in Northern Ireland into Death of Noah Donohoe in Belfast
UK Travel Industry Calls for Suspension of New EU Border System During Peak Holiday Season
Telegraph Media Group Acquired by German Media Firm in £575 Million Deal Completion
House of Commons Warns Northern Rail Upgrade Risks Repeating High-Speed 2 Cost Overruns
UK Transport Unions Warn of Summer Strike Action Over Pay Disputes
UK Health Secretary Calls Maternity Care Review a “Watershed Moment” for NHS Reform
Nigel Farage Faces Questions Over £270,000 Payment Linked to Gold Marketing Firm
Labour Government Faces Internal Division Over North Sea Oil and Gas Policy Direction
National Screening Committee Invites New Proposals for UK Health Screening Programmes
×