Saturday’s national newspapers are dominated by the continuing controversy surrounding Earl Spencer’s revelations about his brother-in-law, King Charles III, as well as significant developments in global security and domestic policy.
The Daily Mail leads with Earl Spencer’s assertion that he is “telling the truth” regarding a phone conversation he had with the then-Prince Charles following the death of Princess Diana. In excerpts from his new book, the earl claims the monarch told him, “we’ll forget her soon enough.” Buckingham Palace has responded by suggesting that “fraternal grief could colour memory,” but the Mail reports that Earl Spencer remained defiant in his interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.
Similarly, the Daily Star featured a one-word headline: “Monstrous,” referring to Earl Spencer’s characterization of the King’s remarks. Meanwhile, The Sun has accused the earl of hypocrisy, noting that in a 1998 interview he stated he would “never profit from my sister’s life,” yet is now reportedly making a fortune from her legacy.
The Daily Express highlights allegations from author Tom Bower, who describes an alleged alliance between Earl Spencer and the Duke of Sussex intended to “damage” King Charles. The Times also features Earl Spencer on its front page, noting the absence of a denial from the King, while separately reporting that the Treasury is considering lowering the “mansion tax” threshold to £1.5m ahead of next month’s Budget. If implemented by Chancellor John Healey, the change would subject thousands of additional properties to the tax.
In international news, the Daily Telegraph reports that Western intelligence officials believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing for a “stealth mobilization” over the coming weekend, which could involve drafting thousands of Russians to ramp up the war effort.
Domestic security concerns are also in focus. The i Paper claims the British Army secretly relaxed security checks for two years, allowing far-right extremists who supported Russia to enlist. The Guardian reveals an investigation showing that sensitive police data is being stored on a “vulnerable” cloud platform. The paper also notes that Nigella Lawson, the new presenter of The Great British Bake Off, describes eating as her “superpower.”
On the economic front, the Financial Times features Fred Done, the founder of Betfred and described as Britain’s biggest taxpayer, who has criticized high taxes in the UK. At 83, Done states he is too old to relocate for tax purposes, unlike some other wealthy individuals. Finally, the Daily Mirror publishes a tribute from Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood to the late politician Ann Widdecombe, describing her as an “amazing human being” and revealing he spoke to her just six days before her death.
Leave a Reply