Met Office warns of ‘blizzard conditions’ as more snow to fall

Britons are preparing to face more snow on Thursday as an amber weather warning comes into force for parts of the country.

The Met Office has warned that rural communities could be cut off as gusty winds hit, creating “occasional blizzard conditions”, with the possibility of lightning a further hazard.

Up to 25cm of snow is expected to settle on high ground, particularly across the North York Moors as the forecaster warned some could face significant travel disruption and potential power cuts.

A number of warnings have been issued for snow and ice across the UK for Thursday after sleet and snow showers continued to batter UK coastal areas overnight, with the cold weather expected to continue until the weekend.

Parts of Yorkshire including York and Scarborough are subject to an amber weather warning from 5am to 9pm on Thursday. Multiple Met Office yellow warnings for ice and snow have also been issued for the coming days, covering Northern Ireland, parts of Wales, northern and south-westerly parts of England and much of Scotland.

Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst: “Thursday will be a sunny day for most, but there will be further sleet and snow showers for coastal stretches which will filter a little inland too. Heavy across north-east England in particular.

“The highest snowfall totals from Wednesday night through Thursday will likely be across the Sperrins, North Yorkshire Moors, Northwest Highlands, Grampians and upland Pembrokeshire.”

Cold Arctic air continues to take hold across the country, with the mercury overnight dropping to as low as -6C at Spadeadam in Cumbria.

But the coldest temperatures could still be ahead, the Met Office warned, with potential for lows of -12C in areas of lying snow in Scotland on Friday.

The BBC reports that in addition to the snowfall, some areas could see “thundersnow”, where thunderstorms form in wintry weather.

Areas including London, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Essex, Shropshire and Northumberland saw snow on Wednesday, with Met Office weather stations in Lake Vyrnwy in Powys, Wales, recording 7cm of lying snow at 8am.

Motorists faced tricky conditions across the North East on Wednesday night, with North Yorkshire Police urging drivers to avoid the A171 near Whitby where a number of vehicles became stuck because of the snow.

Officers also closed the A169 between Whitby and Pickering amid heavy snow.

Shaun Jones, AA Expert Patrol, said: “When snow and ice hit, the roads can quickly become treacherous. Stopping distances can increase tenfold on icy surfaces, so slowing down and leaving plenty of space is absolutely vital.

“Drivers should plan ahead, stick to main routes and allow extra time for their journey.”

Wintry showers will hit East Anglia, western Wales and Cornwall overnight but persisting snow in the North East could cause “substantial disruption”, the Met Office said.

National Rail urged rail commuters to check their journeys before travelling during the snowy and icy weather.

It said speed restrictions may be in place for trains to run safely, which could result in cancellations, alterations and delays to services.

Temperatures will begin to rise closer to averages for this time of year at the weekend when wetter and windier weather arrives, but it will not be as “exceptionally mild” as it was earlier in November, the forecaster said.

Are these the five women who could bring down Donald Trump?

Quiet, piggy.” It’s the sort of crass insult that you might hear yelled in the school playground – and certainly not what you’d expect a president to hiss at a journalist (accompanied with a finger point, no less) during a press call on Air Force One. But this disturbing incident, which saw Donald Trump berate Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey, is just the latest grim example of the POTUS’s well-documented woman problem.

From that Access Hollywood tape, when a pre-politics Trump notoriously alluded to “grabbing” women “by the pussy”, to his slights on “nasty woman” Hillary Clinton, to calling actor Stormy Daniels “horseface”, his history of insulting women is long and depressing. Even when he’s not going out of his way to offend, his tone can seem, well, more than a little problematic. “I just like to watch her talk,” he said in one recent press conference encounter with another female journalist, before condescendingly telling her she’d done a “good job” and addressing her as “darling”. His administration’s track record on women’s rights (or the rolling back of said rights) speaks volumes on this count, too.

How ironic, then, that it has been women who have forced his hand in what is arguably the biggest threat to his leadership so far. Earlier this month, Trump was forced to make a major U-turn when he called for Republican members of Congress to vote for the release of the Epstein files, a collection of documents relating to the sex trafficking charges against Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial. Previously, the president had been reluctant to do so, and even claimed that such demands were a “Democrat hoax” to “deflect” attention away from his MAGA grand plans.

Trump has so far managed to shake off scandal after scandal, but the Epstein saga appears to have seriously thrown him off kilter. The president has been photographed at parties with Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, but has always maintained that he broke off any contact with the sex offender years before any convictions, and that he was not aware of Epstein’s wrongdoing. But for Trump’s MAGA faithful, his handling of this grim debacle, with all its false starts, about turns and prevarication, has fallen short. The president has always presented himself as a crusader against corrupt elites, his devotees believe. So why hasn’t he acted sooner to expose them?

On Tuesday, Republicans near-unanimously voted to release the files; the Senate then agreed to pass the bill. This comes after months of campaigning spearheaded by women, many of whom are unlikely political bedfellows united by a desire for the truth to come out.

Will we one day look back at them as the catalysts of Trump’s downfall? Whether the president can secure the trust of his diehard fans once again remains to be seen. In the meantime, though, these are some of the women who have played a key role in the Epstein files saga so far.

For years, Georgia congresswoman Greene, 51, has been one of Trump’s most loyal supporters with a reputation as a true MAGA firebrand. She’s also previously embraced conspiracy theories touching on everything from Covid to QAnon to school shootings, and has been accused of racist rhetoric. But in recent months, she has undergone something of a political pivot, critiquing Trump’s foreign policy and breaking with her party to become the first Republican member of Congress to describe the crisis in Gaza as a “genocide”.

But perhaps her biggest schism with the president has been over Epstein. She was one of just four Republicans (alongside fellow MAGA stalwarts Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace, and Kentucky representative Thomas Massie) to sign the petition calling for the release of the files. Her very public stance on this issue has prompted Trump to lash out in characteristically splenetic fashion, branding her “Marjorie ‘Traitor’ Greene” and, somewhat improbably, accusing her of becoming “Far Left”.

Greene and her family have since been the subject of threats, she has claimed. “As a woman, I take threats from men seriously,” she said. “I now have a small understanding of the fear and pressure the women, who are victims of Jeffrey Epstein and his cabal, must feel.” She’s even had something of a mea culpa moment, “humbly” apologizing “for taking part in the toxic politics” after a CNN interviewer pointed out that she’d never previously spoken out about the potential impact of Trump’s verbal attacks.

All the way back in 1996, 16-year-old Annie Farmer and her older sister Maria, then 25, made the first known reports to the FBI and NYPD about Epstein’s abuse. It would take almost a decade for investigators to actually start probing the murky world of the financier and his associates. Despite this, the Farmer sisters have spent almost three decades fighting for their stories to be heard, and to achieve some semblance of justice.

In 2019, Annie spoke at a bail hearing for Epstein, and two years later, she was one of four women who testified against his associate, Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. She was the only accuser to waive her anonymity, with the other women using pseudonyms.

Since then, she’s been a key voice in pushing for the Epstein files to be released, and has warned against politicising the issue. Speaking outside the Capitol this week, where she held up a photo of her and her sister in the Nineties, she pointed out that this harrowing saga has played out over the course of various presidencies, Democratic and Republican.

And while headlines about the Epstein files often end up fixating on the powerful men in the sex offender’s orbit, her words are an important reminder that it’s the victims who should be at the centre of this awful story. “There are people who have used this to their advantage and tried to focus on elements of it that are sensational,” she told the BBC. “These victims are people with feelings that are trying to live their everyday lives, and this can feel like a real weight falling on us.”

At 84, Allred’s five-decade-long legal career seems to show no signs of slowing down. Probably one of the best-known attorneys in the United States, she has spent the majority of her working life taking on sexual harassment, workplace discrimination and women’s rights-related cases. Her fame, though, is largely down to the fact that she has represented a whole host of clients against famous men, from Roman Polanski to OJ Simpson to Trump himself.

It’s a track record that has earned her a reputation either as a sort of avenging angel of women’s rights, or as an “ambulance chaser of feminism” who loves the spotlight, as one detractor once branded her in The Atlantic. But her profile has only risen in the aftermath of #MeToo. She has represented accusers in cases against Bill Cosby, R. Kelly, Harvey Weinstein and, more recently, Sean “Diddy” Combs.

And she has also worked with 27 Epstein victims; most recently, she has posted a press conference with accuser Alicia Arden, who claims Epstein groped her in a Santa Monica hotel in 1997. Allred has repeatedly urged Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to cooperate with investigators probing his links to Epstein (Mountbatten-Windsor has always strongly denied any wrongdoing) and has used her considerable platform to keep the victims’ stories in the public conversation. “Many people would prefer it if women were silenced, if women were second-class citizens and didn’t fight back,” she told The Times in 2018. “I’m not one of those people.”

Representing 11 further Epstein victims is 64-year-old Bloom, Allred’s daughter, who has inherited her mother’s zeal for women’s rights. She’s spent most of her 30 or so years in law taking on sexual abuse and harassment cases, and her client list is just as high profile as her mother’s: she represented the model Janice Dickinson against Bill Cosby, The OC actor Mischa Barton in a revenge porn case, and the employees who accused Fox News host Bill O’Reilly of harassment.

A blot on her record, though, is her stint working as a legal adviser to Harvey Weinstein, shortly after initial allegations of abuse emerged against the producer, whom she characterised merely as “an old dinosaur learning new ways”. A few days after the New York Times published its bombshell exposé on Weinstein in October 2017, Bloom parted ways with him. She has since referred to the job as “a colossal mistake”. “I feel deeply embarrassed that I was ever associated with him, that I allowed myself to be fooled and to be in his orbit,” she told The Independent in 2022.

Bloom has been working with Epstein survivors since 2019. Like her mother, she has a major media profile and has used it to keep the pressure on Epstein’s alleged “enablers”, urging the other figures in his circle to come forward with information. A prominent voice calling for the files to be released, she has criticised how the case has been used as a “political football”. “All [the victims] have ever wanted was accountability and transparency,” she recently told CNN. “Release the files, redact the names of the survivors and let’s have accountability for everybody who was involved with this predator.”

Until just two months ago, Marina Lacerda was identified only as “Minor-Victim 1” in the 2019 court case against Epstein. As a key witness in the indictment, she told of how she was recruited back in 2002, at the age of just 14, to massage him at his New York townhouse. At the time, she was working multiple jobs to support her family, who had moved to the city from Brazil, and thought it would be a simple way to make money. But this apparent “dream job” quickly became “the worst nightmare”, with Lacerda suffering three years of abuse, until Epstein decided she was “too old” at 17.

In September, Lacerda bravely chose to waive her anonymity for the first time and spoke about her experiences outside Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. alongside other victims, in a bid to urge lawmakers to release the Epstein files. Earlier this week, ahead of the House vote, she suggested that Trump’s insistence that the files were “a hoax” only “empowered us and now you’ve made people listen to us even more”. Releasing them entirely, she has said, will help her “put the pieces of my own life back together”.

Harry Kane’s surgeon in £78,000 battle with car dealership over stolen Bentley

A top Premier League surgeon who fixed Harry Kane‘s hamstring is suing an iconic Mayfair “gentlemen car dealer” for £78,000 after the theft of his Bentley.

Fares Haddad, a world-acclaimed orthopaedic surgeon specialising in sports medicine, is suing Jack Barclay Ltd – the UK’s oldest Bentley dealership – over claims that it negligently failed to ensure its location was monitored by a registered electronic tracker if stolen.

After Mr Haddad’s Bentley Continental GTW12 was taken from his drive in January 2023, the surgeon tried to claim on his insurance but was knocked back after his insurers refused to pay up because his Bentley wasn’t fitted with a properly activated tracker.

Mr Haddad, 58, now says he assumed that Jack Barclay’s staff would set up a continuing tracker subscription for him through Vodafone after conversations and email exchanges with a showroom executive in 2019 – when he was considering buying the Bentley.

He is now claiming a total of £78,643 from Jack Barclay Ltd – trading as Jack Barclay Bentley – suing for the return of money paid out under his HP agreement, which his insurers refused to cover after the theft.

But the dealership – which is famed for its iconic vintage Mayfair showroom and reputation as “gentlemen car dealers” – is denying all negligence, liability and “foreseeability of loss”.

The dealer denies undertaking to activate the Bentley’s tracker, insisting that Mr Haddad was alone responsible for doing so.

Mr Haddad is the clinical director of the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, with a special expertise in hip joint, knee reconstruction and major ligament injuries.

It was Mr Haddad who ended up saving the latter phase of then Tottenham forward Harry Kane’s 2019-20 season after the England captain tore his ham string.

Kane underwent surgery for a ruptured tendon, but was back in training by May 2020 and competing in the latter part of the specially extended Covid Premier League season.

The year before in 2019, Mr Haddad had bought his Bentley Continental from Jack Barclay in part exchange for his former car, an Aston Martin, on the basis of a hire-purchase credit agreement, the court heard.

The then brand-new model of the GTW12 featured a 6-litre engine and 8-speed gearbox, a top speed of 207mph and retailed for up to £200,000.

The car was stolen in 2023 and Mr Haddad went on to put in an insurance claim, only to be refused due to the tracker not being operational, as per the conditions of his policy.

He is now suing for £78,643 at Central London County Court.

The surgeon’s barrister, Bradley Say, told Judge Andrew Holmes that he was assured when he bought his Bentley that “a tracker is standard on the car and I will set that up for you….”

“Mr Haddad made a particular point of asking him about the tracker when he picked up the vehicle because of the previous problems he had with the tracker on his Aston Martin,” explained Mr Say.

But although the car was sold with a tracker which was “live” for the first year of use, the subscription was never registered or renewed, so that by the time of the theft in 2023 it was dead, the court heard.

Later enquiries revealed that the tracker had been fitted and commissioned by a Jack Barclay engineer, but was not registered due to a lack of customer details being supplied to set up a subscription.

From the witness box, Mr Haddad said he never received a contract from Vodafone to set up a subscription for the tracker, but had understood that everything would be arranged by Jack Barclay.

“I assumed they were setting it up for me and that it would be activated and functioning, and that if I needed to do anything I would be told what to do,” he said.

His barrister continued: “Mr Haddad says that had the tracker been activated and had he received reminders from Vodafone to renew, as would have occurred had the subscription been activated, he would have renewed the tracker subscription in the same way as with his motor insurance.

“Although he was aware that tracker subscription would have to be renewed after the initial 12 months, he assumed it was done automatically via a direct debit like the payments under his HP agreements.”

Defence barrister, Sajid Suleman, disputed there was any promise to activate the tracker by Jack Barclay staff, also arguing that the responsibility to activate the device “fell on Mr Haddad,” who was entirely to blame for failing to renew his subscription after the initial 12 months of ownership.

And he argued: “There was no contractual obligation on Jack Barclay Ltd to activate the subscription; there is also insufficient evidence, on the balance of probabilities, that the defendant promised to activate the subscription and therefore no collateral contract/warranty exists.

“Even if Jack Barclay Ltd activated the subscription in 2019, it would have expired after 12 months and long before the vehicle was stolen in 2023.

“Mr Haddad had an obligation under his insurance and HP agreement to ensure that the subscription had been activated. He failed in his contractual obligations, and that is the cause of his loss.”

After a short hearing, the judge reserved his ruling in the case.

Wales, Northern Ireland and Rep of Ireland to learn fate in World Cup play-off draw

Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland are among the 16 nations nervously waiting to discover their fate in the World Cup 2026 play-off draw.

March’s play-offs will see eight semi-finals lead to four finals, from which the four winners will qualify for next summer’s tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico.

The 16 teams are made up of 12 qualification runners-up and four via the Nations League, and have been divided into four seeded pots based on world rankings. The pot 1 sides – featuring four-time World Cup winners Italy as well as Denmark, Turkey and Ukraine – will be drawn against the pot 4 teams, who include Northern Ireland. Wales are in pot 2 and they will be drawn against a side from pot 3, where Republic of Ireland lurk.

Wales have a crucial advantage of playing their semi-final at home, due to being in one of the top two pots. But who will they meet? Follow live updates from the World Cup play-offs draw below.

From cuisine and culture to history and nature, find the ideal cruise

If you want to see the world from a fresh perspective, then taking to the water is a great way to do it. Not only can travelling by ship  take you to far flung corners of the globe, it can also show you a different side of your favourite destinations and provide some unique experiences, from spotting rare wildlife and glancing remote landscapes to seeing iconic sights from a whole new viewpoint. From epic adventures exploring Antarctica or uninhabited archipelagos in the South Pacific, to itineraries taking the cultural capitals of Europe or sampling the cuisine of South East Asia, there’s a trip for everyone, whatever your passion or wherever you’d like to go.

Combining a cruise with carefully curated time on land gives you the best of both worlds. Audley cruise offerings are tailor made, with the land and water elements of your trip meticulously planned to create a bespoke itinerary that’s as relaxing or as adventure packed as you wish. Audley’s cruise experts will listen to what your dream trip looks like and help you pick the best route, ship and experiences to bring it to life. They work with a range of cruise partners, hand picking vessels for their facilities, service, onboard activities and the experiences they offer in port, so you’ll enjoy the journey just as much as the destination.

Each Audley trip is tailor-made to the traveller – but if you need some inspiration, here’s a taste of the adventures you can experience.

A cruise can offer immersive cultural experiences, from learning about a country’s centuries old traditions to touring cities with world-class galleries and museums. One of the benefits of a cruise is that you can explore multiple stops, giving you plenty of time to take in each destination and tailor the trip to your specific interests.

“For example, a 24 day cruise around Japan visits 10 different ports,” says Audley cruise specialist Caroline. “In the city of Sakaiminato, you can explore the artistry of Japan with a guided visit that takes in both the Adachi Museum of Art and the Yushien Garden. The museum provides a deep dive into Japan’s contemporary art before you head to a nearby island to explore the exuberant peony beds at Yushien. The garden is most spectacular in the spring, but carefully timed plantings mean you’ll always see many of the 250 types of peonies in gloriously full bloom.”

Or how about exploring the art cities of Italy in the largest five-masted, full-rigged sailing ship in the world – a romantic call-back to the golden age of sailing? You’ll enjoy personal tours of the Colosseum and Sistine Chapel in Rome, explore Florence’s Renaissance heritage and discover hidden haunts in Venice.

Audley can make sure your time at sea is just as enriching, with ships that include a variety of experiences and activities to choose from – from expert talks and lectures on subjects like art history, archaeology and local wildlife to art classes like watercolour painting to glassblowing.

With cruises covering all seven continents, and many featuring unique culinary experiences, there’s plenty of trips to tickle the tastebuds of foodies. Wine lovers will enjoy a river cruise of Portugal’s Douro region that takes in port houses in the vibrant city of Porto and stops at vineyards along the picturesque Douro Valley. You’ll enjoy a traditional home cooked meal at a quinta (country house), visit Mateus Palace and Gardens — home of the famous rosé wine – and finish the trip in Madrid, sampling the local tapas.

On a Bali to Bangkok trip you can check out the Indonesian street-food scene, trying delicacies such as Java’s rawon (a black beef soup) and Bangkok’s drunken noodles. In Singapore, watch locals haggle for seafood and spices in the markets and try a Singapore Sling in the very place they were invented: Raffles’ Long Bar.

Wherever you’re heading, the options are just as tasty on board the ship. “The larger and medium-sized cruises we’ve chosen to work with always offer a variety of dining options,” explains  Audley cruise specialist Franki. “With usually at least one buffet-style restaurant, and also usually at least a couple of specialty restaurants, such as trattorias or steakhouses. Audley hand-picks the best vessels with some also offering cooking demonstrations and wine tasting.

From experiencing the world’s wildest and most remote landscapes to spotting rare species, travelling by water offers one-of-a-kind adventures for nature lovers. “No other type of voyage gets you as close to unpeopled landscapes or feeds your curiosity about the world’s wildlife and habitats as expedition cruises,” says Audley cruise specialist Caroline, “Wherever you are, expedition leaders will help root you in your destination, pointing out intriguing features and what to look for.”

There’s also plenty of expert knowledge you can tap into onboard, as Audley cruise specialist Jon explains. “Many of our polar expedition cruises are accompanied by leading researchers who can enlighten you on the icy formations and distinctive wildlife you sail past. Some ships also feature onboard helicopters, offering you the chance to follow the flight paths of Arctic birds and get a rare glimpse of this pristine landscape from the air.”

In the Galapagos Islands, for example, Audley’s Luxury Ecuador and Galapagos tour includes a seven night expedition around the islands where you’ll come face to face with countless incredible species from iguanas, penguins and albatross to sea lions, sea turtles and sharks. The trip also includes a stay in a luxury lodge in the Ecuadorian cloudforest, surrounded by 400 types of wildlife.

A cruise is also the ideal way to discover the landscapes of Alaska. You’ll sail down through fjords, past glaciers and waterfalls – with the option to kayak to the places your cruise ship can’t reach. You might spot otters, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and even orca whales in the water or, on shore, moose, mountain goats and wolves. At the end of the cruise, there’s a stay in Great Bear Rainforest on Berry Island, a haven for bears, whales, marine mammals and birds.

With knowledgeable local experts on hand across the globe, Audley cruises allow you to delve into the history of a destination. A cruise of Croatia’s cities and coasts offers all the spectacular scenery you’d expect – but also give you the chance to walk Dubrovnik’s UNESCO-protected walled city with an expert guide, explore the medieval streets of Šibenik and visit a working 13th century monastery on the island of Visovak.

If you like your history to be ancient, try a luxury river cruise along the Nile, with an exclusive private tour of the pyramids of Giza, Saqqara and Dahshur, and visits to other significant sites including ancient tombs in the Luxor Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Horus, all with an expert local guide ensuring you get the most out of the experience.

With Audley, experiences on land are carefully planned to fit seamlessly with your cruise. “As your trip takes shape, I’ll take care of every aspect of your voyage.” says Audley cruise specialist Steph. “If I need to, I’ll call on the expertise of our most experienced destination-specific specialists to help you make the most of your time – wherever you’d like to go.”

Fellow Audley cruise specialist Jon adds: “Some trips span vast geographical routes, jumping between a myriad of countries that are often challenging to link in one trip. That involves a lot of moving parts, but your specialist will take care of all the logistics so you can focus on getting the most out of your time on land and water.”

With all the organising in hand, you’ll have plenty of time to soak everything in before you set sail again to continue your dream journey.

Audley offer bespoke land-and-sea cruises that you can tailor to your personal travel passions. To find out more and start planning your trip, visit Audley

Harry Dunn’s mother ‘honoured’ to receive MBE from Prince William

Charlotte Charles, the mother of teenager Harry Dunn, has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, stating her son would be “super proud”.

Ms Charles, 50, received the honour from the Prince of Wales during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.

She was recognised for her work campaigning for road safety, following her son’s death in 2019.

Harry Dunn, 19, was killed by a US citizen who was able to leave the UK under diplomatic immunity laws.

Ms Charles said her son would be “proud” of her achievement.

When asked about receiving the award, Ms Charles said: “It feels surreal.

“I feel honoured and humbled to receive an MBE in Harry’s name.”

Speaking about how her son may have reacted, she said: “I think Harry would probably be giggling, to be honest.

“But he would be super proud.”

Ms Charles added that William said “some very kind words” to her: “He acknowledged it’s been a long road, and that I have had a lot of hurdles put in my way that I have managed to jump over.

“Incredible. I’ll treasure it forever.”

Six years ago, Harry was killed when a Volvo driven by then US state department employee Anne Sacoolas hit him while on the wrong side of the road outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire.

Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf following the crash, and she was able to leave the country 19 days later.

The death of the teenage motorcyclist led to a Transatlantic diplomatic row. Ms Charles, alongside Harry’s father Tim Dunn, campaigned for justice for years.

Speaking about her activism, Ms Charles said: “The campaign gave me an avenue for my anger, my grief and my frustrations.

“You don’t even stop to think about where your life is going to end up,” she added, referring to her MBE.

Ms Charles said: “I will continue to work really hard and support any other family that continues to reach out for support and direction, and I will do everything I can to carry on Harry’s legacy.”

She was named in the King’s birthday honours list earlier this year.

Campaigning from Ms Charles and her family prompted road safety improvements around US Air Force bases, and led the UK and the US to amend the “anomaly” that allowed Sacoolas to leave the country.

Renewable energy pioneer Peter Musgrove was also honoured by the Prince of Wales on Wednesday, after being made a CBE in the King’s birthday honours.

The engineer and co-founder of RenewableUK said he was “delighted” to have received the honour at Wednesday’s ceremony.

When asked about his interaction with William, the 87-year-old said: “It went very well.”

Questioned on what his CBE means, he said: “It reinforces the message that we’ve got to take action, and there are things we can do.”

He added: “It’s very unfortunate what’s happening. Climate change is a real threat.”

He also said he will continue to evolve his work, and wishes to increase public interest in wind power and renewable energy: “It’s an exciting time.”

Also due to attend the investiture ceremony was Sir Matthew Vaughn, the filmmaker behind Layer Cake, Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class and the Kingsman films, who was awarded a knighthood for his services to the creative industries in former prime minister Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours list.

He was unable to attend Windsor Castle on Wednesday, so his investiture will be rearranged for a later date.

Russian troops ‘disguising themselves as civilians in combat’

Russian forces are dressing up as civilians to confuse Ukraine’s defensive forces in the eastern town of Pokrovsk, Kyiv’s military has said.

The commander of the 68th Jaeger Brigade, codenamed “Liutyi”, told Ukrainian national broadcaster Suspilne that Russian troops are acting more like “sabotage and reconnaissance” groups rather than following any typical procedures of war.

“The most difficult thing is that they disguise themselves as civilians. They have been changing clothes for a long time and receive instructions to do so. Sometimes we identify the enemy only after the start of the firefight, because civilians will not open fire on our units,” Liutyi said.

The town in Ukraine’s Donetsk region has been the site of fierce fighting in the past year, with Russian troops finally entering in recent weeks after months of edging closer despite heavily fortified Ukrainian defences.

Liutyi added: “They do not follow any standard procedures, but their movements still complicate our logistics routes.”

The commander also said Russian troops are trying to exploit weather conditions to allow them to move through the city with ease.

Ukrainian forces rely heavily on drones for reconnaissance and defence missions. When Russian troops move through the city in rainy or foggy conditions, it makes it more difficult for Ukraine’s troops to track them.

Moscow’s troops have avoided bringing large, heavy equipment into Pokrovsk regularly, as it comes under heavy fire by Ukraine’s defence. A Russian tank was struck by soldiers of the 68th Brigade while approaching the city, The Kyiv Independent reported.

At the same time, the Russian army avoids bringing heavy equipment into Pokrovsk too frequently, as it quickly comes under fire.

“(Russian forces) have long since abandoned these attempts, when 16–20 units of equipment entered at the same time, because it is difficult to hide equipment from us. We will find it anyway and burn it,” Liutyi said.

Soldiers of the 68th Brigade struck a Russian tank on 19 November as it approached the city.

But logistics remain difficult in the area, after Russian troops created a so-called ‘killzone’ around Pokrovsk stretching up to 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) from the city to the frontline.

“The enemy has brought many of its best crews here to work against us. The intensity of enemy drone strikes is so great that sometimes it is simply impossible to drive in (the positions),” the Ukrainian commander said, adding that they therefore have to travel through this area on foot.

Using a civilian disguise is known as perfidy. It is considered a war crime under international law.