Paedophile nursery worker admits filming himself sexually abusing children in his care

A nursery worker who filmed himself sexually abusing four children has pleaded guilty to 26 offences in what has been described as “one of the most significant and disturbing child protection cases in recent history”.

Vincent Chan, 45, a British national of Chinese heritage, abused children as young as three years old during nap time and took images of them in distress while using a work iPad.

Chan was arrested in June 2024 after a member of staff reported that he had filmed a child falling asleep in their food and set it to music, before showing the clip to a colleague. He was initially held on suspicion of neglect and released on bail. He lost his job at the nursery in West Hampstead, north London, which has since closed.

Following Chan’s arrest, officers seized 25 digital devices from his home and three from the nursery and discovered a cache of “deeply disturbing” material.

Over the course of their “highly complex” investigation, the police seized a total of 69 devices from his property, including hard drives and laptops, to uncover the extent of his offending.

He is known to have abused at least four small girls while working at a nursery between 2017 and 2024.

Chan, from Finchley, pleaded guilty to 26 offences relating to sexual assault offences against children and the taking and making of indecent images of children.

The offences comprised five counts of sexual assault of a child by penetration, four counts of sexual assault of a child by touching, 11 counts of taking indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child, and six counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child.

Wearing a grey tracksuit, Chan confirmed his identity and entered guilty pleas in front of the families of some of his victims who were present at Wood Green Crown Court.

Families of the victims have been contacted directly and are receiving specialist support, and the NSPCC has opened a helpline for all 700 families of children who attended the nursery during the time Chan worked there.

A statement from a law firm representing the families said: “As parents we are still trying to process the sickening discovery that our children were subjected to despicable abuse by Vincent Chan at Bright Horizons nursery. In admitting the charges, we are spared the prospect of hearing Vincent Chan’s crimes… described in graphic detail in a trial. We trust the judge to pass the strongest sentence to fit the crimes Vincent Chan has committed against young children, innocent victims who could not fight back.

“We feel that Bright Horizons has failed us, and we want answers. How was someone like Vincent Chan employed? Why did safeguarding systems fail completely? And how were such horrific crimes against children able to continue for so long without Bright Horizons nursery acting?

“We are concerned that failures at Bright Horizons allowed this abuse to go undetected, and we are committed to securing accountability for our children.”

In a statement, the nursery said Chan’s actions had been a “profound betrayal” and that the company had extensive safeguarding practices in place, including rigorous vetting and DBS criminal records checks.

It added: “Whilst this individual’s actions came to light after a colleague raised concerns and followed our whistle-blowing procedures to report him, we fully accept that the evidence shows the individual was able to commit these crimes despite our safeguarding measures.

“In light of this, we have commissioned an external expert in this field to undertake a full review of our safeguarding practices.”

Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who led the Metropolitan Police’s investigation, said: “Child sexual abuse is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable, and Chan’s offending spanned years, revealing a calculated and predatory pattern of abuse. He infiltrated environments that should have been safe havens for children, exploiting the trust of families and the wider community to conceal his actions and prey on the most vulnerable.

“Our investigation remains ongoing, and we are continuing to review digital devices and assess Chan’s conduct across all relevant settings. We recognise the member of staff who raised their concerns, as without that first report of child cruelty Chan’s abuse could have continued unchecked, putting countless more children at risk.

“These appalling offences have caused deep shock and distress. We thank the community for its continued cooperation and reaffirm our commitment to supporting victims and their families. If you have any concerns, please contact the dedicated NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 for specialist support. We are working closely with the NSPCC to ensure every family affected receives the help they need.”

Chan is due to be sentenced on 23 January 2026 at Wood Green Crown Court.

Anyone who wants to share information about Chan can contact OpLanark@met.police.uk, or call 101 from within the UK, quoting the reference CAD3697/1DEC.

Trump’s new immigration ban could expand to include 32 countries

The Trump administration is weighing a new travel ban that would include 32 countries following the shooting of two National Guard members, according to a report.

The proposed travel ban would expand its current list that restricts travel from 19 countries, officials told CBS News. It’s not immediately clear which countries could be included.

The Independent has asked the White House for comment.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who was granted asylum earlier this year, has been accused of shooting the two West Virginia National Guard members in the nation’s capital last week. He’s pleaded not guilty.

On Tuesday, the Trump administration halted all immigration applications from the 19 countries that were already under travel restrictions.

Sarah Beckstrom died from injuries sustained in the attack while Andrew Wolfe remains in serious condition.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Monday that she recommended Trump implement “a full travel ban on every damn country that’s been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies,” she wrote in a social media post.

“Our forefathers built this nation on blood, sweat, and the unyielding love of freedom—not for foreign invaders to slaughter our heroes, suck dry our hard-earned tax dollars, or snatch the benefits owed to AMERICANS.”

Cold case of woman’s murder solved after 20 years due to DNA found on cigarette butt

A suspected murderer has been named using DNA from a cigarette butt, 20 years after a woman was killed at a seafront shelter.

Jennifer Kiely, 35, was found dead in Hollywell, Eastbourne, by the Sussex fire service in the early hours of 22 January 2005. She had been stabbed multiple times, had sustained an injury to the back of her head, and her body had been set on fire.

The attack was thought to be sexually motivated and two suspects were arrested in the same year but they were later released without charge due to insufficient evidence.

DNA was recovered from the scene, including from a cigarette butt, that contained a full profile of a man whose profile also matched DNA found on Jennifer’s body and in her blood, but he did not appear on the national database.

Two decades later, Sussex Police have now named Keith Dowbekin, who died at the age of 60 in 2014, as the man they suspect to be responsible for her death, citing “overwhelming” DNA evidence.

Detective chief inspector Simon Dunn, of the Surrey and Sussex major crime team, said: “Over the past few years we have traced and identified several people who shared similar component parts of the DNA found at the crime scene, all of whom volunteered their DNA for forensic analysis.

“A sample obtained from a man in the north of England in summer of 2024 proved to be the final piece of the puzzle which meant we could formally nominate a suspect.

“He has been identified as Keith Dowbekin – alias Keith Black and Keith Broadbent – who was originally from the northwest of England and died in 2014, aged 60.

“Extensive background checks confirmed he was known to stay in Eastbourne and associated with members of the homeless community like Jennifer, which strengthened our hypothesis he was responsible for her murder. If he had been alive today, we would have sought authority from the Crown Prosecution Service to prosecute him for Jennifer’s murder.”

Prior to Jennifer’s murder, Dowbekin had been arrested by Norfolk Police in connection with two separate rape offences in Great Yarmouth in 2003 and 2004.

On 29 January 2005, Dowbekin was stopped at the Port of Dover for a standard investigative check relating to Jennifer’s murder; those officers did not see any note of his previous arrests.

DCI Dunn said: “In 2003 and 2004, there was no provision to take DNA from people who were arrested. DNA was only taken from those who were charged with an offence, that is different now.

“In addition to that, we have networks now of cross-border checking in terms of intelligence systems.”

The force also said that Dowbekin had actually given a DNA sample as a witness to a separate murder, but it was not added to the database as he was not a suspect.

In 2018, police employed a familial DNA strategy, which uses the “predictable way” that DNA is transferred from parents to children, but was not available in 2005.

Their original search threw up thousands of names, which were then narrowed down until relatives of Dowbekin were found, DCI Dunn said. It was only after formally deciding that Dowbekin was a suspect in 2024 that the force learned of his previous arrests for rape.

DCI Dunn said: “It was only in 2024, after we formally nominated Dowbekin as our suspect, that we discovered he had been arrested in Norfolk in 2003 and 2004. Therefore, we contacted the force and were able to confirm that the DNA they still had on their system matched that of the DNA we obtained from the murder scene. This proved to be a significant milestone in our investigation.

“In hindsight, if further intelligence checks were completed in 2005 and the rape allegations were identified, then Dowbekin may have been treated differently. Due to current robust investigative practices, I am confident all relevant intelligence checks would now be completed on persons in similar circumstances.”

Sussex Police said several factors have been taken into consideration as part of the decision to identify Dowbekin publicly. The force said this included the “overwhelming public interest, the severity of the crime, the impact on the victim’s family and wider community, and the potential to support identification of further offences”. They are not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident.

Jennifer’s family have issued a tribute saying: “Our mum was more than her struggles. She was a gentle, funny and creative soul who loved music and cared deeply for others, even when life was hard.

“She was a mum, a daughter, sister, niece and a friend. Her life mattered.

“After 20 years, my family and I are grateful for the resolution of her case and for the hard work of those who never gave up.

“While this brings a sense of closure, it does not erase the loss of a kind, loving and vibrant woman who meant so much to those who knew her, especially her children.

“I hope her story encourages compassion for those experiencing homelessness and the stigma surrounding mental health.

“These are issues that affect countless individuals and families, often in silence. I hope her memory inspires others to look beyond stereotypes and extend compassion to those who are struggling.”

How Waitrose turned into middle-class Iceland

For the past decade, the British middle classes have tried – often unsuccessfully – to pretend they don’t like carbohydrates. Bread was rationed like contraband. Pasta required an apology. Potatoes were whispered about with the kind of guilt normally reserved for extramarital affairs and long-haul flights.

But this era of carb shame appears to be over. Quietly, steadily and with the unmistakable confidence of a supermarket that knows its customers better than they know themselves, Waitrose has declared carbs officially back. And not just back: booming.

In its Food & Drink Report 2025-26, Waitrose reports sales of canned and jarred beans are up 45 per cent. Organic oat flour is up 79 per cent, wholemeal up 42 per cent, dark rye up 25 per cent. The supermarket has even launched Ottolenghi x Bold Bean Co Queen Black Chickpeas, because in 2025, even chickpeas need a designer collaboration.

The carb comeback’s undisputed monarch? The jacket potato. Sales of large potatoes are up by more than a third, while jacket potato searches on the supermarket’s website have rocketed 178 per cent. After years of cauliflower posing as rice and courgette pretending to be pasta, Britain now wants the real thing – and wants it with toppings.

“Fibre is the new buzzword in terms of nutrition,” says Dr Joanne Lunn, health and nutrition lead at Waitrose. “As people become more aware of the link between fibre, good gut health and satiety, they are also recognising its benefits as an economical and environmentally friendly option.”

Protein isn’t going anywhere, she says, but “this marks a definitive move away from the strict, low-carb diet trends of the past and a move towards a more balanced intake of macronutrients”.

In other words, the anti-carb era is done. This is the age of the fibre-maxxing middle class.

Ask Waitrose shoppers how much fibre they should eat, and only 21 per cent know the recommended 30g a day. Most of us are eating 20g or less, which makes the nation’s new fixation with #fibermaxxing slightly surreal.

On TikTok, the hashtag has been used more than 157 million times – devoted to the art of eating as much fibre as humanly (and sometimes impractically) possible. According to the report, people are “fibre layering”: adding linseeds, chia seeds, dried fruit and psyllium to anything that stays still long enough. Breakfasts have become structural engineering projects.

Waitrose is now baking fibre into everything. Literally. The supermarket says to “look out for products which incorporate more fibre through vegetables, grains or legumes”, including burgers with added vegetables and brownies made with beans. There’s a High Fibre Blueberry and Almond Ball coming in January, a Fibre Boost Super Plant Blend Fruity Mix, and a Protein Boost Super Plant Blend Savoury Mix that features – because why not – seaweed, Waitrose’s new “superhero” ingredient.

If fibre once conjured bran flakes and bowel chats, it now comes in the form of Waitrose Beetroot Crispbreads – each one packing 2.7g of fibre, “the same as eating three to four prunes”.

This is what makes the 2025 carb comeback different: it is not reckless. It is not nostalgic. It is earnest, functional, fibre-first. The starchier the better.

Carbs aren’t just back – they’re being fetishised. People are turning to “speciality bread flours” like rye, seeded and spelt to “diversify their diets”. Sales of plant-based proteins are falling; dairy and grains are rising.

And nothing symbolises this more than the jacket potato, which Waitrose calls a “low-cost nutritional giant”.

It’s easy to understand the appeal. A potato contains no additives. It delivers around 5g of fibre, or 16g when topped with baked beans. It can be cooked in an oven, microwave, air fryer, or, according to TikTok, a slow cooker. It is comforting, cheap and endlessly adaptable.

The nation agrees. It isn’t just Waitrose customers ordering them; Subway has launched a jacket potato menu, and people queue across Preston and Tamworth for viral TikTok vendors Spud Bros and Spudman.

Once the food of students, now the food of wellness girlies.

But if carbs are back, the real twist is where people are buying them: the freezer aisle. Long the final resting place of forgotten peas, the freezer is now, according to Waitrose, a “gourmet destination”.

This reinvention is staggering. All Butter Cinnamon Swirls are up 322 per cent. Yes, 322 per cent. That is not a trend. That is a movement. Frozen garlic cubes? Up 178 per cent, because apparently we are too busy, stressed or spiritually depleted to chop. And the luxury ready-to-prepare carbs are booming: No 1 Triple Cooked Chips, Wagyu Roast Potatoes, Four Cheese Potato Gratins. All “smart staples”, according to Waitrose frozen food product developer Tim Daly, are ideal for the kind of household that would never admit to “buying frozen food” but isn’t above quietly filling the drawer with some choice picks.

This is what one might gently call “Iceland for the middle classes”. Same concept, different branding. Wagyu instead of waffles. Duchess potatoes instead of frozen hash browns.

It is convenience without compromise, or at least, without the appearance of compromise. The freezer has become the modern pantry, but with the moral safety blanket of “premium”.

You could fill a freezer entirely with Tru Fru frozen berries, viral mochi balls, artisan ice creams and ready-made sourdough garlic bread and feel not like you’ve given up, but ascended. It is the rush of cheap eats, made expensive.

Underlying all this is Waitrose’s so-called “Farm Shop Effect” – the idea that in tough economic times, shoppers still cling to small luxuries.

This explains why 60 per cent of customers keep at least six condiments in the fridge. But instead of piccalli think, Korean bibimbap sauce, Tajín, Gymkhana’s tandoori marinade, sriracha sprinkles, hot honey, chilli pesto (now Waitrose’s “bestselling” pesto).

Extra virgin olive oil is up 14 per cent, too – not for cooking, but “drizzling over a salad or dipping with sourdough”, according to Waitrose oil buyer Charlotte Kissane. Burnt butter is “the next big thing” because of its “high-impact flavour with low effort”, says innovation chef Will Torrent.

Carbs are not just carbs anymore. They’re a canvas. A jacket potato is not simply beans and cheese, but kimchi, caviar, shawarma chicken with tahini – Waitrose-approved cultural fusion.

We are eating pasta again, but only if it’s drizzled with £12 olive oil.

But there’s another force shaping this new middle-class menu – one Waitrose is unusually candid about: the influence of GLP-1 drugs, the Mounjaro/Ozempic wave already reshaping how Britain eats.

The supermarket found that 57 per cent of customers sometimes replace a meal with snacky foods. Waitrose trend manager Emilie Wolfman calls it “a transformation of the snacking scene”, where people now want snacks that are “nutrient-dense, often high in protein, and with fewer additives, but more complex flavours.”

Today’s carbs are smaller, denser, fibre-first. It is perfectly possible to be both pro-carb and pro-Mounjaro. Just take half the portion and cover it in tahini.

Taken together, the Waitrose report paints a clear picture: Britain is quietly rewriting its food culture. Not rejecting wellness – just reframing it.

Ultra-processed foods are out. Fibre is in. Carbs have been forgiven. The freezer is chic. Condiments are a personality type. Pork is back. Faux meat is fading. GLP-1 snacks are rising. TikTok trends are the new seasonal menu changes.

For the first time in years, people are happily eating bread, roast potatoes, brownies, pasta, beans, and jacket spuds again, as long as they can explain the fermentation process and are prepared to drizzle something artisanal on top.

Children injured as school bus roof ripped off after hitting bridge

A number of children have been injured after a school bus struck a bridge, ripping its roof off.

The bus hit the bridge on Spendmore Lane in Coppull, Lancashire just after 12.30pm on Wednesday, according to Lancashire Police. Emergency services attended and the road has been closed.

Passengers have been taken off the bus and a number of children suffered injuries. A North West Ambulance Service spokesperson said an eight-year-old boy with was taken to hospital with a head injury.

Other children on the bus were assessed and discharged at the scene. The police said injuries are thought to be “relatively minor”

Photos from the scene show the roof has been ripped off the bus.

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: “We were called at just after 12.30pm today to a report that a school bus had struck a bridge on Spendmore Lane, Coppull.

“Emergency services are at the scene, and a road closure is in place, while we deal with the incident.

“The passengers have been safely taken off the bus.

“A number of children suffered injuries which are thankfully thought to be relatively minor at this time, and they are being assessed by paramedics.”

Perfect portraits: from groups to selfies and candid pics, expert tips

Portrait photography has come a long way from the days where everyone needed to be smiling directly into the camera, as a flash bulb popped.

And in fact, following on from an era where social media sites offered very curated, sometimes heavily filtered snapshots of our lives, more natural, candid images that really show off our personalities and experiences are now very much on trend. Think authentic photos of genuine moments where no-one is really paying attention to the camera. Instead they’re focused on enjoying what’s happening and the people they are with. For example, friends around a table enjoying a drink and a chat. Families engaged in a favourite activity. Photos that look like a glimpse into someone’s normal every day.

The best way to capture these in-the-moment shots? On a mobile: our ever-present, hand-held, do-everything device that has steadily taken over photography in the 26 years since the first camera phone appeared. Samsung’s newest device, the Galaxy S25 FE offers a wealth of photography-first features, from multiple cameras, lenses and wide angle settings, to in-built AI technology that will help you take the best possible pictures, then easily edit them afterwards. And as a photographer who runs masterclasses in mobile photography I couldn’t wait to try it out.

The phone itself is slim and lightweight, which makes it so much easier to hold steady, for clear, crisp, blur-free images, and take discreet, candid snaps.

Of course, we all have friends, family members and even pets who love performing for the camera. But for those who are a bit more reluctant to step into the frame, the Galaxy S25 FE offers a whole host of easy-to-use, fun AI features that will have even the most camera-shy feeling completely confident and ready for their close-up.

Samsung’s Drawing Assist function is a prime example and was an absolute hit with my kids, transforming our Sunday afternoon walk from a litany of moaning and dragging feet into a fun-filled adventure involving a lucky escape from the shark that apparently now lives in the park pond, and flying through the air with some giant balloons.

And all it took was a few simple, if strategically positioned snaps and some quick sketches using the Sketch to Image* function when editing the photo. This works best when you have some space in the frame around your subjects so you can easily draw what you want to add. In the shark image, for example, we needed enough water to the left of my kids for the shark to emerge from.

In the photo where the children are flying with the balloons, I needed them to be high up against the sky, and I also wanted the trees visible to add some context to the story we were trying to tell. They’re on top of the boulders, but I had to crouch down on the ground to cut out the houses in the background. By using the Generative Edit** function I was then able to replace the boulders with trees and then used Sketch to Image to draw in some balloons to make it look like they were floating away.

You don’t need to be an amazing artist for Sketch to Image to work well either, just enough line and shape for the app to recognise what you want to add into your image. The only limit here is your imagination and creativity. Involving the kids in some fun photography also meant that I got to capture some real, candid moments of them in the beautiful Autumn sunshine, with none of the usual complaints.

While playing around with reality can be fun, the Galaxy S25FE’s other AI features can also be used to make more subtle adjustments to enhance your images.

Just a few minutes of work with the Generative Edit function on a day out with a friend, helped me erase two unwanted photobombers from a photo (in which she perfectly co-ordinated with the graffitied heart wall in Borough Market). While removing some distracting weedkiller from the table where my cat was basking in the sunshine ensured the perfect pic where I can really appreciate him in all his fluffy glory.

Aside from fun and helpful editing functions, the phone’s AI technology is also running in the background to give your photos a boost, whatever and whenever you are capturing them.

This is great when you’re shooting challenging lighting conditions, for example at night. Dark, grainy and blurred photos are a thing of the past, with Samsung’s Nightography feature. Tapping the yellow moon icon that appears in dim lighting will enable this clever function which captures multiple images and then uses AI to blend them together to create one sharper, brighter image.

This can take a few seconds, so you’ll need to keep very still when using this feature – if you can, brace your arms on a table and hold the phone with two hands to keep the camera as steady as possible. It also helps if your subject is still, so this is more for capturing adults and older kids than snapping a restless pet or fast-moving child.

For these trickier subjects, from youngsters to four-legged friends, the excellent autofocus on the device makes for pin-sharp portraits rendered in high definition. And if you couple that with the outstanding Samsung colour profile you get beautifully saturated, nicely contrasted images which really pop. All the colours are beautifully rendered and all skin tones (and fur tones) are true to life. No filters are needed here.

And this is not just true of portraits you take of other people. The 12 MP camera lens on the front of the phone makes for gorgeously rendered, high resolution selfies with a variety of crop options, so you can find the perfect angle or image composition.

Taking a selfie at a 1:1 square crop, as well as the standard 3:4 crop option means you can easily include a friend or family member in your photo. And there’s a lovely little feature where you can get the lens to zoom out a little by tapping the ‘two person’ icon to provide a little extra space.

The 9:16 crop option means you can opt for a more flattering, longer and thinner photo while the full frame cop allows you a more zoomed-in selfie.

And if you want to take your selfies to another level, the option to add a little skin toning and smoothing effect and iron out any wrinkles (or in my case remove evidence of a sleepless night) is one of the additional features that makes the selfie camera stand out!

The excellent battery life means you don’t need to worry about it lasting, even after a few hours of photo fun. And when your battery does run down, lightning fast charging will see you back at 60 per cent in just 30 minutes, so you don’t have to wait long until you are good to go again.

Overall, whether it is taking vibrant portraits of yourself or capturing creative, candid images of the people (and pets) in your lives, making memories you’ll want to share is easy and fun with the Galaxy S25 FE.

Kirsty Hamilton is a portrait photographer – find out more at her website and on Instagram.

To find out more about the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE visit Samsung

*Samsung account login and network connection may be required for certain AI features.

**Samsung account login is required. Requires network connection.

King and Queen welcome German president for first state visit in 27 years

The royal family have welcomed the German president and his wife to the UK for a historic state visit.

The Prince and Princess of Wales met Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Budenbender at Heathrow airport on Wednesday morning at the of their state trip.

The couple were then warmly met by the King and Queen outside Windsor and Eton Riverside train station, before being treated to colourful carriage ride through the streets of the Berkshire town and a 41-gun royal salute.

It is the first state visit to the UK by a German president in 27 years, and the fifth since 1958. It comes after the King and Queen undertook a state visit to Germany in 2023.

A carpet-lining party, formed of The King’s Colour Squadron, Royal Air Force, was in position on Wednesday morning for the arrival of the president’s Bundesrepublik Deutschland plane.

Dressed in a suit, William greeted the King’s guests alongside Kate, who was wearing a Burberry dress with a blue coat by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

The royal couple shook hands with the president and his wife, with Ms Budenbender bringing her hand to her chest as she smiled and chatted with Kate.

Also waiting at the airport in west London was a welcome party which included Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Matt Jukes and the British ambassador to Germany, Andrew Mitchell.

The couple then went on to meet the King and Queen in the chilly open air, outside Windsor and Eton Riverside train station.

Charles opened his arms wide as Mr Steinmeier approached and loudly told the King: “It’s so wonderful, your majesty, to see you again” before giving a hearty chuckle as he placed his hand on top of the King’s as they shook hands.

In the bright, cold December sunshine, the royal party and their guests took part in a colourful carriage ride through the streets of the Berkshire town, led by a Sovereign’s Escort from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

A 41-gun royal salute was fired from the East Lawn within Windsor Home Park, timed with military precision to coincide with the King and Camilla greeting their guests at midday, before they introduced them to local dignitaries and joined them for the playing of the German national anthem.

The streets were guarded by ceremonial troops from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army, and the Royal Air Force, and lined with German and Union flags.

Mr Steinmeier and Ms Budenbender will be treated to a lavish state banquet in St George’s Hall this evening, which has been decorated for Christmas with a six-metre Christmas tree, grown in Windsor Great Park and featuring 3,000 sparkling lights.

On Thursday morning, he will privately lay flowers at the tomb of the late Queen Elizabeth II in the castle’s St George’s Chapel, before joining the King and Queen for a Big Help Out reception to showcase the impact volunteering can have on communities.

Before a formal farewell, they will be shown the State Sleigh, which was designed by Queen Victoria’s German-born husband, Prince Albert and recorded in Victoria’s diary in 1845.

State visits, which capitalise on the soft power of the royal family to strengthen diplomatic ties overseas, have moved from Buckingham Palace to Windsor for the next few years while reservicing work continues at the London royal residence

British tourist fighting for life after being stabbed on Thai party island

Thai police are searching for a man who stabbed a British tourist outside a beach club on Wednesday.

Louis Johe Jarvie, 34, suffered a knife wound to his right arm in the incident, which took place in Cherng Talay, Phuket, at around 12.20am.

The attacker, said to have been foreign to Thailand, fled the scene before police arrived.

Visibility is said to have been “poor” at the time, according to police, as they tried to put together an image of what the person looked like.

“Witnesses said they saw a large foreign man stab the British man in the arm,” police said. “The victim is now feeling better but is not ready to respond.”

Rescue workers from the Cherng Talay Tambon Administrative Organisation provided first aid before Mr Jarvie was taken to Thalang Hospital, where he is currently recovering.

Authorities are using CCTV footage of the area to identify the suspect and are continuing to question witnesses who saw the incident or were around at the time of the attack.

The Independent has contacted Phuket police for comment.

Millions of tourists visit Thailand every year, with the largest numbers of Western tourists arriving from Russia and the UK, according to the country’s tourism department. Around 60 per cent of Thailand’s tourists are returning visitors.

Last week, a British tourist and father-of-one died in front of his wife after getting trapped in a rip current on Freedom Beach in Phuket. He was the fourth tourist to have died on southern Thailand beaches over the course of three days, according to the Thai Examiner.

A previous series of deaths in Phuket had led to concerns over an alleged lack of safety and security measures on the island.

Police lieutenant colonel Chanan Mekchai, at Patong Police Station, said: “The incident happened at around 11.30am, and we were notified an hour later.

“He went to the beach with his wife at around 10am. While swimming, he was caught in strong waves and disappeared beneath the surface.”

A spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities.”