Met Office issues ‘risk to life’ weather warning as snow to blanket UK

The Met Office has issued a “risk to life” weather warning as snow is set to blanket the UK, with blizzards set to hit some areas.

Weather alerts in parts of Scotland have been upgraded from yellow to amber by the forecaster, while yellow warnings are in place elsewhere as people face a wintry start to the new year.

Up to 40cm of snow could hit some places in Scotland, while winds could lead to temporary blizzard conditions, bringing possible travel chaos, power cuts and “the potential risk to life and property”, according to the weather service.

The upgraded warnings cover parts of the Highlands and north-east Scotland, with frequent and prolonged heavy snow showers expected between noon on Friday and noon on Saturday.

Forecasters said some delays and cancellations to rail and air travel are likely, as are power cuts and disruption on the roads, while some rural communities could become cut off.

Snow and ice are forecast across much of the UK for the start of the new year, according to the Met Office, with temperatures on New Year’s Day not expected to climb above 5C in Belfast, 7C in London, 6C in Manchester, 3C in Edinburgh and 8C in Cardiff.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also warned of a potential surge in deaths, as it issued more severe warnings across England for the cold snap.

The UKHSA previously issued amber cold health alerts in the North East and North West of England. And now yellow alerts have been upgraded to amber in the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London. These warnings are in place until 10am on 6 January.

The agency warned it means the weather is “likely” to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including a “rise in deaths” among those with health conditions or aged 65 or over.

Weather warnings are already in force on 1 January in Scotland, with a yellow warning of snow and ice covering the northern part of the country. The Met Office predicts 2-5cm could be lying by Thursday evening, with 10cm accumulating by Friday morning, while up to 20cm could build up above 200 metres.

The warning is in force until midnight on Friday, and at the weekend it extends further south, covering the area down to Perth and southerly parts of Argyll and Bute until midnight on Sunday.

Meanwhile, on Friday, a yellow warning for snow and ice was issued across large parts of England and Wales between midnight and noon, including Chester and Greater Manchester down to London and Kent. Up to 5cm of snow could blanket some areas, especially on higher ground in parts of North Wales and north-west England.

Separate yellow warnings are in place for Northern Ireland between midnight and 10am on Friday.

Then, on Saturday, there is another snow and ice warning for northern Scotland, which lasts from midnight Friday until midnight Sunday.

Meanwhile, a snow and ice warning covering parts of north east England comes into force from midnight Friday until midnight Saturday.

People have been urged to prepare for longer journey times by road, and on bus and train services. The forecaster has also warned of injuries due to slips and falls on icy surfaces, which will develop quickly as sleet and snow clears.

A Met Office spokeswoman said: “This warning highlights the risk of disruptive snow showers and icy surfaces, particularly in northern and eastern areas, with impacts on travel and potential hazards for the public.

“We expect this cold spell to persist into the weekend and on into next week, with further warnings possible as temperatures remain well below average and snow showers continue in places.”

Dr Paul Coleman, consultant in health protection at the UKHSA, said: “The weather is forecast to be very cold across England over the coming few days.

“Low temperatures like these can have serious impacts on the health of some people, particularly older people and those with serious health conditions. Exposure to cold can lead to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections.

“It is therefore really important, as the colder weather sets in, to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.”

In the end, Stranger Things lost its way in a maze of sci-fi bunkum

“Something is coming,” a young boy whispers to his assembled friends. “Something hungry for blood.” It’s 1983 – or 2016 – and you’re in Hawkins, Indiana – or on your sofa – playing Dungeons & Dragons… or watching Netflix’s Stranger Things. Over the decade since we first encountered the youthful protagonists, the show, created by the Duffer Brothers, has become an international sensation, launching careers and spawning an empire of video games, novelisations, podcasts and a stage play. Now, it ends where it began, with one last roll of the dice for our intrepid players.

With the entire world imperilled by the conquest of Vecna (Jamie Campbell-Bower), the gang execute their final, desperate plan. Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) will head into the Abyss, team up with Max (Sadie Sink) and attempt to inveigle Vecna’s vessels – the kidnapped children, including Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) – out of his psychic prison. If they can do this, they might be able to set up a final showdown with Upside Down’s dark overlord – one where El will need all the help she can get. “One last fight,” Mike tells his compadres, “and this whole nightmare, it’ll be over.” And so off they trot, on a patience-testing feature-length finale, that will take them into the belly of the beast – and viewers into the bowels of befuddlement.

This final season of Stranger Things, arriving after a three-year hiatus, has felt burdened with a lot of responsibilities. The actors have (largely) moved on to other projects and aged out of their roles, and it’s clear that the protracted story needed wrapping up. But the show is still Netflix’s most important original IP, and its conclusion a chance to distract from a disappointing year (creatively). Yet the final season has received a mixed response, as the tangle of narrative threads starts to obscure the show’s famously zingy chemistry. “We’re like Dorothy in Oz,” Max laments, “except there’s no Yellow Brick Road.” And even with the end in sight, the show is perilously confusing. What exactly is the Upside Down? How does the Abyss function? Why is Vecna using these stolen children? What is the relationship between Henry Creel, the Mind Flayer, Dr Brenner and Eleven? And why did the show cast Linda Hamilton and then only give her about five minutes of screen time?

The plot of this series has left me – like many of the show’s fans, according to the internet – baffled. But, then again, the great success of Stranger Things has always been its casting, not its writing. Winona Ryder’s Joyce was a superb anchor for the show’s emotions, yet she has been sidelined this season with the writers apparently unsure how to integrate her into a more action-based narrative. David Harbour, similarly, was an inspired booking: gruff, broken, but ultimately likeable. And, in its young cast, Netflix has picked a few stars: Finn Wolfhard has grown into a charismatic screen presence, Dustin Matarazzo has natural comic timing, and Sink is now a legitimate dramatic actor. (It is hard to avoid the feeling that Netflix is grooming its new young star, Fisher, for a possible spin-off.) In Joe Keery and Maya Hawke (Steve Harrington and Robin Buckley, respectively), they unearthed two plausible A-listers, and perhaps the best piece of later casting was Jamie Campbell-Bower – best known for turns in Sweeney Todd and Harry Potter – in the dual role of Vecna and Creel. His performance, in particular, elevates this finale.

It feels a shame, then, that this fifth and final season has deviated so far from the show’s established character work, and become just another CGI rock’em sock’em adventure. From normal kids, they’ve become “interdimensional space travellers”. Dustin has gone from a smart lad to a literal astrophysicist; Nancy, from a surprisingly tough prom queen to an Ellen Ripley-esque badass. Some of this is character development, but much of it is a consequence of the stakes being raised higher and higher, the threat becoming greater and greater. “They had a lot more to overcome than just puberty,” Hopper tells Joyce. No s***. They’re now action heroes who can take on kaijus and make the United States military look like Darth Vader’s Stormtroopers.

In the end, the Duffer Brothers just about manage to right the ship in the final act. There’s a degree of fan service to this (Will’s coming out scene, in the penultimate episode, was a particularly clunky moment where the discourse seemed to collide with the narrative), but it ensures that each of our central characters – El, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Max, Nancy, Jonathan, Steve, Robin, Joyce and Hop – are given a send-off that rounds out their arc. This helps to offset the show’s Upside Down denouement, which is interminable, anticlimactic and so confusing that it’s hard not to give up on the exposition.

Wormholes, parallel worlds, hive minds, dimensions, portals and rifts. Don’t let all this pseudoscientific guff distract from the fact that Stranger Things is, in the end, a show about growing up in a boring town in the middle of nowhere. Matt and Ross Duffer – inspired by The Goonies and ET – have created a coming-of-age saga for the present day. It might have lost its way in a maze of sci-fi bunkum, but it will still influence a generation of viewers in much the same way that, a couple of decades ago, the works of Steven Spielberg inspired two young brothers.

Sadiq Khan brands Trump a bully and vows to stand up to his ‘hatred’

The mayor of London has branded Donald Trump a “bully” for his long-running campaign against him just weeks after the US President called him “horrible, vicious, disgusting”.

Sir Sadiq Khan also accused Mr Trump of hurling “bile” at the UK, after he claimed the Muslim politician was successful because there were “so many” immigrants in the city.

Sir Sadiq, who also claimed President Trump was “obsessed” with him, said that he learned when he was nine years old that “the best way to deal with a bully, whether it’s in the playground or in the White House, is to stand up to them. You don’t get more respect from a bully by cowering”.

“And when somebody attacks my city, our citizens, our values, our way of life — when somebody makes certain generalisations about the followers of one faith — I think it’s incumbent to stand up to them,” he said in an interview with Politico.

He also joked that he thought Mr Trump would switch his focus to Zohran Mamdani when he was elected mayor of New York.

In the run-up to the vote, Mr Trump branded him a “communist” while Mr Mamdani suggested the president was a fascist.

Yet in an extraordinary meeting in the Oval Office, the two men appeared to laugh off the insults and develop a form of rapport.

Sir Sadiq joked: “When you look at the animus, hatred and bile coming from President Trump towards me. I sort of assumed when Zohran was elected, President Trump would be two-timing me and spending time targeting Zohran.”

But he suggested that their first meeting was a form of “tactical diplomacy” rather than a genuine meeting of minds.

When it came to Trump’s criticism of immigration in the UK, he described his comments as “bile not just towards me, but.. sweeping generalisations about the country in terms of the immigration policy and how elections are fought and won.”

He added: “I genuinely think he’s obsessed. And there have been many periods where he’s said horrible things and I’ve not responded because I’m just too busy to get involved in tittle-tattle, and this pathetic name-calling.”

Last month, Mr Trumpreignited his long-running feud with Sir Sadiq, saying of the city’s first Muslim mayor, whose parents came from Pakistan: “He gets elected because so many people have come in [to the UK]. They vote for him now.”

He also called him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor” and said he has done a “terrible job”.

With Labour on course to suffer heavy losses in elections in Wales, Scotland and English councils in May, Sir Sadiq suggested his party could learn from his success in London, saying: “I’m quite happy to lead, and they follow.”

But he insisted he did not want to become Labour leader, amid increasing speculation over Keir Starmer’s future. “No, no, no, no. I’ve no intentions, no plans, nor would I want to be the leader of the Labour Party or indeed the prime minister,” he said.

Inside the impoverished Welsh communities turning to Farage’s Reform

Down the dimly lit and depressing Brackla Street arcade, Dragons Indoor Market remains one of only two occupied shopping units. Not for long, however, as low footfall, spiralling business rates and lack of financial security will mean that soon, the entire centre in Bridgend will consist of empty shop fronts.

The shop is filled with artisan crafts and local produce, but shop owner Kim Whitehouse is despondent. Her store initially thrived when she opened it 18 months ago, but the closure of Poundland, Iceland and Wilko in the town centre has reduced her customers to “zero”, and she has decided to close.

“I know that a lot of locals are not happy that so much has shut down and there’s so little in town. Everything that’s opened has been a vape shop or a barbershop. There’s not much chance or support for small businesses to start up around here,” she said.

It is impossible not to notice the dismal state of shopfronts in the south Wales town, which is just 20 miles from Cardiff. In a further blow, the indoor market was forced to abruptly close in September 2023, after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was found in the roof.

Speaking anonymously, one local councillor said: “Whenever we talk to people, they all say they are so fed up with Labour. People view them as penny-pinching from the people that need the money.”

It is a complaint that is echoed across the Welsh valleys. Deprivation is rife, with its population struggling with high levels of unemployment, low pay, an ageing population, long NHS waiting lists and poor distribution of services.

They are issues that Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru and Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK are both hoping to use to their advantage, with early polls ahead of next May’s Senedd elections suggesting that Labour may lose its 100-year hold on Wales.

In the former mining town of Maesteg, a short drive up the Llynfi Valley from Bridgend, Farage’s promise that his party’s policies will be “very different to the status quo” has grabbed the attention of locals.

Jason Ryall, 55, is among those who are switching to Reform, citing immigration, poor support for local businesses and lack of opportunity for young people as his key reasons. “Practically every one of my friends are going to vote Reform,” he said.

“They’re killing all the Labour heartlands up north because people are sick of it. We’ve had Labour for 100 years here, and nothing’s changed, and all the scandals coming out of parliament with their MPs like Angela Rayner has been ridiculous,” he said.

Another shop owner, who did not wish to be named, said: “Labour has always been God in these parts. Not any more, they’ve lost our trust.”

Despite it being a rainy Monday morning, the local Wetherspoons pub, The Sawyers Arms, is busy. For just £3.79, a punter can buy a full English breakfast and a pint, and there is a mix of pensioners, regulars and young people sitting inside.

When asked for their thoughts on their high street, several criticised the high number of takeaways and the brightly coloured vape shops with names such as ‘ESCAPE2VAPE’ and ‘Liquid Lab’ that have become increasingly commonplace.

One thing is certain: community ties are close. Shouts of “alright butt” and ‘how’s it going, pal’ can be heard shouted across the street, and it is evident that the town and its locals are still deeply passionate about their ties to its industrial past.

During the 1920s, more than 7,000 miners were working for the coal industry in Maesteg, with the valley gaining a worldwide reputation for its high-quality steam coal.

Yet the closure of the final mine in 1985 put an end to generations’ worth of families working in the pits, with unemployment rates skyrocketing due to a lack of public and private investment.

“Unemployment and drugs is a key issue here,” says one 76-year-old local, David John Waters. “There’s no opportunity for young people here, without question. All of these places used to be thriving; they’re now like ghost towns.”

Another recent blow has been the closure of the Port Talbot steelworks, one of the main employers in the area. While Tata Steel has started work to build a £1.25bn electric arc furnace, 2,000 employees lost their jobs last year when the last of its coal-burning blast furnaces closed down.

“Families worked in the steelworks, fathers and sons and their sons. There’s nothing around here that they can move on to,” he said. In line with Reform’s policy that net zero is an expensive farce, Farage has vowed to reopen the furnaces, despite that being impossible.

Mr Waters remains sceptical. “It’ll make no difference whatsoever who comes in. No disrespect, but it’s all talk. If you speak to the boys who have worked here all their lives, they’d say the same, and if you went anywhere in the valleys, they’d say the same.”

Dotted around Maesteg are smaller villages such as Caerau, which was identified in a 2019 Welsh government report as the fifth most deprived area in Wales. Rows of grey-coloured social housing stretch down the valley, while its formerly grand Station Hotel remains abandoned after a police raid in 2021 found weapons and drugs.

Driving along the winding roads between the two Rhondda valleys, little remains of the coal mines that formerly blighted the countryside. For over a century, Labour have been able to rely on the support of these former mining communities to propel them into power in both Westminster and the Senedd.

But while the terraced houses remain, loyalty towards Sir Keir Starmer’s party has all but vanished, with Wales’ first minister, Eluned Morgan, now facing an uphill battle to regain trust ahead of the May elections.

At a pub in Treorchy, one local woman says: “The way it’s going with Labour is cruel. Everything is going up and up, the prices in the pub, the amount we pay for the food. I have been a lifelong Labour voter, but I won’t vote for them again.”

Not all are critical of their local Labour councils, with Nigel and Lesley Locke, 56 and 50, praising the work Rhondda Cynon Taff has done to support their charity Valley Veterans. Aiming to help the 7,500 former armed service members who live in the area to access housing and mental health services, they have described the work of local councillors as “marvellous”.

“It’s the bigger people up top who have let us all down,” Lesley says. “It’s general disenchantment with the whole lot of it.” Her husband Nigel adds: “The Conservatives have never really featured around here or been in the valleys. With Reform UK, it’s a groundswell to watch, judging from what we can hear around here.

“Our local council have been very supportive of us as a charity, but it’s the local ones that suffer for what goes on nationally. Starmer is not looked on in a good light anywhere across the world. Nearly every day, there’s a controversy.”

While the pub they sit in is busy, with locals gathering for a bingo competition, the community in Tonypandy faces the same issues as others across the valleys.

“The valleys and west Wales are two of Europe’s most deprived regions,” Joe Rossiter of the Institute of Welsh Affairs says. “They had a lot of infrastructure spending from the EU, and it’s not led to the economic transformation of those communities, really.

“When that money is gone, where is the scale of investment that is going to provide long-term jobs in the future? The Welsh government don’t have the money to do that.”

In mid-December, a YouGov poll showed a two-horse race between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK, with Labour trailing dismally, some 20 points adrift, in third place, tied with the Tories and only one point ahead of the Green Party.

“If those polls come to fruition, that is a fundamental realignment of Welsh politics and will see the end of Labour being prominent for over 100 years,” he said.

Second-highest number of migrant crossings despite Labour crackdown

Sir Keir Starmer’s flagship plans to stop small boats crossing the English Channel have suffered a blow as 41,472 migrants arrived in 2025 – the second-highest annual figure on record.

The Labour prime minister was elected on a pledge to “smash the gangs” and slash the number of people making the perilous journey from France.

But last year’s figure was 13 per cent higher than the total of 36,816 in 2024, when the Conservatives were in charge for the first half of the year, and 41 per cent higher than 2023’s total of 29,437.

The overall number in 2025 was 9 per cent below the all-time high of 45,774 in 2022, meaning that nearly 65,000 migrants have arrived on small boats since Labour came to power.

The development comes after a series of setbacks for the government’s plans to tackle the crisis.

In June, the head of the UK’s borders watchdog, David Bolt, questioned the government’s ability to achieve its promise to “smash the gangs” behind the soaring crossings – and predicted that Rachel Reeves would also fail to meet her flagship pledge to end the use of asylum hotels by 2029.

And in October, it emerged that a migrant who was deported under a new “one in, one out” deal with France had returned to the UK in a small boat just weeks later.

In November, the home secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a new raft of reforms in what she described as “the most significant changes to our asylum system in modern times” in a bid to deter people from coming to the UK and make it easier to deport them.

Under the changes, inspired by the Danish system, refugee status will become temporary, with regular reviews every 30 months. Refugees will also be forced to wait 20 years for permanent settlement in the UK, up from five years currently.

But the plans, yet to be introduced in legislation, have triggered a backlash from Labour MPs, who branded the package “shameful” and said it echoed the rhetoric of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

The Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also said that the measures did not go far enough, and that the UK would have to leave the European Convention on Human Rights in order to resolve the crisis.

In December, the government saw its Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act become law. This piece of legislation introduces new criminal offences and allows law enforcement agencies to use counterterror-style powers to crack down on people-smuggling gangs.

The blow to Sir Keir’s plans could have been worse. For much of 2025, the number of arrivals was running at the highest level seen since data on Channel crossings was first published in 2018.

But the pace slowed down during the last two months of the year, bolstered by long periods when no migrants arrived, including a 28-day run from November 15 to December 12.

However, the average number of people per boat rose again in 2025 to 62, up from 53 in 2024 and 49 in 2023, continuing a trend that has been underway since 2018.

Last month, border security minister Alex Norris told peers that 193 migrants had so far been sent back to France and 195 had arrived in the UK under the returns deal, which is designed to deter people from making the dangerous crossing.

But the scheme has been criticised as “no deterrent at all” by shadow home secretary Chris Philp.

At least 17 people died while attempting the journey last year, according to reports by French and UK authorities, but there is no official record of fatalities in the Channel.

The International Organisation for Migration has reported 36 more migrant deaths, which are believed to be linked to attempts to travel from mainland Europe to the UK.

Reacting to the total number of Channel crossings for 2025, Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: “Most men, women and children taking these journeys have fled oppressive regimes like the Taliban in Afghanistan and brutal civil wars in countries like Sudan.

“No one risks their life on a flimsy boat in the Channel except out of desperation to be safe in a country where they have family or community connections.

“It’s right the government wants to stop Channel crossings, but plans that will punish people found to be refugees are unfair and not an effective deterrent.”

He added that there needs to be a “multi-pronged approach”, including the targeting of gangs alongside international cooperation to ensure that refugees can access safe and legal routes – something Ms Mahmood has included in her plans to overhaul the asylum system.

Five perfect family getaways in Catalonia’s green heart

Looking for a family holiday that combines adventure, nature, and a touch of culture? Catalonia’s green heart is bursting with possibilities, from mountain valleys where flaming torches light up midsummer skies to tranquil wetlands teeming with wildlife. Whether your crew prefers gentle hikes, ancient ruins or ski slopes and riverside trails, this corner of northern Spain offers unforgettable experiences for every age and season. Here are five destinations that prove The Pyrenees of Catalonia might just be Europe’s ultimate family playground.

Located also in Catalan Pyrenees west, near the border with France, Catalonia’s wonderful all-rounder really does have something for the whole family. In terms of culture, it’s a place rich with traditions and history. Kids of all ages will be entranced by the annual summer solstice Fallas festivals, which involve young men carrying flaming torches from high in the mountains down to their villages where they light bonfires and take part in traditional dances late into the night. Even the most heritage-resistant will surely be converted by Vall de Boí’s unmatched collection of astonishingly preserved Romanesque churches, with their evocative towers, atmospheric interiors, and beautiful settings. The area is blessed with trails that will suit the youngest of hikers, like the routes at Salencar de Barruera where you walk along the river following a paved path from a playground to the Salencar wetlands.

Located just west of Andorra near the border with France, the Valls d’Àneu was the first inland part of Catalonia to receive the DTF family tourism certification, and it’s easy to see why. All valleys and peaks, glacial lakes and seemingly endless meadows, it feels like an unspoilt Eden that’s waiting to be explored all year round. In winter, the Espot ski station is a family favourite, with its dedicated beginners area with magic carpets and a drag lift, and its large number of green and blue slopes. Throughout the rest of the year, families flock to one of the region’s great areas of natural splendour: Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, which features more than 200 lakes with breathtaking alpine backdrops, many of them easily accessible on flat family walkways.

A few miles inland from Cadaqués in the Mediterranean, the gorgeous seaside town famous for its postcard-perfect whitewashed architecture, lies one of Catalonia’s big draws for nature-loving families: the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park. A 47km² wetland wonderland, its varied eco-systems are home to an astonishing range of birds and animals from bitterns and marsh harriers to otters and polecats. Parents to budding history buffs are also well-served in the area, which is home to both the Citadel of Roses – a fascinating journey through time that includes Hellenistic ruins, Visigoth-era buildings and Romanesque monasteries – and the archaeological site of Empúries with its reconstructed forum. It also benefits from being one of Catalonia’s culinary hotspots with its highly regarded seafood and excellent wines for deserving mums and dads.

Situated in the west of the Catalan Pyrenees, Pirineus, Noguera Palleresa is a stunning high peak destination that offers a vast range of family-friendly activities. In the snowy season, head to the celebrated Port Ainé ski resort, which has something to suit children of all ages from sledding play areas to treetop adventure parks. In summer, beat a path to the Alt Pirineu Natural Park which has abundant paths ideal for reluctant hikers, many of them with great views of the Pica d’Estats, which at 3143m is the highest mountain in Catalonia. Lovers of adventure sports should head to Sort on the Noguera Pallaresa river, which is the region’s top spot for whitewater rafting with gentle open kayaking for littler kids and thrilling canyoning for teenagers.

The Vall de Camprodon, located in Girona province just North of the town of Ripoll, is famous for its art nouveau architecture. One of the main draws of the Vall de Camprodon is the Ter and Freser Headwaters Natural Park, with its lush valleys and thrilling backdrop of high peaks. It’s a must-visit for aspiring bird-watchers, who if they’re lucky might see Griffon vultures, golden eagles, and Eurasian eagle-owls. Little kids will love the Camprodon Valley Tourist Train, which takes passengers on a 45 minute tour of Camprodon, allowing them to explore the valley and see incredible views of the Pont Nou without too much walking. And everyone will adore the food, particularly the local specialty biscuits, which they’ve been making since the 19th Century.

Plan your sustainable trip to the Catalan Pyrenees at visitpirineus.com/en

Man charged after intruder breaks into Kensington Palace twice

An intruder broke into Kensington Palace twice in the days leading up to Christmas, police have confirmed.

The Metropolitan Police said a 39-year-old man had been charged after the two incidents, which occurred at the royal palace within days.

Derek Egan was arrested on both Sunday, 21 December and Tuesday, 23 December, on suspicion of trespassing on a protected site in Palace Green, Kensington.

He has now been charged with trespassing on a protected site and breaching bail conditions, and was remanded in custody. He appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 24 December.

It is a criminal offence to trespass on a protected site designated under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) 2005.

Kensington Palace is home to a number of members of the Royal Family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The couple use Apartment 1A as their London residence in the palace, but reportedly were not there at the time of the incidents.

It is believed they were staying in their 10-bedroom private country mansion, Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk instead.

In November 2025, the family moved into their “forever home” Forest Lodge, with their children, George, Charlotte and Louis.

William and Kate vacated Adelaide Cottage in Windsor’s Home Park and set up residence in the Grade II-listed eight-bedroom mansion in Windsor Great Park.

‘10 minutes exercise can turn off genes linked to bowel cancer growth’

Just 10 minutes of exercise each day can halt bowel cancer growth and speed up DNA damage repair, a study has found.

Researchers from Newcastle University found that a short bout of exercise can trigger a rapid molecular change in the blood.

The study said that physical activity protects against bowel cancer progression, but the “underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear”.

They collected blood samples from 30 overweight or obese, but otherwise healthy, men before and immediately after a 10-12 minute exercise session, in this case in the form of a cycling test.

They then exposed bowel cancer cells to pre or post-exercise blood serum.

Acute exercise increased the concentration of 13 proteins in serum, they found.

Many of these are linked to reducing inflammation, improving blood vessel function, and metabolism.

When these exercise-induced molecules were applied to bowel cancer cells in the lab, researchers found the activity of 1,364 genes was altered, including those involved in DNA repair, energy production, and cancer cell growth.

Writing in the International Journal of Cancer, the research team said their finding offers a “potential mechanistic explanation for the protective effects of exercise against” bowel cancer.

Dr Sam Orange, senior lecturer in clinical exercise physiology at Newcastle University who led the study, said: “What’s remarkable is that exercise doesn’t just benefit healthy tissues, it sends powerful signals through the bloodstream that can directly influence thousands of genes in cancer cells.

“It’s an exciting insight because it opens the door to find ways that mimic or augment the biological effects of exercise, potentially improving cancer treatment and, crucially, patient outcomes.

“In the future, these insights could lead to new therapies that imitate the beneficial effects of exercise on how cells repair damaged DNA and use fuel for energy.

“These results suggest that exercise doesn’t just benefit healthy tissues, it may also create a more hostile environment for cancer cells to grow.

“Even a single workout can make a difference. One bout of exercise, lasting just 10 minutes, sends powerful signals to the body.

“It’s a reminder that every step, every session, counts when it comes to doing your best to protect your health.”

Genevieve Edwards, chief executive at the charity Bowel Cancer UK, said: “Extensive research shows that people who are more physically active have a lower risk of bowel cancer as well as many other cancers.

“We should be aiming for at least 150 minutes of activity each week, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming.

“Other changes you can make to help reduce your risk of developing bowel cancer include eating plenty of fibre from whole grains, pulses, fruits, and vegetables, avoiding processed meat and limiting red meat, being a healthy body weight, stopping smoking and cutting down on alcohol.

“Making lifestyle changes can be a challenge, but we believe it’s worth the effort.”