Connect with us

Published

on

The Princess of Wales has had her handbag “stolen” by a baby boy on a visit.

One-year-old Daniel reached out and snatched Kate’s handbag as the royal stopped to talk to mother-of-two Lucy Williams.

The “priceless” moment came at the end of a trip to the Aberfan Memorial Garden on Friday – the site of a 1966 disaster in which 144 people were killed.

Mrs Williams, 30, whose mother-in-law survived the tragedy, described the “memorable” encounter and praised the Princess of Wales for the way she handled her curious child.

She said: “He just stole her handbag. He took a shine to it and she let him play with it.”

Her mother-in-law, Carole Williams, added meeting the royal had been “priceless – something to remember”.

Prince William and Kate were visiting Aberfan, the site of the 1966 coal tip disaster, for the first time.

A coal-tip avalanche released ash slurry covering homes and schools, leading to the deaths of 116 children and 28 adults.

The Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to the Aberfan memorial garden, to pay their respects to those who lost their lives during the Aberfan disaster on October 21st 1966. Picture date: Friday April 28, 2023.

The Prince and Princess of Wales walked through the Aberfan Memorial Garden to pay their respects to the victims of the disaster.

As they arrived, they were greeted by people in the village, which is not far from Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales.

They were shown around the memorial garden, which sits on the site where Pantglas Primary School used to be.

It was swallowed by the landslide on the morning of 21 October 1966 – with pupils still inside.

Aberfan survivor and former Pantglas student, David Davies, along with Lord Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan, Professor Peter Vaughan, guided them through the garden.

The couple also met trustees from the Aberfan Memorial Trust who maintain the garden and spoke to some of the Aberfan Wives group who lost relatives in the incident.

The Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to the Aberfan memorial garden, to pay their respects to those who lost their lives during the Aberfan disaster on October 21st 1966. Picture date: Friday April 28, 2023.
Image:
David Davies, an Aberfan survivor, showed the royal couple around the memorial garden
The Prince and Princess of Wales (centre) speak to 'Aberfan Wives' during a visit to the Aberfan memorial garden, to pay their respects to those who lost their lives during the Aberfan disaster on October 21st 1966. Picture date: Friday April 28, 2023.
Image:
The Aberfan Wives group lost family in the tragedy

Queen Elizabeth II – William’s late grandmother – visited the site eight days after the disaster and after a mass funeral had taken place.

Her initial absence was criticised at the time and it was said that the delay was one of the greatest regrets of her reign.

Nevertheless, mourners gathered to meet the Queen on 29 October 1966 and it is said the bond formed lasted the rest of her life.

The Queen went on to open the memorial garden in 1974 for survivors, victims’ families and the village to pay their respects.

She also opened a new school called Ynysowen Community Primary on her final trip to Aberfan in 2012.

Read more:
Prince William and Kate abseil off Brecon Beacons cliff
Coronation stamps issued by Royal Mail

Britain's Queen Elizabeth (L) arrives to open Ynysowen Primary School in Aberfan, south Wales April 27, 2012. REUTERS/Darren Staples
Image:
Queen Elizabeth opened Ynysowen Primary School in Aberfan, in 2012

On the 50th anniversary of the disaster, the King – then the Prince of Wales – visited the village with a message from the Queen.

In it, she said: “I well remember my own visit with Prince Philip after the disaster and the posy I was given by a young girl which bore the heartbreaking inscription ‘from the remaining children of Aberfan’.

“Since then we have returned on several occasions and have always been deeply impressed by the remarkable fortitude, dignity and indomitable spirit that characterises the people of this village and the surrounding valleys.”

Continue Reading

UK

‘I recognise the error and upset caused’ – Gary Lineker releases statement as BBC departure confirmed

Published

on

By

'I recognise the error and upset caused' - Gary Lineker releases statement as BBC departure confirmed

Gary Lineker has confirmed reports he is leaving the BBC after this season’s Match Of The Day and will no longer present its World Cup coverage.

It comes after the 64-year-old “apologised unreservedly” for sharing a social media post illustrated with a rat – which has been used to represent Jewish people in antisemitic propaganda, including Nazi Germany.

In a statement on Monday, Lineker said: “Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember – both on the pitch and in the studio.

Read more: A history of Gary Lineker’s most controversial posts

“I care deeply about the game, and about the work I’ve done with the BBC over many years. As I’ve said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic – it goes against everything I stand for.

“However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”

File pic: PA
Image:
Lineker has fronted Match Of The Day since 1999. PA

Lineker said he deleted the post when he learned about the rat’s symbolism, adding that he would “never knowingly share anything antisemitic”.

In a video posted to Instagram, the pundit added: “I’ve stood up for minorities and humanitarian issues and against all forms of racism all of my life, including, of course, antisemitism, which I absolutely abhor.

“There’s no place for it and never should be.”

He went on to thank the “brilliant, talented” people he has worked with and described his relationship with the BBC as “long and wonderful”.

He added: “But it’s the right time for the organisation and myself to go our separate ways.”

Lineker’s last appearance on the BBC will be on Sunday 25 May, the final day of the season.

What are the BBC guidelines on impartiality?

Gary Lineker signed a five-year deal with the BBC in 2020, under which he agreed to adhere to their impartiality rules.

The rules were then updated after his return to Match Of The Day in 2023.

The latest regulations say high-profile BBC presenters should be able to express their views on political issues as long as they stop short of campaigning.

It does not clarify what would constitute political campaigning for the big-name presenters.

The guidelines also stress the importance of “high standards of civility in public discourse”, which includes treating others with respect, even in the face of abuse and not using offensive or aggressive language.

The policy only applies to presenters outside of its news coverage. News presenters are still subject to stricter impartiality guidelines.

‘A defining voice in football coverage’

Also confirming Lineker’s exit, BBC director general Tim Davie said: “Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season.

“Gary has been a defining voice in football coverage for the BBC for over two decades. His passion and knowledge have shaped our sports journalism and earned him the respect of sports fans across the UK and beyond.

“We want to thank him for the contribution he has made.”

Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan, who have been announced as new Match of the Day presenters.
Pic BBC/PA
Image:
Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will share the role of presenting Match of the Day. Pic BBC/PA

The former England star announced in November he would step down from Match Of The Day this year, but was set to return to front the World Cup in 2026, as well as FA Cup coverage.

The presenter was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 after an impartiality row over comments he made criticising the then Conservative government’s asylum policy.

He will be replaced on Match Of The Day by Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman, who will share the presenting role from the next Premier League season.

Lineker has hosted Match Of The Day since 1999 and has been the BBC’s highest-paid on-air talent for seven consecutive years.

He is also the co-founder of podcast producing company Goalhanger, which makes the popular The Rest Is History series and its spin-offs about politics, football, entertainment and money.

Lineker parting ways with the BBC also includes the licensing deal for Goalhanger podcast titles on BBC Sounds which ends this year, the PA news agency reported.

Continue Reading

UK

‘Significant’ personal data exposed in cyber attack on Legal Aid Agency

Published

on

By

'Significant' personal data exposed in cyber attack on Legal Aid Agency

A “significant amount of personal data” of people who applied to the Legal Aid Agency – including criminal records – was accessed and downloaded by hackers, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said.

The group that carried out the cyber attack says it accessed 2.1 million pieces of data, but the MoJ has not verified that figure, it is understood.

The government became aware of the incident on 23 April, but realised on Friday it was more extensive than first thought.

An MoJ source put the breach down to the “neglect and mismanagement” of the previous government, saying vulnerabilities in the Legal Aid Agency systems have been known for many years.

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA), is an executive agency, sponsored by the MoJ, which is responsible for administering legal aid funding – around £2.3bn in 2023/24.

The data accessed affected those who applied for legal aid in the last 15 years, and may include contact details and addresses of legal aid applicants, their dates of birth, national insurance numbers, criminal history, employment status and financial data such as contribution amounts, debts and payments.

The MoJ has urged anyone who applied for legal aid since 2010 to update any passwords that could have been exposed, and be alert to unknown messages and phone calls.

More on Cyberattacks

The organisation’s digital services, which are used by legal aid providers to log their work and get paid, have been taken offline.

‘We needed to take radical action’

Legal Aid Agency chief executive Jane Harbottle has apologised for the breach and acknowledged the news would be “shocking and upsetting”.

“Since the discovery of the attack, my team has been working around the clock with the National Cyber Security Centre to bolster the security of our systems so we can safely continue the vital work of the agency,” she said.

“However, it has become clear that, to safeguard the service and its users, we needed to take radical action. That is why we’ve taken the decision to take the online service down,” she said.

Ms Harbottle said contingency plans are in place for those who need legal support and advice.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Retail disruption to ‘last months’

The Law Society, an organisation representing solicitors across the UK, blamed the attack on Legal Aid’s “antiquated IT system”.

“The incident once again demonstrates the need for sustained investment to bring the LAA’s antiquated IT system up to date and ensure the public have continued trust in the justice system,” said a Law Society spokesperson.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it is working with the National Crime Agency and National Cyber Security Centre to investigate the data breach.

The National Crime Agency said it was aware of the incident and was working closely with the MoJ to “better understand the incident and support the department”.

It comes after retailers Co-op, Harrods and Marks & Spencer were hit by cyber attacks, although there is no suggestion that they are connected to the incident at the LAA.

Continue Reading

UK

The Who drummer sacked from band for second time in a month

Published

on

By

The Who drummer sacked from band for second time in a month

The Who’s drummer Zak Starkey has been sacked by the band, marking the second time he has left in the past month.

The band’s guitarist Pete Townshend made a statement on Instagram on Sunday, saying: “After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change.

“A poignant time. Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best.”

The announcement comes weeks before the iconic British rock group’s farewell tour.

In response, Starkey, who had been a band member since 1996, said in an Instagram post he would “never have quit” and had experienced “weeks of mayhem”.

“I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit to follow my other musical endeavours,” he wrote.

“Not true. I love The Who and would never have quit and let down so many amazing people who stood up for me through all this madness.”

Reports surfaced in April that the band had taken the “collective decision” to sack Starkey after a row over their Teenage Cancer Trust shows in March.

Roger Daltrey from The Who performs during the Teenage Cancer Trust show at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday March 30, 2025.
Image:
Roger Daltrey and Starkey on stage at the Royal Albert Hall in March. Pic: PA


A review of one gig, published in the Metro, suggested frontman Roger Daltrey, who launched the annual gig series for the charity in 2000, had been “frustrated” with the drumming during some tracks.

According to the review, Daltrey at one point paused a song and said: “To sing that song I do need to hear the key, and I can’t. All I’ve got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I can’t sing to that. I’m sorry guys.”

At the time, the 59-year-old drummer said he was “surprised and saddened” by news of his sacking.

Three days after the reports came out, a statement on the band’s official social media pages titled “News Flash! Who Backs Zak,” said he was “not being asked to step down from The Who”.

Read more:
Inside Diddy’s star-studded parties
Austria wins Eurovision

In it, Townshend said: “There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with, and these have been aired happily.

“Roger and I would like Zak to tighten up his latest evolved drumming style to accommodate our non-orchestral line-up and he has readily agreed.”

Later in the lengthy statement, he said regarding the gigs: “Zak made a few mistakes and he has apologised.”

At that point, Starkey – who is the son of The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr – reposted Townshend’s statement, with the message: “V grateful to be a part of the Who family Thanks Roger and Pete xx”.

Starkey also drums for supergroup Mantra Of The Cosmos – along with fellow musicians Shaun Ryder and Bez from Happy Mondays, and Andy Bell of Ride and Oasis – and has previously played with Oasis, Lightning Seeds and Johnny Marr.

Continue Reading

Trending