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It’s a pattern, I’m told, that we’re going to have to get used to over the coming weeks.

Seeing the King travel to London for short amounts of time for treatment and meetings before heading off to one of his homes in the countryside to rest. Leaving the Queen to hold the fort, publicly at least.

Since Buckingham Palace announced the King has cancer it’s been up to Camilla to travel the country, rattling through a dozen engagements, and bringing a new unintentional focus onto her work.

She’s doing a good job of putting on a brave face.

It was all smiles as she was surrounded by a glittering array of acting royalty at a Shakespeare event this week.

The King was also due to be there. Instead, Camilla, on her own, was affectionately given a knitted jumper with an enormous red heart on it for Valentines by Gyles Brandreth, and another one to take back to the love of her life.

Queen Camilla meets (front row third left) with Dames (left to right back row) Joanna Lumley, Floella Benjamin, Twiggy Lawson, Harriet Walter, Penelope Wilton, Maureen Lipman (left to right front row) Virginia McKenna, Sian Phillips, Vanessa Redgrave, Penelope Keith and Patricia Routledge at a Celebration of Shakespeare event at Grosvenor House, central London, marking 400 years since the first Shakespeare folio. Picture date: Wednesday February 14, 2024.
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Queen Camilla meets dames for a celebration of a Shakespeare event. Pic: PA

That Camilla would be his Queen and centre stage in this way would once have been unthinkable to some.

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Ingrid Seward has been the Editor of Majesty magazine since the 1980s and told me for a long time they wouldn’t put Camilla on the cover.

“When Camilla first became truly visible with Prince Charles, our readers didn’t like her… the turnaround has been very gradual, and people’s memories are very short.

“They probably don’t remember that she was so vilified and hated and she was, actually, after Diana died, she was a complete prisoner in her own house. So much so that Prince Charles’s chef used to prepare meals and they would be sent round to her.”

‘Indifference but not full acceptance’

Opinion has undoubtedly softened over the years. But at times it feels more like indifference rather than full acceptance.

For example, not everyone accepts her new title.

Outside the London Clinic, some passers-by were confused when we said the Queen was visiting the King.

King Charles and Queen Camilla leave The London Clinic.
File pic: AP
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King Charles and Queen Camilla leaving The London Clinic last month.
File pic: AP

“We don’t have a Queen anymore,” they said – the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II is so strong.

Talking to other royal journalists they also find that any positive stories about Camilla do still get negative comments.

The palace doesn’t appear overly worried.

One insider said to me: “This isn’t a popularity contest, it’s public service”, stressing how Camilla, despite obviously being concerned for her husband, has been “determined for his sake, and the sake of the institution, to keep to the diary of engagements”.

Watch her at work and you can’t fault the way she gets stuck in.

At an event in Bath, she was on her hands and knees scrabbling about on the floor helping a pensioner to find the name badge she’d just dropped.

It’s an easy manner that means people open up, the pensioner in question, offering some words of sympathy, “it’s not easy for you people to have something, it’s always in the papers”, she said reflecting on the King’s diagnosis.

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Queen showcases her table tennis skills

What has helped the Queen to find her feet is a loyal group of women she’s met through her charity work.

Relationships that have grown closer and into friendships over time because of Camilla’s dedication to certain causes like domestic violence, osteoporosis, and literacy.

Maggie’s, the cancer charity, was one of the first patronages she took on after marrying Prince Charles.

Read more:
Queen Camilla’s guests wish King Charles ‘speedy recovery’
Smiling King Charles attends church for first time since cancer diagnosis

Camilla possesses ‘magical skill’

Chief executive Dame Laura Lee first met her in 2008 and said Camilla’s always known what’s been expected of her.

“Obviously she’s come into the family but I think she understands the role of service of giving and giving back and with that receiving the sense of making a difference to people’s lives.

“From the first day that I met her 15 years ago it was there… her curiosity and interest in people, her humour. She always, I think, leaves the room with people feeling better than when they arrived and that is a very magical skill that’s particular to her.”

This coming week her diary is again looking busy with receptions.

We’re also expecting to see the King’s first meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in person since his diagnosis.

On Tuesday, he surprised guests at one of Camilla’s events at Clarence House by sticking his head around the door and waving.

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It’s fair to say he’s feeling frustrated that he’s not allowed to do more, but those are doctors’ orders and I’m told he’s full of admiration for how his wife is picking up the public duties.

Royal sources tell me her influence is also strongly felt inside the palace.

Like Prince Philip, you could say she’s the monarch’s eyes and ears. The King listens to her opinions and that’s led to changes in how things are done.

Whatever others might think of her, Camilla’s support privately and publicly is now more important than ever for her husband, as they face another difficult phase in their lives together.

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Inside police efforts to crack down on violent and knife crime in Manchester

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Inside police efforts to crack down on violent and knife crime in Manchester

“I’d say the last two years people are just – they just don’t care anymore, they are using knives and doing all sorts.”

PC Maguire, 28, speaks with the authority of experience: experience that comes from working in Greater Manchester’s most high-crime areas.

“I remember when I was a teenager,” she says, “you’d never really hear of people carrying a knife or anything. But now it’s the normal thing to do.”

“It’s mad,” she adds.

PC Maguire on patrol
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PC Maguire on patrol – her face is blurred because she also does undercover work for the unit

PC Maguire is part of Operation Venture, an elite policing unit within Greater Manchester Police set up to tackle serious violence and knife crime.

Over the past two months, we’ve been given exclusive access to watch them work.

Moped chase

We’re on a Friday afternoon vehicle patrol in south Manchester with another member of the Venture team, Sgt Mohammed Waqas, when his radio, and that of fellow officer PC Hodge, who’s driving, starts pinging.

Their plain clothes team has spotted two youths in balaclavas, on a moped, weaving in and out of traffic.

“We suspect they are involved in some sort of knife-point robberies,” Sgt Waqas says.

The moped has also had its registration plates pulled off – officers suspect it’s been stolen.

The team starts searching the streets and is flagged down by a passing driver who says he’s just had to swerve to avoid hitting a moped.

One of the GMP officers during the hunt for the moped which was carrying three youths
Image:
One of the GMP officers during the hunt for the moped which was suspected to have been stolen

“They’re little idiots, up there!” the driver says, visibly angry. “There are kids around.

“I swear to god I felt like f*****g chasing them down, and kicking them up the arse.”

Meanwhile, the unit’s covert officers are waiting where the moped has been previously spotted.

When it returns, a short while later, there are three youths onboard.

The team detain one, a 16-year-old who is known to them, but the two other youths get away.

The youths on the moped filming themselves escaping from police - suspects filming escapes and incidents and then posting it online has grown increasingly common
Image:
The youths on the moped filming themselves escaping from police – suspects filming escapes and incidents and then posting it online has grown increasingly common

Sgt Waqas and PC Hodge take up the chase, following the moped at speed as it runs red lights.

Incredibly, we see one of the moped riders filming it all on their mobile phone.

Later, the officers tell us: “They’ll probably post it online.”

But right now, they are focused on trying to catch them, which, in rush hour traffic, proves impossible.

They lose them – “yeah, total loss”, Sgt Waqas reports via his radio to the comms operator.

“Just to log as well,” he adds, “two males, white males, both got balaclavas on.”

“One of them has possibly got something in his jacket. Can’t tell what it is, just the way that he was holding himself.”

It’s extremely frustrating for the team.

The elite unit has taken over 250 knives off of Manchester's streets - an officer holds one of the knives recovered that he describes as a 'rambo' blade
Image:
The elite unit has taken 250 knives off of Manchester’s streets – an officer holds one of the knives recovered that he describes as a ‘rambo’ blade

A baby buggy, a knife and £50,000 cash

A few hours later, during a patrol in Salford, we see the sorts of weapons they are up against.

We’re with PC Maguire again, on vehicle patrol, when a police camera flags a car with links to suspected drug supply.

Along with another of the unit’s patrol cars, PC Maguire works to get into a formation to box in the suspect’s vehicle.

“XR2, show me as Car two,” PC Maguire tells a radio operator, having quickly made ground to get the vehicle in her sights.

“You want to get a stop on, before they have an opportunity to get away,” she explains.

But, after a brief pursuit through the dark streets, the car they are following pulls over of its own accord.

The driver, who’s in his 20s, is searched – as is his vehicle.

Inside, along with baby buggies and car seats, officers find a knife in the glovebox and a shoebox full of cash.

One of the knives officers recovered
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One of the knives officers recovered during the elite unit’s work

The car pulled over by the officers was full of baby equipment, as well as a knife and cash
Image:
The car pulled over by the officers was full of baby equipment, as well as a knife and cash

The cash recovered by officers from car - thought to be around £50,000
Image:
The cash recovered by officers from car – thought to be around £50,000

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Officers estimate there’s about £50,000 in there.

After brief questioning on site, the man tells officers that he’s been staying at a house nearby and admits there’s another weapon in there.

A few minutes later, PC Ben Cartledge – another Operation Venture officer – comes out holding what looks like a huge knife.

“It’s a machete,” he says, “it was in the bedroom.”

It’s extremely heavy and looks terrifying.

The machete recovered by officers as part of Operation Venture
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The machete recovered by officers in Greater Manchester Police’s Operation Venture unit from the bedroom of a suspect they pulled over

One of Operation Venture's officers minutes before they pull over a car with £50,000 cash and a knife
Image:
One of Operation Venture’s officers minutes before they pull over a car with £50,000 cash and a knife

“I’m not going to lie to you, mate, it’s for protection only,” the arrested man says, when PC Cartledge arrests him on a further offence of having an offensive weapon in a private place.

It’s a line officers have heard before.

“There’s that social media side of it,” a senior officers says.

“Sometimes they’ll film themselves doing the robbery and sharing it around, and that becomes the normality.

“So then people will sometimes carry weapons to protect themselves.”

The unit uses a combination of proactive stop and search, intelligence-led policing and undercover tactics.

It’s why we can name officers but sometimes not show faces.

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Capture: Victims of second Post Office scandal to receive ‘recognition’ payments before compensation

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Capture: Victims of second Post Office scandal to receive 'recognition' payments before compensation

The government will give ‘recognition’ payments to Post Office Capture victims before they receive full compensation.

Former sub-postmasters and their families who are entitled to redress have been told the initial amount, which is yet to be finalised, could be £10,000.

Capture was a faulty computer system used by sub postmasters in the 1990s – before the Horizon scandal.

A report last year found the software is likely to have caused errors in accounting.

A redress scheme is currently being set up for those affected and could possibly be introduced by the end of the summer.

Steve Marston, a Capture user who was convicted of stealing from his Post Office in 1996, describes “quite a lot of progress” at a government meeting but raised concerns over pace.

He told Sky News: “I’m more than happy that the compensation scheme is going to be put in place as quickly as possible.

More on Post Office Scandal

“None of us are guaranteed how long we’re going to be here. We just want people to see recognition as soon as possible.”

Steve and Jan Marston
Image:
Steve Marston with his wife Jan

Ken Tooby’s late wife June was a Capture victim. Ken is seriously ill in hospital so his family has sent a plea to the government to “sort this Capture business asap”.

June Tooby represented herself in court in 2003 and challenged the Post Office over its “faulty” software system.

The evidence she compiled led to the Kroll investigation into Capture concluding there was a “reasonable likelihood” the software caused accounting errors.

Another victim, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Sky News he was “frustrated” at the slow progress of redress, describing it as “like pulling teeth”.

He also raised concerns over interim payments potentially being “too low”, claiming the government may be trying to “keep people sweet”.

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PO miscarriages of justice cases ‘double’

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), meanwhile, is currently investigating 28 convictions and it’s hoped decisions will be made over whether to refer cases to the Court of Appeal by the end of the year.

Neil Hudgell, lawyer for Capture victims, said there was a “positive dialogue” at the latest meeting between government officials and families.

“The real frustration is the time it takes because of the processes that are involved,” he said. “I can see why it would take as long as it has.

“But [victims] just want peace and to see the end of it… There’s a real acute need to bring matters to a close.”

On timescales, he said there were “no guarantees” but a “guesstimate” was that redress will start “to flow… in the second half of the year”.

Mr Hudgell said he would be “disappointed” if conviction cases have not been progressed by the CCRC by this autumn.

“I don’t under emphasise the amount of work they’ve got – it involves multiple cases… I think they’ve got enough evidence now to start to formulate a decision,” he said.

A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: “Postmasters have already endured immeasurable suffering, and we continue to listen to those who have been sharing their stories on the Capture system.

“Ensuring postmasters are treated with dignity and respect is our absolute priority.

“Officials met with postmasters [on Wednesday] as part of our commitment to develop an effective and fair redress process for those affected by Capture.

“We will continue to update on the development of the redress mechanism as it progresses.”

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Two children from Gaza enter UK for specialist medical care for first time after months of struggle

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Two children from Gaza enter UK for specialist medical care for first time after months of struggle

It was a welcome party of sorts, and it was assembled near arrivals at Heathrow’s Terminal 5.

A few people clutched flowers, others brought presents, while everyone carried a sense of relief.

Two children from Gaza had been given permission to enter Britain for specialist medical care and the pair would arrive on the evening flight from Cairo.

It was a significant moment – the first time UK visas had been granted to children from this war-ravaged enclave – and the product of months of struggle by a small group of British volunteers.

Ghena Abed, five, needs urgent treatment to save the vision in her left eye
Image:
Ghena Abed, five, needs urgent treatment to save the vision in her left eye

As those in attendance offered up a cheer, a five-year-old called Ghena Abed emerged shyly from behind the security gates. With fluid pressing on her optic nerve, she needs urgent treatment to save the vision in her left eye.

Also in this party was a 12-year-old girl called Rama Qudiah. She is weak and malnourished and suffers from incontinence. Medics think she requires an operation on her bowel.

Medics think Rama Qudiah, 12, needs a bowel operation
Image:
Medics think Rama Qudiah, 12, needs a bowel operation

Her mother, Rana, told us their arrival in Britian “is just a like a dream”.

Her daughter has certainly been fortunate. A small number of children from Gaza have benefited from medical evacuations, with the majority receiving care in countries in the Middle East, Europe, as well as the United States.

Rama's mother, Rana
Image:
Rama’s mother, Rana

In March, the Israelis signed a deal with Jordan which could allow 2,000 children to leave the enclave for treatment of war injuries and conditions like cancer. However, just 29 were allowed to go at first instance.

The process has not been easy

Until now, not a single child from Gaza has entered the UK for medical care since the start of the current conflict, and the process has not been an easy one for the volunteers at Project Pure Hope.

They told Sky News it has taken 17 months to arrange temporary visas for Ghena and Rama.

Dr Farzana Rahman from Project Pure Hope
Image:
Dr Farzana Rahman from Project Pure Hope

“A lot of us are health care workers and I think it’s in our DNA that when we see people who are suffering, particularly children, we want to try and do something and that’s what motivated us,” says Dr Farzana Rahman from Project Pure Hope.

When asked why she thinks it has taken so much time to secure their visas, Dr Rahman said: “I don’t know.”

Group argues it has no time to lose to help other children

But it is clear the arrival of children from Gaza is an issue of sensitivity. The British volunteers told us on a number of occasions that all costs would be met by private sources. The children will return to Gaza when the treatment is completed.

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Project Pure Hope is not finished, however – group members have drawn up a list of other children they can help, and argue they have no time to lose.

“One of the hardest parts of trying to make progress in this area is that delays cost lives. A number of children have died who we haven’t been able to help and this is an urgent situation and I think for all of us that’s the hardest part,” says Dr Rahman.

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