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The King is too busy to see Prince Harry during his visit to the UK, the duke’s spokesperson has said.

Harry is in London for an event celebrating 10 years of the Invictus Games.

It marks the first time the royal has been in the country since his rushed visit to see the King in February after the monarch’s cancer diagnosis.

There had been press speculation that the pair would meet up again on his latest trip, but a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex has said the King is too busy to see his son.

“In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the duke will meet with his father while in
the UK this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme,” the spokesperson said.

“The duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”

Louise Minchin, Prince Harry and Sir Keith Mills .
Pic: Getty Images for The Invictus Games Foundation
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Prince Harry speaks at the event near the City of London. Pic: Getty Images for The Invictus Games Foundation

The King returned to public duties last week for the first time since his diagnosis for an unspecified form of cancer.

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Buckingham Palace has said his diary will be carefully managed to minimise any risks to his health.

The palace has also said it would not comment on matters relating to Harry.

The monarch held an audience with the prime minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, at Buckingham Palace today as Harry was seen in the UK.

Prince Harry and Sir Keith Mill.
Pic: Getty Images for The Invictus Games Foundation
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Pic: Getty Images for The Invictus Games Foundation

Prince Harry
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A Sky News camera captured Prince Harry arriving at an Invictus event in central London

Earlier, a Sky News camera captured Prince Harry arriving at the Honourable Artillery Company’s headquarters on the edge of the City of London for a one-day summit, called the Invictus Games Foundation Conversation.

The event is looking back over the decade-long history of the games which Harry founded in 2014 as a Paralympics-style sporting event for injured and sick military personnel and veterans.

It is taking place ahead of a ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday to mark the 10th anniversary of the games.

The ceremony will be the first major event Harry has attended in Britain for some time.

King Charles III during an audience with Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, at Buckingham Palace today. Pic: PA
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King Charles during an audience with the prime minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, at Buckingham Palace today. Pic: PA

Harry hails legacy that ‘transcends sports’

Speaking in a foreword at the summit taking place today ahead of the St Paul’s service, Harry said: “It has been an honour to watch the Invictus Games Foundation grow over the years; what began as a vision to pay tribute to the courage and resilience of wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans, has flourished into an international organisation built on hope, strength, and unity.”

The duke also wrote: “We are eager to celebrate the Invictus Spirit once again – exemplified in every single competitor, staff, friend and family member – your commitment, enthusiasm and belief, have been the driving force behind our continued success.”

He added: “Together, we have created a legacy that transcends sports; a community that embraces compassion, respect, and the unyielding belief in the power of the human spirit. As we celebrate this milestone, let us recommit to the Invictus mission.”

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Hollywood star to feature at St Paul’s service

It is not known if any other members of the Royal Family will be in attendance at the ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday.

British actor Damian Lewis is set to recite the Invictus poem during the service.

Representatives from across the Invictus Games participating nations, including members of the wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veteran community, will also be in attendance.

Following his visit to Britain, Harry will be joined by his wife Meghan for a trip to Nigeria.

The Duke of Sussex served in the UK military himself for 10 years from 2005 and was deployed to Afghanistan on two occasions.

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From February: Prince Harry and Meghan visit training camp

Harry was inspired to found the Invictus Games after attending the Warrior Games in Colorado in 2013 and seeing how injured American military personnel thrived on the challenge of taking part in competitive sports that aided their recovery.

He went on to stage the inaugural games in London’s Olympic Park in 2014, followed by Orlando in 2016, Toronto in 2017 and Sydney 2018.

Harry has been living with Meghan in California since they quit their roles as senior working royals in March 2020.

The couple have two children together – Archie and Lilibet.

Harry has only visited the UK a few times since his decision to move to the US.

His latest trip comes after reports of a rift between himself and his brother William, the heir to the throne.

In a tell-all book published in January last year, Harry made several explosive claims about the royals – detailing fallouts with his family, including William.

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Oleksandr Usyk defeats Tyson Fury to become heavyweight champion of the world

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Oleksandr Usyk defeats Tyson Fury to become heavyweight champion of the world

Oleksandr Usyk has become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world after defeating Tyson Fury in boxing’s biggest fight of the century.

The Ukrainian won on a split decision following the match in Saudi Arabia.

Usyk had 115-112 and 114-113 on two cards, while Fury took the other 114-113.

Oleksandr Usyk lands a punch on Tyson Fury. Pic: PA
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Oleksandr Usyk lands a punch on Tyson Fury. Pic: PA

Fury disputed his loss after the match, saying: “I believe I won that fight. I believe he won a few rounds but I won more of them.

“Make no mistake I won that fight and I’ll be back.”

In response Usyk said he was “ready for a rematch”.

Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk. Pic: Action Images via Reuters
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Pic: Action Images via Reuters

Fury came under early pressure, with Usyk taking the centre of the ring with an aggressive offensive from the start.

At one point Fury was pushed against the ropes and started laughing as Usyk applied pressure.

The “Gypsy King” looked relaxed as he moved around the ring in the early rounds and picked his shots.

Pic: PA
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Pic: PA

Tyson Fury lunges at Oleksandr Usyk. Pic: PA
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Fury lunges at Usyk. Pic: PA

But after Usyk landed a right hook in the ninth round it looked as if Fury was in serious trouble. The Ukrainian followed up by unloading freely but somehow the bookmakers’ favourite stayed on his feet and was saved by the bell.

Last night, Fury weighed in at 262lbs (18st 10lbs) – nearly three stone heavier than Usyk, who clocked in at a career heaviest of 223lbs (15st 13lbs).

Fury refused to look at his opponent during a news conference on Thursday, but did not back down at the weigh-in last night, where the pair almost came to blows before being separated by their entourages.

Usyk arrived into the ring first, dressed as a Cossack warrior.

Fury entered to songs by Barry White and Bonnie Tyler, with the “Gypsy King” spending several minutes dancing on stage before the song changed to Holding Out For A Hero.

Anthony Joshua watched from the ringside, knowing he could meet the winner early next year.

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Brixham: Warning ‘heads are going to roll’ after water parasite outbreak – as ‘nearly every house in one close has someone ill’

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Brixham: Warning 'heads are going to roll' after water parasite outbreak - as 'nearly every house in one close has someone ill'

Thousands of homes have had their boiling water restrictions lifted after a water tank infected with cryptosporidium was drained and cleaned, South West Water has said.

About 16,000 households in the Brixham area of Devon were told to boil their drinking water following 46 confirmed cases of the disease.

On Saturday afternoon South West Water lifted the boiling restrictions for 14,500 homes after water quality monitoring results found no traces of cryptosporidium in the Alston supply area.

Cryptosporidiosis is caused by a tiny parasite and can lead to vomiting, stomach cramps and watery diarrhoea lasting about two weeks.

More cases are expected to be confirmed due to a delay in developing symptoms – and about 100 more people around Brixham were reporting signs of it on Friday.

South West Water believes the parasite probably entered supplies through a damaged pipe in a field containing animal faeces.

A contaminated water tank at Hillhead reservoir, where cryptosporidium was detected, was drained overnight and “thoroughly cleaned” on Saturday, South West Water said.

One local resident said she knew of only four houses out of 21 in Raddicombe Close, on the outskirts of Brixham, which have not had at least one person fall ill with cryptosporidiosis.

The local MP has warned “heads are going to roll” over the incident.

Tory MP Anthony Mangnall, whose constituency includes Brixham, told LBC: “This is such a serious matter that yes, I think heads are going to roll over this.”

He claimed the supplier had been too slow to issue its safety alert.

An area around Brixham, Devon, affected by a 'boil your tap water' warning. Pic: South West Water
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16,000 businesses and residents are affected by the boil water notice. Pic: South West Water

Mr Mangnall said: “From starting this week with a denial from South West Water that it was anything to do with them, delaying the fact that the boil water notice came in – meaning thousands of people used the water network – to then issuing it on Wednesday, and there are a lot of people who are very ill.”

He called it an “absolutely disastrous week” and said locals were furious.

South West Water has said it’s “deeply sorry” and that it’s been “working tirelessly” to identify the source of the problem and fix it.

One of the sites where locals have queued up to collect bottled water
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Bottled water stations have been set up in the area.

Read more:
What we know about parasite found in drinking water

Parasite outbreak has ‘destroyed’ business

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey accused the government of not doing enough to hold water companies to account.

He told Sky News the firms were “putting profit over the environment, over public health” after multiple cases of sewage being released into rivers and seas.

“We [Liberal Democrats] wouldn’t wait for fines for pollution,” Sir Ed said.

“There should be a sewage tax on the profits of these water companies so we can get the money now.

“There needs to be much tougher regulation… and we may need to look at restructuring the whole water industry.”

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Kelly Holmes joins anti-sewage protest

It comes as dozens of protests over sewage releases were planned for Saturday.

Surfers Against Sewage is promoting “paddle-out” demonstrations at 30 locations, with Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes among those at the event in Brighton.

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Devon: Confirmed cases of disease more than double to 46 after parasite found in drinking water

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Devon: Confirmed cases of disease more than double to 46 after parasite found in drinking water

The confirmed cases of a waterborne disease caused by a parasite have more than doubled.

There are now 46 confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis, a diarrhoeal illness, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said – with more than 100 further people reporting similar symptoms in the Brixham area.

Other reported cases of diarrhoea and vomiting in residents and visitors to the south Devon town are also under investigation. Hundreds of locals have also reported feeling unwell over the last two weeks on social media.

MPs and South West Water officials have confirmed the parasite most likely entered water supplies through animal faeces, but an investigation is still ongoing.

What is cryptosporidiosis disease?

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‘Cow faeces’ infected Devon water

The UKHSA first confirmed cases of the disease at around midday on Wednesday, while locals were initially told by South West Water that their tap water was uncontaminated and safe to drink.

But after testing supplies in the Hillhead reservoir, the water company found “small traces” of the parasite cryptosporidium – which causes cryptosporidiosis – and told residents in parts of Brixham and Alston to boil their drinking water on Wednesday.

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A total of 16,000 households and businesses in Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and North West Paignton were impacted and offered £15 compensation at first.

Over the next two days, South West Water apologised to those affected and increased the offer to £115. Amid the chaos, one primary school closed its doors on Thursday due to not having safe running drinking water.

An area around Brixham, Devon, affected by a 'boil your tap water' warning. Pic: South West Water
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16,000 businesses and residents are affected by the boil water notice. Pic: South West Water

‘Very hard questions for water company’

Speaking to Sky News yesterday, South West Water’s chief customer officer Laura Flowerdew confirmed it was likely a broken air valve contaminated by animal faeces that had caused the outbreak.

However, she refused to give a timeframe on how long the incident would be ongoing – leaving thousands of residents facing an uncertain future.

Speaking on Friday at the University of Exeter, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said there will be “very, very hard questions” for South West Water over the outbreak.

“At the moment I think we probably need to give them the space to conduct their investigation; we know that they have identified the source,” she said.

“The public will want to know how on earth that source happened, what was the chain of events that led to this, because of course we all understand the expectation that we all have when we turn our taps on is that [we get] clean drinking water and we want to be able to trust it.”

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File pic: Dr_Microbe/iStock

Release of sporozoites from Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst, 3D illustration. Cryptosporidium is a protozoan, microscopic parasite, the causative agent of the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis
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Most cases of cryptosporidiosis pass in two weeks. Symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting. File pic: Dr_Microbe/iStock

‘Expect to see more cases’

Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall also warned the boil notice could last “at least a further six or seven days” and called for more transparency.

Professor Paul Hunter, a specialist in medical microbiology at the University of East Anglia, told Sky News if the parasite was “a continuous thing” present in water supplies for a prolonged period, then “you’d expect to see more cases” for another two weeks.

It comes as hotel owners in the area told Sky News the outbreak has led to people cancelling their stay, while a head chef said “I can’t wash salad in the sink”.

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‘Destroyed our business’

Stephen Colemansfield, owner of Redlands Guest House in Brixham, told Sky News the outbreak has “destroyed our business at the moment”.

“Our guests have cancelled because of the mixed messages that are being sent out by South West Water.”

Rob, head chef at the Steam Packet Inn in Kingswear near Dartmouth, also said his brother-in-law is one of the 46 confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis and has been sick for two weeks.

The UKHSA is working with Torbay Council, South West Water, NHS Devon and the Environment Agency on the incident.

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