King Charles set for full overseas tour amid ongoing cancer treatment

Published

2 weeks ago

October 27, 2024

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The King is set to return to a full overseas tour schedule next year.

Buckingham Palace has announced that it is planning a full overseas tour schedule for the King next year, despite his ongoing cancer treatment.

Speaking at the conclusion of the King and Queen’s nine-day visit to Australia and Samoa, a senior palace official said: “We’re now working on a pretty normal-looking full overseas tour programme for next year.

“Which is a high for us to end on, to know that we can be thinking in those terms, subject to sign-off by doctors.”

The trip, which was the King’s first visit of this size and scope since his cancer diagnosis earlier this year, had originally included a visit to New Zealand, but this was ruled out on the advice of his doctors.

The palace official added: “I think it’s great testament to the King’s devotion to service and duty that he was prepared to come this far and he was incredibly happy and very, very determined to do so.”

The schedule, which involved the King and Queen undertake up to 10 engagements a day, had been tailored specifically to accommodate periods of rest and included only one evening event.

The King is said to have “genuinely loved” his time in Australia and Samoa and has “thrived” on the programme.

The senior palace official added: “It’s lifted his spirits, his mood and his recovery. In that sense, the tour – despite its demands – has been the perfect tonic.”

And yet the King’s mortality was never far from centre stage, with even the monarch himself referencing it on a few occasions.

Closing his speech during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm), he said: “For my part, I can assure you today that for however many years God grants me, I will join you and the people of the Commonwealth on every step of this journey. Let us learn from the lessons of the past. Let us be proud of who we are today.”

And speaking again at the traditional farewell ceremony in the village of Siumu on the last day of the tour, he said: “I shall always remain devoted to this part of the world and hope that I survive long enough to come back again and see you.”

But for the palace, this is a positive reflection of how the King is “dealing” with his cancer diagnosis.

The palace official said the King was “a great believer in mind, body and soul,” adding that this combination, mixed with a doctor being with him to make sure he is properly looked after, “makes for a very successful visit in these circumstances”.

And his endurance is bolstered by the support of the Queen.

The palace official added: “The King gets great strength from the Queen being there, not least because when she keeps it real.”

It is understood that the King will recommence his cancer treatment on his return to the UK, having paused it whilst abroad.

In addition to the public-facing engagements, the King’s constitutional duty has continued behind the scenes during the tour with the red state boxes of government being flown in from London.

And yet the trip wasn’t without its challenges; there was the confrontational moment in Canberra when Lidia Thorpe stormed towards the stage shouting: “You are not my King, this is not your land.”

But the King remained “unruffled”.

The palace official said: “He’s been around a long time. As always, [he] kept calm, carried on.”

He believes “free speech is the cornerstone of democracy, and so everyone is entitled to their views,” the official added.

And when the Caribbean countries of the Commonwealth raised the issue of reparations at Chogm, he characteristically did not “duck” the issues, according to the palace official.

“It’s very easy to run away from some of these issues. But the King isn’t one for doing that.”

UK

Lucy Letby offered ‘tips’ on how to get away with murder, inquiry told

Published

3 hours ago

November 7, 2024

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Lucy Letby offered 'tips' on how to get away with murder, inquiry told

Lucy Letby suggested she could give “tips” to a colleague on how to get away with murder, a public inquiry has heard.

The child serial killer exchanged WhatsApp messages in 2017 with union rep Hayley Griffiths about the US legal drama How To Get Away With Murder.

The discussion took place a year after the neonatal nurse was moved to clerical duties at the Countess of Chester Hospital following concerns she may have been deliberately harming babies.

In a message to Letby, Ms Griffiths wrote: “I’m currently watching a programme called how to get away with murder. I’m learning some good tips.”

Letby replied: “I could have given you some tips x”

Ms Griffiths said: “I need someone to practice on to see if I can get away with it.”

Letby wrote: “I can think of two people you could practice on and will help you cover it up x”

Ms Griffiths replied: “Deal. I will get thinking of a plan. Get the cruise booked as our getaway.”

The pair were working in the hospital’s risk and patient safety department a year before Letby was arrested on suspicion of multiple murders by Cheshire Police.

Ms Griffiths said she was aware of the concerns of foul play and the connection to Letby by September 2016.

Shahram Sharghy, representing some of the families of Letby’s victims, asked: “Given the severity of the allegations that were made, and would you agree they are possibly the most serious allegations that anybody could make against a healthcare professional, were you making light of those allegations when you were referring to potentially committing a crime?”

Ms Griffiths answered: “No.”

Mr Sharghy asked: “Can you even begin to imagine and put yourself in the position of the families of the babies who were harmed when they see those messages?”

Ms Griffiths said: “I know… I am so remorseful. As soon as I saw them myself I was upset and I can’t begin to imagine… I can only apologise and say I have learned. I can’t go back in time but I have reflected absolutely on it.”

Earlier, Ms Griffiths told counsel to the inquiry Rachel Langdale KC: “It was nothing more than a conversation. However, I truly and deeply regret having started that conservation… this is completely unprofessional, poor judgement on my behalf and completely insensitive. And for that, I can only apologise from the bottom of my heart.”

Letby, 34, from Hereford, is currently serving 15 whole-life orders.

She was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder six others between June 2015 and June 2016.

The Thirlwall Inquiry into the events surrounding her crimes is expected to sit until early 2015. The findings are expected by late autumn that year.

UK

Newcastle: Three men arrested in connection with deadly house explosion and on suspicion of cannabis production

Published

12 hours ago

November 6, 2024

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Newcastle: Three men arrested in connection with deadly house explosion and on suspicion of cannabis production

Three men have been arrested in connection with a deadly house explosion in Newcastle.

Seven-year-old Archie York and Jason Laws, who was in his 30s, were killed following the blast in Violet Close, in the Benwell and Elswick area of the city in October.

Police said at the time that six others were taken to hospital “with varying injuries” after the blast and subsequent fire.

Three men – two in their 30s and one in his 50s – have been arrested on suspicion of two counts of manslaughter, and the production of a Class B drug, namely cannabis, Northumbria Police said.

They all remain in police custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Katie Smith said: “This has been a truly tragic incident which resulted in the loss of two lives.

“As a result of our ongoing enquiries, three men have today been arrested in connection with the explosion.

“Our investigation will remain ongoing as we seek to provide answers to what has happened.

“We would continue to ask people to avoid speculation surrounding this incident both online and in the community.”

The blast tore through a row of six properties divided into two flats each.

Drone footage showed how six flats in the middle of the building appeared to have been completely destroyed by the explosion and fire, while piles of debris could be seen in the street outside.

Superintendent Darren Adams, from Northumbria Police, said on the day of the fire: “As a result of the incident in the early hours of this morning, a seven-year-old boy has sadly passed away.

“Despite the efforts of the emergency services, he tragically died at the scene.

“This is a truly devastating outcome.”

UK

Prince William praises ‘amazing’ Kate as he shares update after her cancer treatment

Published

12 hours ago

November 6, 2024

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Prince William praises 'amazing' Kate as he shares update after her cancer treatment

Prince William has given an update on the Princess of Wales’s health, describing her as “amazing”.

Ahead of tonight’s Earthshot Prize awards in Cape Town, he was asked how his wife Kate was doing and replied: “She’s doing really well thanks. Hopefully she’s watching tonight and cheering me on.

“She’s been amazing this whole year and I know she’ll be really keen to see tonight be a success.”

Kate revealed in March she was having preventative chemotherapy following the discovery of pre-cancerous cells.

In September, she announced she had completed her treatment and said her focus now is on “staying cancer free”.

Throughout the year, Prince William hasn’t discussed his wife’s diagnosis, despite still continuing with his own public duties.

William answered questions after taking part in rehearsals for tonight’s Earthshot Awards, the environmental prize he launched in 2021 to try to inject some optimism into the climate crisis debate.

Since he’s been in Cape Town he’s been spotted wearing a bracelet with the word ‘papa’ on it, given to him by his daughter Princess Charlotte.

He explained: “This is a relic from a Taylor Swift concert that my daughter decided that she wanted to create a bracelet for, and she gave it to me when I came away so I’ve promised her that I’d wear it and try not to lose it while I was out here.”

He also shared how he’s trying to make sure his three children feel involved in his environmental work, including doing things around the house.

The prince said: “Every family tries to do what they can to help with the environment and we go through the basics of recycling and making sure we minimise water use, turning lights off when you leave the house. We’re sensible with what we do around the environment. I think every family has those conversations.

“The Earthshot is trying to be more global than that – we’re trying to do big-scale ambition and business. I’ve brought the children along on that journey and I hope they’re proud of what we are trying to do here which is to galvanise that energy and enthusiasm to make real impact.”

Asked about the tough political climate for the environment right now, Prince William didn’t make any comment about the US election result and Donald Trump’s climate credentials, but said: “Everyone wants some hope and some optimism and Earthshot comes with urgent optimism.

“And as you’ll see tonight the amount of youth from Africa who will be in here – they’ll be letting you know and letting everyone know that it matters to them.

“Without them, the future is looking pretty bleak so these are the game changers, the innovators, the inventors who are going to make the world a better place for us in future.”

The annual Earthshot Prize awards five entrepreneurs, innovators, startups or conservationists with £1m each to help scale their ideas to tackle some of the world’s most pressing environmental issues.

This is the fourth year the awards have been held.