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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.

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

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King Charles and Queen Camilla with members of a cricket team during a visit to the Samoan Cultural Village in Apia.
Pic: PA
Image:
The King and Queen with members of a cricket team during a visit to the Samoan Cultural Village in Apia.
Pic: PA

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.

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given pig carcass in Samoa

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.”

Pic: Reuters
Image:
Australian senator Lidia Thorpe shouts towards the King. Pic: Reuters

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.”

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Teenager living in ‘continuous pain’ after surgeon Dr Yaser Jabbar carried out ‘inappropriate’ operations

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Teenager living in 'continuous pain' after surgeon Dr Yaser Jabbar carried out 'inappropriate' operations

A 15-year-old boy who was operated on twice by a now unlicensed Great Ormond Street surgeon is living with “continuous” pain.

Finias Sandu has been told by an independent review the procedures he underwent on both his legs were “unacceptable” and “inappropriate” for his age.

The teenager from Essex was born with a condition that causes curved bones in his legs.

Aged seven, a reconstructive procedure was carried out on Finias’s left leg, lengthening the limb by 3.5cm.

A few years later, the same operation was carried out on his right leg which involved wearing an invasive and heavy metal frame for months.

He has now been told by independent experts these procedures should not have taken place and concerns have been raised over a lack of imaging being taken prior to the operations.

Dr Yasser Jabbar. Pic: Linkedin
Image:
Yaser Jabbar rescinded his UK medical licence last year. Pic: LinkedIn

His doctor at London’s prestigious Great Ormond Street Hospital was former consultant orthopaedic surgeon Yaser Jabbar. Sky News has spoken to others he treated.

Mr Jabbar also did not arrange for updated scans or for relevant X-rays to be conducted ahead of the procedures.

The surgeries have been found to have caused Finias “harm” and left him in constant pain.

“The pain is there every day, every day I’m continuously in pain,” he told Sky News.

“It’s not something really sharp, although it does get to a certain point where it hurts quite a lot, but it’s always there. It just doesn’t leave, it’s a companion to me, just always there.”

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Finias Sandu's surgery pictures
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Finias’s surgery pictures

Care of over 700 patients being assessed

Mr Jabbar rescinded his UK medical licence in January last year after working at Great Ormond Street between 2017 and 2022.

The care of his 700-plus patients is being assessed, with some facing corrective surgery, among them Finias.

Finias Sandu in hospital

“Trusting somebody is hard to do, knowing what they have done to me physically and emotionally, you know, it’s just too much to comprehend for me,” he said.

“It wasn’t something just physically, like my leg pain and everything else. It was emotionally, because I put my trust in that specific doctor. My parents and I don’t really understand the more scientific terms, we just went by what he said.”

Finias Sandu in hospital

Doctors refused to treat Finias because of his surgeries

Finias and his family relocated to their native Romania soon after the reconstructive frame was removed from his right leg in the summer of 2021.

The pain worsened and they sought advice from doctors in Romania, who refused to treat Finias because of the impact of his surgeries.

Finias Sandu in hospital

Dozens of families seeking legal claims

His mother Cornelia Sandu is “furious” and feels her trust in the hospital has been shattered. They are now among dozens of families seeking legal claims.

Cyrus Plaza from Hudgell Solicitors is representing the family. He said: “In cases where it has been identified that harm was caused, we want to see Great Ormond Street Hospital agreeing to pay interim payments of compensation for the children, so that if they need therapy or treatment now, they can access it.”

Finias Sandu in hospital

Finias is accessing therapy and mental health support as he prepares for corrective surgery later in the year.

A spokesperson for Great Ormond Street Hospital told Sky News: “We are deeply sorry to Finias and his family, and all the patients and families who have been impacted.

“We want every patient and family who comes to our hospital to feel safe and cared for. We will always discuss concerns families may have and, where they submit claims, we will work to ensure the legal process can be resolved as quickly as possible.”

Finias Sandu with his mother and sister
Image:
Finias with his mother and sister

Service not ‘safe for patients’

Sky News has attempted to contact Mr Jabbar.

An external review into the wider orthopaedic department at the hospital began in September 2022.

It was commissioned after the Royal College of Surgeons warned the hospital’s lower limb reconstruction service was not “safe for patients or adequate to meet demand”.

The investigation is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

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Keir Starmer says closer EU ties will be good for UK jobs, bills and borders ahead of key talks

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Keir Starmer says closer EU ties will be good for UK jobs, bills and borders ahead of key talks

Sir Keir Starmer has said closer ties with the EU will be good for the UK’s jobs, bills and borders ahead of a summit where he could announce a deal with the bloc.

The government is set to host EU leaders in London on Monday as part of its efforts to “reset” relations post-Brexit.

A deal granting the UK access to a major EU defence fund could be on the table, according to reports – but disagreements over a youth mobility scheme and fishing rights could prove to be a stumbling block.

The prime minister has appeared to signal a youth mobility deal could be possible, telling The Times that while freedom of movement is a “red line”, youth mobility does not come under this.

His comment comes after Kaja Kallas, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, said on Friday work on a defence deal was progressing but “we’re not there yet”.

Sir Keir met European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen later that day while at a summit in Albania.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen ahead of their bilateral meeting as he attends the European Political Community Summit (EPC) in Tirana, Albania. Picture date: Friday May 16, 2025. Leon Neal/PA Wire
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Ursula von der Leyen and Sir Keir had a brief meeting earlier this week. Pic: PA

If agreed, the deal will be the third in two weeks, following trade agreements with India and the US.

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Sir Keir said: “First India, then the United States – in the last two weeks alone that’s jobs saved, faster growth and wages rising.

“More money in the pockets of British working people, achieved through striking deals not striking poses.

“Tomorrow, we take another step forward, with yet more benefits for the United Kingdom as the result of a strengthened partnership with the European Union.”

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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said she is “worried” about what the PM might have negotiated.

Ms Badenoch – who has promised to rip up the deal with the EU if it breaches her red lines on Brexit – said: “Labour should have used this review of our EU trade deal to secure new wins for Britain, such as an EU-wide agreement on Brits using e-gates on the continent.

“Instead, it sounds like we’re giving away our fishing quotas, becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again and getting free movement by the back door. This isn’t a reset, it’s a surrender.”

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Man arrested at Luton Airport in connection with fires at properties linked to Sir Keir Starmer

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Man arrested at Luton Airport in connection with fires at properties linked to Sir Keir Starmer

A second man has been arrested in connection with fires at two properties and a car linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The 26-year-old was arrested around 1.45pm at Luton Airport on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.

The arrest was made by counter terrorism officers. The man has been taken into police custody in London.

It comes after a Ukrainian man, 21, was charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.

Roman Lavrynovych appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday and was remanded in custody.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command led the investigation because of the connections to the prime minister.

Emergency services were called to a fire in the early hours of Monday at a house in Kentish Town, north London, where Sir Keir lived with his family before the election.

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Damage was caused to the property’s entrance, but nobody was hurt.

A car was also set alight in the same street last Thursday.

There was another blaze at the front door of a house converted into flats in Islington, also linked to the prime minister, on Sunday.

One person was taken to safety via an internal staircase by crews wearing breathing apparatus.

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