Don't forget Bomber Command
Official indifference to those who served in Bomber Command is not new. Churchill said little about the bomber offensive in his war memoirs, seeking to distance himself politically from the widespread destruction wrought by his own decision to focus on bombing as a way of hitting back against Germany, and as a method to convince the US that Britain could fight on.
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Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Daily Mail
How Andrew could be stripped of his 'Prince' title when William becomes king as scandal-hit duke faces fresh turmoil over claims in bombshell royal book
The future King William may be able to strip his disgraced uncle, the Duke of York, of his titles, a Royal expert claims. Prince Andrew's scandalous and faux pas-ridden life - from the scores of alleged sexual conquests to his boorish and vulgar character - has been outlined in extracts from a new book serialised in the Mail. Andrew Lownie's book Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York - also recounts the Duke's seeming infidelity and suggestions he abused his Foreign Office role to boost his own wealth on taxpayer-funded trips. The excruciating revelations have prompted fresh questions over whether the Duke should retain his titles - but his brother, King Charles III, is unlikely to deviate from his mother's famous stance of 'never complain, never explain'. Queen Elizabeth II was - famously - resolutely silent on all matters concerning her family in public. And the King has followed, conducting his battles with his brother over the Royal Lodge behind closed doors to avoid airing regal laundry in public. But royal historian Christopher Wilson believes that policy could be dropped when the time comes for Charles' son to take the throne. William, he said, would be less worried about the short-term headline scandal that could unfold in seeking to strip Andrew's titles than the ongoing long-term damage to the Firm wreaked by allowing him to remain on the books. Prince Andrew has retained his titles despite stepping back from royal duties - with his brother, King Charles III, thought to be reluctant to commit to such a public act (pictured 2012) The Duke of York, pictured on Easter Sunday this year, has practically zero chance of returning to public life following a series of scandals In addition, Mr Wilson has argued, the mechanism allowing William to revoke his uncle's titles could be easy to introduce via Parliament. It could finally mean Andrew's existing unofficial severance is formalised after years of scandal after embarrassing scandal. He remains devastatingly unpopular. Just nine percent of people polled by YouGov in the second quarter of 2025 have a favourable view of him. Mr Wilson, who is also a royal biographer, said of Elizabeth II's 'never complain, never explain' stance: 'I think to a large extent Charles has adhered to that as a safe policy – the moment you start tearing the family apart, where does it stop? 'With William it will be a different approach – he has hard-nosed ideas about how the Royal family needs to appear in the frenzied social media world we now inhabit, and I think will be ruthless.' Charles is thought to have sought to address the 'Andrew question' early in his reign - but his cancer diagnosis saw his priorities change. Since then, his brother has been embroiled in further scandals. As well as his connections with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, the Duke was forced to deny ever sharing information with an alleged Chinese spy who served as a close advisor on his business ventures. His relationship with Yang Tengbo caught the attention of British intelligence services, who had to contact the Duke to warn him off amid fears Mr Tengbo was seeking to use his royal connection to his advantage. The King has withdrawn his brother's allowance even while appearing to surrender in the war over the Royal Lodge residence. Andrew must now keep the 30-room estate in Windsor Great Park maintained at his own expense - which he appears to be capable of despite a bill thought to run into the millions. The Duke has seen largely excused himself from all but the most occasional of public outings - joining the family on their Christmas walk at Sandringham and attending St George's Chapel for the Easter Sunday service. But the Telegraph has reported sources as suggesting that William will 'not shy away' from taking action on his uncle if the duty falls to him as future King. As for how his various titles can be removed, the King - both present and future - various machinations exist, or can be put in place. Andrew's Order of the Garter, Britain's highest order of chivalry could be stripped away after he was granted it by Elizabeth II in 2006. It is removed from those guilty of charges such as heresy or treason. The Duke of York has not taken part in the annual public Garter Day parade since 2019, following his fall from grace. His Dukedom could be struck off by way of Parliament. A Private Members' Bill sponsored by MP Rachael Maskell in 2022 sought to grant the Monarch 'powers to remove titles'. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ms Maskell is the MP for York Central. Nine in 10 local people wanted to see Andrew stripped of his title in 2022, loathing his ongoing connection with the city. He has already been stripped of the Freedom of York. His princedom and HRH title - the latter already informally withdrawn with Andrew's agreement - could be revoked by way of Letters Patent, documents signed by the monarch that grant rights and titles (and can equally take them away). But sources told the newspaper it would likely be achieved via Parliament in order to preserve the Monarchy as an element of the UK's modern day government, rather than an overriding influence. The Mail's devastating serialisation of a new book on Andrew has laid bare his boorish and vulgar character and daily habits It is likely that when Andrew dies, his Dukedom will die with him - almost certainly irrevocably stained. The title reverts to the Crown on his death, and it would be the Monarch's decision whether to bestow it again. On William, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and their family, were notably absent from this year's Easter Sunday service, instead spending Easter in Norfolk. Andrew attended the service with his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York. The service came five days before Virginia Giuffre, who had accused the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell of trafficking her to the Duke of York, died by suicide. Ms Giuffre alleged that the Duke had forced her into sex - and the so-called 'Epstein files' detailed how a woman thought to be her had been compelled into taking part in 'an orgy with numerous other underaged girls '. Andrew settled with Ms Giuffre out of court for an undisclosed sum, thought to be around £12million, with his late mother thought to have contributed to the payment. The settlement came with no admission of liability. Kensington Palace declined to comment when approached by the Daily Mail today. The Duke of York could not be reached for comment.
Scottish Sun
28-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Why Lionesses saying they're ‘proud to be English' could get them arrested in Keir Starmer's woke police state
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IN the afterglow of shooting the Lionesses to Euros victory, striker Chloe Kelly told the watching world: 'I'm so proud to be English!' For a player from Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France or the US, a simple exclamation of national pride in their homeland nation would go unremarked. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Hopefully Keir Starmer's new social media policing will not trouble our new net queen, hero goalie Hannah Hampton, who evoked her Englishness in a post-match interview Credit: Getty 6 In the afterglow of shooting the Lionesses to Euros victory, striker Chloe Kelly told the watching world: 'I'm so proud to be English!' Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 As Chloe and Hanna showed rare public pride in England — it was a striking moment in today's cautious national climate Credit: Getty Here in England it sparked a social media frenzy. Some half-jokingly wondered whether such publicly avowed patriotism would elicit a knock on the door from cops. One X user posted a picture of officers on a door camera with the caption: 'Hi Chloe Kelly, police here, we just need to speak to you about your nationalistic outburst.' Posters were referencing the new elite police squad set up by the Home Office to monitor anti-immigrant sentiment online, aimed to prevent a summer of riots. As we see time and time again, expressing a love for England and displaying a St George Cross flag can erroneously be interpreted by those who wish to divide us as Far Right rabble-rousing. So we shall watch and wait to see who gets caught up in this new net. Hopefully it wil not trouble our new net queen, hero goalie Hannah Hampton who also evoked her Englishness in a post-match interview. 'We've shown during this tournament that we can come back when we go a goal down, we have that grit, we've got English blood in us,' she told TV viewers. That two young women — part of a diverse team that reflects modern England — were happy to express pride in their homeland should be a wake-up call to our nation's elite, falling over themselves to praise Sarina Wiegman's aces since Sunday night's stunning win. This new flowering of Englishness comes in an era where it's become fashionable to talk the country down and smother it with colonial guilt. Chloe Kelly completes Lionesses' greatest comeback yet to retain Euros title Many on the metropolitan left in Britain have long had a sneering disdain for the emblems of the nation. In 2014, Dame Emily Thornberry's snobby tweet of a Medway home with England flags flying and a white van in the drive saw her resign from the then Labour Shadow Cabinet. The following year fellow Islington MP Jeremy Corbyn, who was then Labour's leader, failed to sing the National Anthem at a service to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Not only did it appear an affront to the memory of 'The Few' — those who had lost their lives in the history-defining conflict — it was also bad politics. This new flowering of Englishness comes in an era where it's become fashionable to talk the country down and smother it with colonial guilt Labour signalled that it was drifting away from its traditional, patriotic working-class base who loved their country, their flag, their monarchy and their football team. Sir Keir Starmer recognised Labour's patriotic deficit late in the day, the piping up about his pride in the nation and instigating the singing of the National Anthem at party conference. Later, Corbyn, now in the throes of setting up a new hard left party (don't expect it to have a Union Jack emblem), called singing God Save The King at Labour's annual get-together 'very, very odd'. Such sentiments drove away voters in the so-called 'red wall' constituencies in the north. Little wonder that as the Starmer project flounders, Reform UK — unafraid to fly the flag — have now found fertile ground in once Labour heartlands. English patriotism has long hid its light under a bushel — not helped by the St George Cross being adopted by far-right knuckle draggers like the English Defence League. Compare the comparably muted St George's Day celebrations to the green carnival of St Patrick's Day. In America, with a bloody history to rival Britain's, Old Glory is hung from garden flag poles across the land, whether the owner is Republican or Democrat. Some argue that our patriotic reserve is part of the essence of Englishness. Chloe and Hannah showed the world they were gutsy, skilled, confident, joyous — and proud to be English Yet, Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton wore their national pride on their sleeve. It was remarkable for being such a rarity in English public life. Former Government special adviser James Price wrote on X: 'I haven't heard anyone on telly say that about England in so long. 'For all the sneering from some quarters, that's just such a wonderful thing to hear. Much more of this please, in all kinds of arenas.' Much has been made of the British — as well as English — preoccupation with our victorious role in World War Two. Yet, standing alone against Nazi Germany — real fascists not someone misgendering you on social media — was a crowning achievement of the British Empire, with theatres of war in Africa and Asia as well as Europe. Swell with pride The number of red poppies displayed on St George flags is testimony to how important it remains to our national story. After the war — under Clement Attlee's Labour government — a sense of patriotic purpose and unity helped rebuild Britain. A shared togetherness can work wonders for the economy and the national mood. Remember Cool Britannia in the 1990s when the nation revelled in its identity? It was a soft power and financial winner. Everyone has their own sense of Englishness in a land that produced the likes of William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Charles Darwin, Florence Nightingale, John Lennon, Agatha Christie and Sir Isaac Newton, to name but a few. For some it's rolling moorlands of the Pennines and Cumbria, others might choose dining out on chicken tikka masala or dancing to dub reggae at the Notting Hill Carnival. Many will swell with pride re-watching Bobby Moore wiping his muddied hands before accepting the World Cup from the Queen. Now the Lionesses have roared and added their story to our national identity. Chloe and Hannah showed the world they were gutsy, skilled, confident, joyous — and proud to be English. 6 Keir's Labour signalled that it was drifting away from its traditional, patriotic working-class base who loved their country, their flag, their monarchy and their football team Credit: AFP 6 Remember Cool Britannia in the 1990s when the nation revelled in its identity? It was a soft power and financial winner Credit: EPA
Daily Mail
24-07-2025
- Daily Mail
How a behind-the-scenes advisor handpicked by Queen Elizabeth quietly transformed William and Harry into modern royals... and the two unusual conditions he demanded from the late monarch
As the King is the head of state of 14 countries and the Commonwealth, making sure the monarchy is represented properly abroad is crucial to the Firm. Indeed, while the late Queen Elizabeth II was alive she reportedly believed it was essential to help the young Prince William and Harry grow into their roles as overseas ambassadors for the crown. At the helm of this mission was the former British ambassador to the USA Sir David Manning who was handpicked for the role by the Queen and went on to work with the royals for a decade. According to royal expert Valentine Low, writing in his book Courtiers, Sir David came to a rather unorthodox agreement with the Queen. 'Manning agreed to take on the job of adviser on two conditions: that he could do it part-time and that it was unpaid,' Low wrote. Sir David did not want a full-time paid role so that he did not become 'embroiled in the formal palace machinery'. But the Queen was happy to agree to his wishes. Having met Sir David on a number occasions she was certain he would be the perfect advisor to the young royals. Elizabeth was proven right with both William and Harry developing a close relationship with their advisor. Harry and William's former private secretary - Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton - told Low: 'Manning was a real confidant to the princes. He was somebody they could talk to, they could joke with.' 'He had enormously good judgement about people. I think they trusted him. They knew he would be very discreet. And they knew he would fight their corner,' He added. What made Sir David so good at his role was not only his friendship with the boys but his understanding that the best way for Harry and William to find their footing in their life as working royals was to allow them to 'develop in ways that felt natural to them'. Meaning, if they can find their passion within the institution they could really thrive. 'These are real people. They are not cyphers,' Low said. Under Sir David's guidance Harry and William created the Royal Foundation which was a 'leaner, nimbler way of working, and avoided being weighed down by long-term commitments'. 'Through the foundation, they would work out what they wanted to achieve and how best they could achieve it.' And therefore they could also build up their confidence and understand what they can do within their privileged roles Since its creation in September 2009, the Royal Foundation has worked on numerous projects close to the princes' hearts including mental health, environmental issues and homelessness. Before he worked for the royals Sir David was one Tony Blair's key foreign policy aides during the run up to the 2003 Iraq War. He also had an extensive diplomatic career which saw him represent the British government in Warsaw, New Delhi and Moscow Prince Harry helped set up the Invictus Games with £1million worth of funding from the foundation. In 2011, Kate Middleton joined the foundation as did Meghan when she married Harry. When Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals in 2020 they both left the organisation and instead founded their own company - Archewell. Sir David himself stood down from his role as an advisor to the princes a year earlier. A spokesman for the royals at the time said: 'Their Royal Highnesses are incredibly grateful for the guidance and support that Sir David has provided over the last 10 years. 'His wise counsel has been central to the success of their international tours and the early stages of their official work as members of the royal family.' Not only did he help the princes find their roles within the Firm but he also joined them on numerous royal tours across the world from Kate and Wills first joint trip to North America in 2011 and Harry and Meghan tour of Fiji and Tonga. While Meghan was a working member of the family it is understood that Sir David likely offered briefings on the British constitution to the American. Low's bestseler Courtiers. Harry and William former private secretary - Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton - told Low: 'Manning was a real confidant to the princes. He was somebody they could talk to,they could joke with' Sir David was the UK ambassador to the United States from 2003 until 2007. Before that he was one Tony Blair's key foreign policy aides during the run up to the 2003 Iraq War. He also had an extensive diplomatic career which saw him represent the British government in Warsaw, New Delhi and Moscow. Between 1995 and 1998 he was also the British ambassador to Israel.
