Latest news with #HMSGlasgow
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince William's Cheeky Comment Caught on Video After Royal Fan Calls Kate ‘Beautiful'
These days, every Kate Middleton appearance is a great appearance—we're just so happy to see her after a year spent tending to her health. But when she stepped out last week to help christen the HMS Glasgow at the Royal Navy ship's official naming ceremony in Scotland, the Princess of Wales's presence felt extra showstopping. Maybe it was her navy coat dress or perhaps just the feeling of royal business as usual? Whatever it was, royal fans were so enthused about her unexpected appearance that one couldn't help but shout out their glee and offer a quick compliment to Kate. In a video shared to Instagram, Kate is shown waving to crowds while walking alongside her husband, Prince William, as the royal pair attend the event. That's when you hear a woman yell to the Princess of Wales from off-camera: 'You're beautiful!' Then, without missing a beat, she quickly (and a little bit sheepishly) adds: 'You too, William!' That's when William addresses the royal fan directly and with a rather witty retort: 'You didn't have to say that, don't worry!' he replies before taking Kate's to William for his sense of humor and for laughing off the praise that was mainly intended for Kate, then kindly amended to include him. After all, royal watchers are excited about all the royal things, but there's an extra special thrill that comes with seeing the fashion and what the Princess of Wales in particular chooses to wear (even if recent efforts are being made to downplay that part of the job). It made us instantly think back to the days of Prince Charles and Princess Diana—in particular their Australian tour—when an eagerness to be on the same side of the street as Diana sparked jealousy and an early rift in their marriage, according to the late princess's 1995 chat with the BBC. That's clearly not the case with William, which is why we love seeing the future king take it all in stride. In a lot of ways, his remark speaks to the state of his relationship with Kate on the other side of a bumpy time. But also, the pair is jointly beautiful, don't you think? Fingers crossed there will be more appearances together before summer hits. Kate Middleton Just Broke an Age-Old Fashion Rule—and It Signifies a Major Style Change
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Princess Kate Was Mistaken for Prince William's Assistant—& Her Response Deserves a Crown
Since their marriage in 2011, Prince William and Princess Catherine have been inseparable. They've embarked on numerous tours around the world, in addition to extensive charity work in the United Kingdom. The pair, known to be quite affable, showed their humorous side in a recently resurfaced quip during a 2020 trip to Cardiff. In particular, it was Princess Catherine who came in with a lighthearted line in response to an innocent misidentification. WPA Pool/Pool/Getty Images In 2020, the royal couple paid a visit to Shire Hall Care Home in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. There, they reunited with Joan Drew-Smith (pictured above), a resident who had previously participated in an online bingo event the prince and princess had hosted. Per Hello!, after reuniting, Prince William said to Drew-Smith, "Hello Joan, do you remember we did the bingo with you? You said we weren't very good!" "Yes. You did a bloody s****y job," was the elderly resident's spry reply. WPA Pool/Pool/Getty Images Because of the pandemic, the then duke and duchess were both sporting face masks. Prince William explained this to Drew-Smith: "We have to wear masks because of the virus, but it's difficult to hear sometimes when you can't see someone's mouth." The gear lead to a quirky mix-up, when Drew-Smith then gestured to the Princess of Wales and quipped, "Is that your assistant?" Ever graceful, Princess Catherine laughed and said, ""Well I am your assistant! I have been for a long time!" as she affectionately put a hand on her husband's shoulder. The now-Prince of Wales was far from offended, later remarking, "I love Joan, she's brilliant. If only everyone was as honest as her." More recently, Their Royal Highnesses attended the naming ceremony of HMS Glasgow in Scotland last week. "A pleasure to meet with members of the Ship's Company and their families, as well as BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy apprentices and graduates, and some of the incredibly skillful teams involved in the building of the ship," they wrote on Instagram. The photo shows the pair debarking from the plank, steps in synch. Proving, as always, that they've got each others' backs. Want all the latest royal news sent right to your inbox? Subscribe here. Kate Middleton Stuns on Palace Walk, But I Can't Get Over What She's Wearing (And I Don't Mean That Dress)
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
UK Defence Secretary accuses SNP of 'student union politics' over defence funding
A row has broken out over a £2.5m grant for a specialist welding centre in Glasgow Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The UK Defence Secretary has accused the Scottish Government of 'student union politics' over its ban on munitions funding. John Healey said he would step in if the SNP continues to block a £2.5 million grant for a specialist welding centre in Glasgow. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It comes as the UK Government prepares to publish its strategic defence review on Monday, which will include plans to spend £1.5 billion on at least six new defence factories while creating 1,800 jobs across the UK. Defence Secretary John Healey | PA Specialist equipment worth £11 million was set to be provided by Rolls-Royce as part of a project on the banks of the Clyde, which would have helped boost Scottish shipbuilding. However, a key grant is reportedly at risk due to an SNP ban on "munitions" funding. This is believed to be because the Scottish Government's definition of weapons or ammunition would include a military submarine. Steve Carlier, president of submarines at Rolls-Royce, has written to First Minister John Swinney warning the project 'cannot continue' without the public funding. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "We recognise the longstanding position of the Scottish Government to not provide support for the manufacture of munitions but we are dismayed that this position is being applied to projects that support the construction of naval vessels,' he wrote. "Without the funding from Scottish Enterprise the project cannot continue, and the facility will not be built and resourced in Scotland." Mr Healey lambasted the decision. 'This is a massive industrial opportunity for Scotland, to provide good, skilled jobs for working class kids,' he said. 'It's outrageous the SNP is blocking a key grant to establish a specialist welding centre in Glasgow. 'That's why, if the SNP continue to block this grant, the UK Labour government will step in and fund it – we won't walk by on the other side when the opportunity is there to back Scottish jobs and industry.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The naming ceremony for HMS Glasgow, at the BAE Systems shipyard in Scotstoun, Glasgow, where the Princess of Wales, Sponsor of HMS Glasgow, gave her blessing to the Royal Navy's newest warship last month | LPhot Stuart Dickson/PA Wire Appearing on BBC Scotland's Sunday Show, he was asked what he made of the Scottish Government's ban on munitions funding given the global situation. 'It's the first time I've come across it, but it really strikes me as student union politics,' he said. 'This is not a serious government concerned about the opportunities for young people for the future, concerned about the skills base of Scotland, or indeed the industry and innovation in the future that means that Scotland has a big part to play both in strengthening the British industrial base - as we will through more defence investment - but as it does at the moment, to play a bigger part also in reinforcing the security and the strength of our armed forces for the future as well.' A spokesman for Scottish Enterprise previously told The Times: "We were approached about a defence-related project. The Scottish government and its agencies do not support the manufacture of munitions. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Another example of two-tier Britain: the Royal Navy's Type 31 frigate
Today marks another important milestone in the regeneration of the Royal Navy. Last week it was the naming of HMS Glasgow, our new Type 26 anti-submarine frigate. Today, it is the roll out of HMS Venturer, the first Type 31 general purpose frigate: a class of ships that, if we get it right, could form the backbone of the Royal Navy for the foreseeable future. That we have two major Defence Primes building ships on both Scottish coasts at the same time is good news on many levels. To understand the Type 31 two things must be noted from the top. The first is simple – there is a severe lack of cash. The Strategic Defence Review (SDR), due any minute, will talk in lofty terms about the sorts of things this ship will be needed for, but will also not uplift defence spending beyond 'increasing to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027'. This is not enough money to fix our current woes, much less prepare for war. There will be further in-year cuts between now and then. The second thing is more conceptual but equally important. Navies spend 98 per cent of their time not fighting. Assuring the trade on which our country depends for its survival is a long game of influence, policing, diplomacy, allied cooperation and so on. Ideally the entire job would be done by fully capable war-fighting platforms: carriers, Type 26 anti-submarine frigates, destroyers, nuclear submarines etc. But these things are very expensive and we cannot afford enough of them to do everything. So we need something more affordable to give us some more hulls. The special forces count their most expensive and exquisitely trained operators – the SAS, the SBS and the Special Reconnaissance Regiment – as 'Tier One'. But nobody would suggest that their second tier, the Special Forces Support Group, are not extremely impressive. If a fully equipped destroyer or anti-submarine frigate is a Tier One warship, a Type 31 is Tier Two; and just as with the SFSG, we'll be very glad to have them. The notion of a cheap, modular and exportable warship had been floating around Whitehall for some time but accelerated when the 2015 SDR determined that only eight Type 26 Frigates would be built to replace the thirteen Type 23s. Pitching for a class of ship one tier below the highest made some in uniform nervous. This mentality has been around for as long as we have had no spare cash and is understandable. The problem is it leads to having some lovely kit, but not enough of it – where we are today. Mid 2019 saw the idea leap forward under a new PM who generally backed shipbuilding and two equally new ministers, one in the MoD and one in the Treasury, who saw the problem outlined above and simultaneously agreed that this was the solution: a class of affordable second-tier frigates, the Type 31. A Treasury approval letter followed shortly thereafter. With the right relationships in place, sometimes it really is that simple. So now, five years on, and with HMS Venturer being rolled out of her build hall and getting ever closer to going in the water, how many will we get? So far five are on order for the Royal Navy, half what the team in 2019 determined was the right amount. However, given the cash situation and perceived threat back then I think this was fair enough. Then, add the promised pace of production, low cost and innovative build methods – all a departure from previous projects – saying 'let's order five and see how they do' is reasonable now. It's now down to Babcock to build the ships on time and to budget to build the trust required for the second batch to be ordered. So far, the signs are good. The key now will be to avoid the plague of most new defence programs – constant tinkering and gold-plating that sees prices and timelines balloon out of control. Get the ship out there, get the basics working and work out what to do with it next. This counters what I said last week about the importance of the Type 26 being able ready to fight from day one and hopefully further underlines how these two ships, whilst they both look like frigates, are conceptually very far apart. Then there is the export market. This has huge potential. Poland and Indonesia are already signed up with Poland building three (possibly increasing to eight) and Indonesia two. I understand Babcock is lobbying New Zealand hard and rightly so. This ship would fit their requirements very well and with both them and Indonesia in the club, provide some infra and support efficiencies in the region into which others might be tempted to join. Babcock's aspiration to build 31 Type 31s by '31 is as ambitious as it is catchy, but why not? For many countries, billion-pound ships are not what they want or can afford: this is. The original requirement was for a ship costing £250m per hull (compared to c.£1.2 – 1.5bn for the Type 26). This has crept up now to about £300m. You're still getting about five for the price of one. And you can tell: the Type 31 has no gas turbines for sprint power, and no silent and stealthy electric drive option. There's no sonar for hunting submarines either, though the ship can easily act as a base for a sub-hunting Merlin helicopter. The ship itself will displace around 5,700 tonnes and have a length of 138 metres. Armed with a 57mm Bofors main gun, 40mm secondary guns, Sea Ceptor air defence missiles, and fitted for but not with strike-length Mk 41 vertical launch missile cells, it is designed for flexibility. It features the Thales TACTICOS combat system, a decent radar, and multiple electro-optic and infrared sensors. The flight deck and hangar will take a Merlin (relatively unlikely) or the smaller Wildcat helicopter (likely) and like the Type 26, the Type 31 has a large mission bay to deploy boats, drones, and unmanned systems. Crew size is around 105 which is lean. A Type 23 of today has over 200 people onboard when deployed and is notably smaller. This is a really important point. You cannot wax lyrical about new build platforms these days without acknowledging that the Royal Navy is critically short of people. They are working to rectify this and whilst recruitment is showing signs of improving, retention is not. Both of these are a global maritime issue that must be overcome but also, must not be used as an excuse to slow the rate of build. One thing I am sure of; build a load of these frigates then set them away around the world doing demanding and fun things, and retention will improve. I suggested the same with small, cheap, diesel-electric submarines to complement our nuclear powered fleet. Build them and the crews will come, if you will. What we should do with them depends on many things. The easy/lazy solution is to say that they replace the five Batch 2 Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) one-for-one. These are currently in the Falklands, Caribbean, Gibraltar and two in the Indo-Pacific and doing tremendous work, but are essentially unarmed. All of these tasks would benefit from being up-gunned to a Type 31. But they have potential to do so much more. Type 31s of the future, fitted with the versatile Mk41 vertical launch system – and properly networked – could make a serious contribution to the Royal Navy's firepower, accompanying fully-equipped destroyers or anti-submarine frigates and adding another 32 missiles and another helicopter to the mission. You could also use them to launch and recover the vast array of emerging anti-submarine and mine countermeasures technology currently under development. These ships have huge potential. Type 31s alone would be no good for stealthily hunting an adversary nuclear submarine, or protecting a task force against incoming ballistic missiles. They'd be ideal for escorting Russian or Chinese ships through UK waters, patrolling Critical Underwater Infrastructure, fighting pirates, intercepting sanctions-busting merchant ships, shooting down or sinking drones, showing the flag and many other tasks. Five won't be enough. Defence effect and influence is a continuum from peace to war, and not the one-zero proposition the online debate would have you believe. These ships sit smack in the middle of this continuum bridging the gap between the exquisite and the unarmed. They are comparatively affordable, available now and ultimately adaptable. We should back them. Serendipitously, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins takes over today as First Sea Lord: the first Royal Marine to become head of the RN. His in-tray will be piled high, but hopefully 'how to increase naval influence with no extra cash' will be near the top, with a note on the Type 31 stapled on underneath.
The Herald Scotland
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
I pity Swinney for having to deal with the Ferguson Marine mess
I don't envy John Swinney being left with the task of deciding whether or not to plough even more of our money into such a failed business model. The real question though is how have his officials allowed him to get into this position? EU rules on rescue and restructuring aid operate under the "one time-last time principle". In other words if the company is still in trouble after the initial bail-out then you pull the plug. Put simply, you don't keep throwing good money after bad. Moreover you cannot bail out companies less than two years old because that is believed to be the minimum time required to demonstrate commercial viability. Yet these rules have been repeatedly breached by the Scottish Government. So who was advising the Government on the application of European law? Recovery of these funds is also permissible under EU law when the company going under is the subsidiary of a larger group that is also a party to the contract. In this instance Ferguson Marine Ltd was a subsidiary of Clyde Blowers Capital and they were both co-signatories to the original ferry contract. As such CBC shares liability if things go pear-shaped. So again I have to ask why is CBC not being pursued for the recovery of those taxpayer loans? It is the duty of the civil servants to highlight not only any legal risks to the Scottish Government in giving out such loans, but also the options open to it if things go wrong. And it follows that it is the duty of these same officials to own up if they have acted in a way that now makes the lawful recovery of taxpayers' money impossible or if any legal advice they gave was subsequently ignored by ministers. Either way we need to know. Robert Menzies, Falkirk. Read more letters • Peter Wright (via these pages) has provided an ongoing forensic, if seemingly not always apolitical, commentary, on Ferguson's building of two innovative dual-fuel ferries for the Scottish Government. What I may have missed, or don't recall, are Mr Wright's ongoing commentaries on the building and highly questionable operating status of the two long-delayed and over-budget aircraft carriers (without the aircraft they were designed to carry) or the much-delayed and over-budget Type 26 frigates (the first of these, HMS Glasgow, recently having been "christened" on the Clyde). Perhaps, as the BBC and much of the mainstream media have remained relatively silent, Mr Wright can help to avoid any 'whitabootery' about the building of these ships for the UK Government. With his political opinions at least temporarily berthed we could all benefit from Mr Wright's shipbuilding expertise through the provision of a detailed analysis of the UK Government procurement processes and associated lengthy delays and cost overruns in the billions of pounds. Stan Grodynski, Longniddry. These contracts make no sense The situation with exam invigilators ("Blow for SQA as invigilator wins fight for holiday pay", The Herald, May 24) highlights a fundamental flaw with the Minimum Wage being set as a single amount (currently at £12.21 per hour for people aged 21 and over). There are some jobs for which it is inappropriate to give the person employed any holidays. An exam invigilator, who probably only works for one month in the year is such a person as would be someone who performs a task for one or two days each month. The Minimum Wage for such people should be set at a higher level in order to take account of the lack of holiday entitlement and the lack of pension provisions and the payment of £12.21 per hour should only apply to those in regular employment with holiday entitlement and membership of a pension scheme. Occasional workers whose pay is based on a figure related to a payment for regular work should have their rate of pay increased proportionately. The provision of time off for holidays for people such as invigilators makes no sense, especially if they should take these holidays in May. Their contracts must therefore be drawn up to specifically exclude holiday entitlement and their rates of pay should be set at a rate to compensate for that fact. Sandy Gemmill, Edinburgh. Kirk's failure to engage At the recent Church of Scotland General Assembly a vote on the question of supporting assisted resulted in a very close call. There were 149 against and 145 in support. Considering there were 502 commissioners present it does appear just over 40% did not vote for one reason or another. On such an important issue such massive abstention is a disappointment to many fellow Church of Scotland members who did not have the opportunity to record their views. Failure of the Kirk to engage with all members will surely result in a further decline from the reported 68,000 membership. Allan C Steele, Giffnock. Yesterday's picture showing Aberdeen fans cheering their Scottish Cup-winning heroes (Image: PA) Grateful to their buddies? Today's front page says it all ("Homecoming heroes", The Herald, May 26). Well done Aberdeen! They defied the Old Firm-blinkered sports writers and broadcasters who had universally written them off. The Aberdeen fans should also be thanking St Mirren for softening up Celtic, the previous week. David Hay, Minard.
