Royal County of Berkshire, ceremonial county in South East England
The government has revised its early release plan to ease prison overcrowding, excluding rapists, serious child sex offences and grooming offences from eligibility. Manslaughter offenders Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers remain eligible for release after serving half their 13-year sentences, while Henry Long remains ineligible. Victims’ families and police leadership reject the changes as inadequate. The scheme restarts in October.
A fourth case of meningococcal disease has been confirmed in Reading, Berkshire, linked to a wider social network associated with two deaths in Kent. The pupil at Westwood Farm Junior School is recovering; three cases in Reading and Henley College have prompted precautionary antibiotics for close contacts. Public risk to the wider community remains low.
The government has announced a one-off programme that will provide two doses of the MenB vaccine to teenagers in Year 13 and under-25s starting university, amid outbreaks in Kent and other clusters. The initiative begins in July, aiming to cover about a million young people and reduce the risk of serious meningitis B illness this autumn.
Prince George has been confirmed to attend Eton College from this September, moving from Lambrook as part of his education ahead of royal duties. The palace announcement follows weeks of schooling speculation. George will join a long line of notable alumni at Eton, near Windsor, alongside siblings Charlotte and Louis.
The Defence Investment Plan has been revised to prioritise frontline equipment, drones and rapid-reaction forces. Dan Jarvis has secured additional funding and the plan emphasizes high-speed boats, strike drones and uncrewed vessels, with a focus on the High North amid rising Russian activity. The plan aims to equip troops faster while addressing concerns about funding gaps and the pace of modern warfare.
The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) has been published, detailing a 2.7% of GDP defence spend by 2029 with a 3% target in the next Parliament. The plan shifts funding away from road and energy projects to weapons, drones, and naval capabilities, while promising efficiencies and a long-term upgrade in nuclear deterrence. Several ministers have resigned over the funding levels amid a controversial rollout that may be revisited by a new prime minister.
The government has announced a defence investment plan raising the defence budget by a total of 15 billion pounds over four years, with questions over funding gaps and how it will meet NATO targets. Burnham is tipped to take over as prime minister, while debates continue over how the funds will be sourced and allocated.
A licensing change at Reading Festival could allow main-stage music on Thursdays and extend alcohol hours from 2027, amid ongoing festival format tweaks and high-profile headliners for Reading and Leeds.
BBC confirms the long-running sci-fi series will not have a Christmas special as plans mature for a competitive tendering process. Russell T Davies has exited, with the BBC planning to invest in the show’s long-term future and explore external platforms.
The Heritage Live festival series has cancelled this summer’s events at the Englefield, Audley End and Sandringham estates due to escalating costs and a tougher festival market. Organisers say refunds will be issued via ticket agents after a delayed rescue package failed to materialise, leaving fans frustrated with conflicting refund guidance.
Police have been investigating a potential threat to the UK Ijtima event at Shrubland Hall, Ipswich. Seizures include 35+ digital devices; 42-year-old man charged with offensive-weapon offenses. A second man was released on bail with conditions as inquiries continue.
George has turned 13 and will begin secondary schooling at Eton College in Windsor this September. The Waleses post celebratory images, with family moments at church, beach and at Lambrook, as they mark a year of growing public roles for the teen in the shadow of Trooping the Colour and royal milestones.
Two separate UK cases of family tragedy are driving campaigns to change laws governing domestic violence and murder investigations. In Wiltshire, Carole Gould and Julie Devey advocate for legal reform after their daughters were killed by an ex-boyfriend; in London, a Taylor Swift-themed incident prompts deeper scrutiny of school safety and accountability.
The government has announced funding for the Dreadnought-class submarine programme, replacing Vanguard and enabling up to 47,000 UK jobs and apprenticeships as Barrow builds the submarines. The plan supports HMS Dreadnought and HMS Valiant through readiness and sea trials, with total defence investment in the next four years reaching about £298bn and defence spending expected to hit 2.7% of GDP by 2035.
Wildfires across the UK and Europe have intensified amid record heat. Fire services report growing incidents, with disposable barbecues and campfires increasingly blamed for ignitions. Officials warn residents to take extra care and governments consider stronger prevention measures for countryside recreation.
England and Wales see 10,293 referrals to the Prevent programme in the year to September 2025, the highest since records began in 2015. 9,957 people are involved; age data show 11-15 remains the largest group, with 393 referrals for children under 10. The rise follows the Southport 2024 attack, and officials say measures and awareness have grown.