Royal residence, centuries of history
The National Audit Office has disclosed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received income from subletting three cottages on the Royal Lodge estate while paying a peppercorn rent. The report notes it does not reveal how much rent was charged or income generated. The findings prompt MPs to press for reform and a public inquiry into royal finances. The issue is part of wider scrutiny of royal housing arrangements and the Crown Estate.
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.
Dame Penelope Keith has died after a battle with cancer. Her career spans stage, The Good Life and To the Manor Born, with a lasting impact on British comedy. Tributes praise her comic genius and decades of work in theatre, television and charity.
The government has confirmed that most under-16s will not pay for travel on most local bus services throughout August, easing cost pressures during the school holidays. The Department for Transport is also promoting VAT cuts on family-friendly attractions and a new bus fare cap set to start next year.
A record summer of heat, drought and wildfires has prompted an emergency Cobra meeting and voluntary retailer suspensions of disposable-barbecue sales. Green groups have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to call the crisis 'climate change' and stop new North Sea drilling; Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has questioned net zero and urged adaptation and celebration of warmer weather.
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank have welcomed their third child, a baby girl born in Lisbon on Aug. 3. The couple is taking time to decide on a name as details emerge, following previous births of August and Ernest. The royal family has been informed and is delighted by the news.
UK theme parks and Halloween events are rolling out discounts for advance bookings as a new wave of attractions launches. Thorpe Park marks 25 years of Fright Nights with a brand‑new scare maze and reimagined shows, while Universal Studios adds a daytime behind‑the‑scenes tour. Other family deals cover travel, memberships and multi‑attraction passes.