Latest news with #TheFirm
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
End of an era as King Charles AXES royal train after 150 years as cost of keeping iconic vehicle going hits £1.2m a year
THE Royal Train is being axed — ending more than 150 years of tradition. It will go on a 'fond farewell' tour of the country before being retired to a museum, it was announced yesterday. 7 The train has been a favourite with royals, plus their fans across the nation. But King Charles, 76, is said to be fully on board with the cost-cutting decision, as The Firm now prefers to use two new helicopters. Buckingham Palace's annual report reveals the train has only been used twice for official engagements in the past financial year — at a cost of £77,969. The annual upkeep is estimated to hit £1.2million and spiralling costs of renovating the nine 1980s carriages are said to mean the end of the line. The decommissioning will begin later this year with it officially out of service before March 2027. James Chalmers, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said: ' The Royal Train has, of course, been a part of national life for many decades, loved and cared for by all those involved. But in moving forwards we must not be bound by the past. 'Just as so many parts of the Royal Household's work have modernised and adapted to reflect the world of today, so too the time has come to bid the fondest of farewells, as we seek to be disciplined and forward-looking in our allocation of funding. 'With His Majesty's support, it has therefore been decided that the process to decommission the Royal Train will commence next year, in anticipation of the expiry of the current maintenance programme in March 2027. 'Before it finally goes out of service, it is our hope that the train will make further visits to parts of the UK, while discussions will begin on finding a long term home where some particularly historic elements might go on public display.' The move coincides with the Government privatising passenger services — but the palace insists the decision was made due to the end of the maintenance contract. The Prince of Wales greets schoolchildren and participates in referee training Last year, the King used the Royal Train to visit the Bentley HQ, in Crewe, and a two-day trip for engagements at JCB World in Rocester, Staffs, and in Burton upon Trent. It was used just once in 2023/24 — at a cost of £52,013. That year the royals made 170 journeys by chopper costing £1,096,300. In the past financial year there were 141 helicopter trips costing a total of £475,290. It is understood that royal planners believe the two helicopters offer a more flexible and reliable alternative to the train for reaching far-flung engagements. 7 7 The Royal Train relies on carriages built in 1987 and would need massive investment at the end of the current contract. The Palace is expecting scores of invites to display the carriages or their historic souvenirs. Queen Victoria became the first reigning monarch to catch a train when she travelled from Slough to London Paddington in June 1842. 'As much like the Royal Yacht as possible' In 1869, she commissioned a special pair of carriages by the London & North Western Railway. King Edward VII ordered a new Royal Train in 1902 — saying it should be designed 'as much like the Royal Yacht as possible'. King George V used it to tour the UK to raise morale during the First World War. He had the first bath installed on a train and chose to sleep on board to cut costs. Radio was installed in 1935. The Second World War saw security ramped up for King George VI — with easy-to-spot white-roofed wooden cars replaced with 56-ton armoured carriages. Special cabinets were fitted to store top secret documents. The Royal Family has had designated royal carriages throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including when the railways were nationalised in 1948. Queen Elizabeth, sons Andrew and Charles and sister Princess Margaret were pictured in the train heading for Sandringham at Christmas 1962. In 1977 British Rail built new carriages for Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to mark Her Majesty's Silver Jubilee. Additional carriages to be used by the then-Prince of Wales were added in 1986, taking the total to nine, including two for support. 7 7 The train was used for a host of visits at the Golden and Diamond Jubilees, with specially painted liveries to mark the milestones. Kate and William travelled on the Royal Train through England, Scotland and Wales, finishing up at Windsor, on a three-day trip in December 2020, to thank people who had helped communities during the pandemic. In June 2022, Queen Elizabeth took her final journey to Scotland aboard the Royal Train and was greeted at Edinburgh by Prince Edward. She died less than three months later. Instead of using the Royal Train, her coffin was flown back to London by the RAF. Prince William is understood to be aware of the decision to call time on the train. The annual accounts also revealed the Sovereign Grant, which is taken from Crown Estates profits and supports the official duties of the Royal Family, will remain at £86.3million for a fourth consecutive year. But the Sovereign Grant for the financial year 2025/26 will 'increase temporarily' to £132million. Mr Chalmers explained: 'This temporary increase in the grant in the final two years of the Buckingham Palace Reservicing is needed to deliver the remaining £100million of the originally agreed funding.' The Palace's State Rooms are out of action, meaning state banquets, such as French President Emmanuel Macron's VIP dinner in July and US President Donald Trump's expected state visit in September, will be held at Windsor Castle. This uplift fills the shortfall after work on the ten-year £369million renovation had to be paused as a consequence of Covid and budgetary constraints. Meanwhile, royal travel increased by £500,000 to £4.7million and payroll costs were up £2million to £29.9million. It also emerged that Australia only paid 50 per cent of the travel costs for the King and Queen to visit last October — meaning £400,435 had to come from the Sovereign Grant. It is usual to pay the full costs of the Monarch's visit. Buckingham Palace also confirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's former Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage, remains empty and there are no immediate plans for new tenants. The Sussexes, who paid back the £2.4million spent on renovations when they stepped back from royal duty to live in the US, were evicted and handed back the keys in the summer of 2023. Prince Andrew later turned down the offer to move in and give up Royal Lodge. The annual report went on to reveal a record 4.2 million new visitors to the official royal websites — with almost 400 million views of video content and a total 1.3 billion impressions. The Royal Family carried out more than 1,900 engagements and there were more than 93,000 guests at 828 palace events. The royals received around 123,000 messages, including at least 41,000 sending good wishes to the King and Princess of Wales for their cancer struggles. 7
USA Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Ranking SEC schools by most famous living celebrity alumni
Which SEC school has the most famous alumni? Certainly, the Texas Longhorns boast several celebrities that went to school in Austin. Owen Wilson, Wes Anderson, Glen Powell, Renée Zellweger, Robert Rodriguez, Michael Dell and Angie Harmon just to name a few. Of course, the most famous current UT celeb is "Minister of Culture" Matthew McConaughey. With the huge institutions in the SEC, most schools have their own list of famous people that attended or graduated from there. We picked the most famous celebrity from each institution of higher learning and ranked the SEC members based on the fame of that list of 16 illustrious alumni. Celebrity Alumni Rankings Criteria: 1. Brad Pitt, actor - Missouri Tigers Everyone else on this list graduated from the schools they represent. But we'll give Pitt a pass since he was TWO WEEKS from graduation before moving to Hollywood. 2. Matthew McConaughey, actor - Texas Longhorns McConaughey's big break came just a few months after graduating from Texas when he was tabbed to play David Wooderson in Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused. He went on to win an Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club. 3. Ryan Seacrest, TV host - Georgia Bulldogs One of the most recognizable faces in America, the former American Idol presenter now hosts Wheel of Fortune. 4. John Grisham, author - Mississippi State Bulldogs Grisham is one of the best selling and best known authors in the modern era and has several books made into movies, including The Firm starring Tom Cruise. 5. Ashley Judd, actress - Kentucky Wildcats With a string of hits in the 1990s, including Heat and Double Jeopardy, Judd stepped out of the shadow of her famous singing mom and sister to have a solid career of her own. 6. Erin Andrews, sportscaster - Florida Gators If you've watched the NFL over the past 20 years, you've seen Andrews. Starting at ESPN, the Gator grad is the main sideline reporter for Fox Sports. 7. Octavia Spencer, actress - Auburn Tigers A celebrated character actress, Spencer has been nominated for three Academy Awards, winning one for The Help. 8. Lyle Lovett, musician - Texas A&M Aggies Possibly most famous for being married to Julia Roberts at one point, Lovett has been a staple in the Texas music scene for decades. 9. Darius Rucker, musician - South Carolina Gamecocks The Hootie and the Blowfish frontman, Rucker has gone on to have a solid career in country music. 10. Olivia Munn, actress - Oklahoma Sooners Munn has been in an X-Men movie and famously dated Aaron Rogers. She's now married to comedian John Mulaney. 11. Gerald McRaney, actor - Ole Miss Rebels The star of long-running sit-com Major Dad, McRaney has been a solid character actor for decades. 12. James Carville, political pundit - LSU Tigers Carville isn't a politician, but he's worked for dozens. Often credited for getting Bill Clinton elected president, the "Ragin' Cajun" has been a stalwart on news debate shows for since 1992. 13. Skip Bayless, sportscaster - Vanderbilt Commodores The former ESPN and Fox Sports One provocateur, Bayless has been a big player in the shift from highlights to debates TV sports networks over the past 15 years. 14. Rece Davis, sportscaster - Alabama Crimson Tide He's the host of ESPN's College GameDay and one of the premier faces of the Disney owned network. 15. Logan Marshall-Green, actor - Tennessee Volunteers Marshall-Green has been in dozens of television shows, but most known for his role in Prometheus. 16. Nic Pizzolatto, TV writer/producer - Arkansas Razorbacks Pizzolatto is most known as the writer creator of HBO's True Detective.
Sky News AU
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
The major winners and fading figures of the future King William V reign revealed by those closest to him
As the heir to the throne marks his 43rd birthday, friends of Prince William have offered rare insight into how the future King intends to reshape the monarchy, including who's likely to be by his side, and who will be left behind. In a wide-ranging interview with The Times UK, friends of the Prince of Wales say he has long been laying the groundwork for a leaner, more modern version of The Firm. While the importance of royal "magic and pageantry" is not lost on him, sources say William knows the famous Buckingham Palace balcony will soon look very different, with most of the current working royals over the age of 70 and likely to scale back their roles in the coming years. The winners Among those tipped to play a much greater role in William's reign are the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. William and Catherine are understood to be strong supporters of Prince Edward, 61, and Duchess Sophie, 60, and sources say the couple is already raising their profile. Just last week, Sophie and Catherine were spotted sharing a laugh at the Garter Day procession in Windsor, and earlier this month, William and Sophie were spotted enjoying a visit to the Royal Cornwall Show. A friend of William's said that the Duke and Duchess are "needed" and that "it's really important the fantastic work that they do is seen." Also expected to take on a more visible role are Zara and Mike Tindall, Zara's brother Peter Phillips, and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. While none are currently working royals, all make regular appearances at events hosted by both King Charles III and Prince William. Zara, a former Olympic equestrian like her mother, Princess Anne, is even being floated as a potential torchbearer for royal racing duties- a role neither William nor Catherine seem particularly interested in. "He's never really seemed comfortable doing it," a racing insider said of William's approach to horse racing. "I never get the feeling the whole top hat and racing is really his thing, and he's said as much." The losers Unfortunately, it seems Prince Harry won't be returning to the royal inner circle anytime soon. Since stepping away from royal duties in 2020 and moving to California with his wife, Meghan Markle, Harry's relationship with his brother has deteriorated, with the pair not seen together since the late Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in 2022. One friend said that while William once "raged" about Harry's public outbursts and his explosive 2023 memoir Spare, he no longer brings it up. "It used to be that the family stuff was taking up a lot of space in his head… But he's not letting it get to him at all any more. It is a change. It's sad, but it's a much healthier space for him to be at," they said. As for Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles by the late Queen over ties to convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and more recently linked to alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo, the future King reportedly views him as a reputational "risk" and "threat" to the monarchy. Family first Despite the reshuffling of royal ranks, friends say William's focus remains on his immediate family: wife Catherine, 43, and their three children, George, 11, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, seven. "He's always been fiercely protective of them and will be fiercely protective of them in the future," one friend said. William scaled back his public duties last year to support Catherine through her battle with an undisclosed form of cancer, describing 2024 as "brutal" and "the hardest in my life". Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, former private secretary to William, Catherine and Harry. and also Prince George's godfather, said William has "always been clear about how important his family is". Of the challenges William has faced this year, Lowther-Pinkerton added: "I think it has demonstrated William's character and his courage."
Glasgow Times
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
New TV series lifts lid on Glasgow law firm's fight for families
That night, in 1991, changed his life. He successfully raised a civil action against the police, switched from mechanical engineering to law, and now heads up one of the UK's leading human rights law firms. Last year, he and his team in Glasgow pulled back the curtain on their day-to-day work for the docuseries, The Firm. Aamer Anwar (Image: STV Studios) Now, it's back on BBC Scotland for series two – slimmed down to just three episodes, this time, as Aamer and staff focus on representing victims whose cases speak directly to major societal issues. 'This series is more raw,' nods Aamer. 'The type of work we do is deeply traumatic for the families, and I think more of that comes across in this series. 'For some of them, the fight has been going on for a long, long time. I think what the show does is let people see the impact that has on the families. We can't get that across in a 30-second soundbite outside court. 'The show is a platform that raises awareness of their campaigns, gets their voices heard, shows the extent of the lies, obstruction and cynicism often faced in the fight for justice.' Aamer Anwar with the family of Katie Allan (Image: STV Studios) He adds: 'And, I think, it gives people hope that someone, at least, is listening.' The first episode, available on BBC iPlayer, focused on Margaret Caldwell, mother of murdered Glasgow woman Emma Caldwell, as she tries to secure a public inquiry into police handling of her daughter's murder. In 2024, Iain Packer was jailed for life with a minimum of 36 years for killing Emma and it emerged during his trial that Packer had been accused of rape and violent attacks on dozens of women as far back as 1990, but police had failed to act. (Image: PA) Episode two, on BBC Scotland tonight (June 24) sees Aamer set his sights on abolishing crown immunity laws which prevent institutions like the Scottish Prison Service being held criminally responsible for deaths in custody. The bereaved families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay, who both took their own lives at a young offenders' institution, talk to Aamer in a bid to pursue a major change in the law that could bring a degree of justice and possibly help to save lives in the future. The final episode in the series focuses on several asylum cases being handled by The Firm's immigration team. (Image: STV Studios) As well as a behind-the-scenes look at the tactical manoeuvres, setbacks and controversies involved in lengthy legal proceedings, The Firm, which is produced by STV Studios Factual, examines Aamer's personal motivations for taking on such challenging and unrelenting cases. 'People ask us how we can keep going but the answer is that we get inspiration from these families,' says Aamer. 'The people we feature in this series are inspirational, especially the mothers. Mothers are a force of nature. They never give up.' He adds: 'This series will show you the families we are honoured to work with, who symbolise what justice should be about, not a gentleman's club, not the vanity of wigs and gowns, but ordinary people who demand justice as a right and not a privilege. 'No lawyer should ever be afraid to raise their voice for the truth and I hope The Firm shows that is exactly what we fight to do.' All episodes of The Firm are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer and the series continues tonight at 9pm on BBC Scotland.
7NEWS
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
‘Unlikely' Prince William will ever welcome Harry and Meghan's children Archie and Lilibet into royal fold
Any hope Prince Harry and Meghan had that their children might one day play an active role in the royal family appears to be fading fast after an insider revealed it's highly unlikely heir to the throne Prince William would ever agree. And it's not looking good for sidelined Prince Andrew, either. While US-based Harry and Meghan stepped down from royal duties in 2020's 'Megxit', they retained their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles and made sure children Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4, officially held their HRH titles. On King Charles' ascension to the throne they became Prince and Princess, with Harry changing their surnames on their passports to Sussex — reportedly so he could leave the door open to them to make a royal return if they wanted to when they grew up. But sources close to William suggest it is unlikely Harry and Meghan's children will be welcomed as working members for the royal family under his reign. As the rift between Harry and William and the rest of the senior royals drags on, The Times reports the Prince of Wales is now 'indifferent' to the bitter feud with his brother. 'What has struck me the most recently is that he just doesn't mention it at all. It used to be that the family stuff was taking up a lot of space in his head; it was a very close relationship, and he was very upset,' an insider told The Sun. 'But he's not letting it get to him at all any more. It is a change. It's sad, but it's a much healthier space for him to be at.' The same source also suggested that a return to being a working royal for the Duke of York was doubtful. The disgraced Prince Andrew, 65, was stripped of his royal titles and roles by the late Queen Elizabeth in 2022 due to the allegations and links to Jeffrey Epstein. Virginia Giuffre accused Andrew of sexual abuse on three occasions, including when she was 17 years old. As a royal outcast, Prince Andrew has always vehemently denied the accusations, although he later paid Ms Giuffre a reputed £12 ($AUD25 million) million settlement. It has been reported that Prince William views his uncle as too much of a 'risk' and 'threat' to The Firm. King Charles has also made it clear that attempts have been made to evict his younger brother from the 31-room Royal Lodge, despite their 75-year lease agreement. Prince William has reaffirmed his commitment to modernising the monarchy, revealing that he intends to approach his future role as King with what he calls a 'smaller 'r'' version of royalty, focused on empathy, impact, and community-driven change. The 43-year-old heir said he hopes to lead 'differently for (his) generations', in one of his most recent candid interviews to date. William emphasised a need for 'empathetic leaders' in today's world. He said he and his wife, Princess Catherine, are committed to causes that create meaningful, long-term change. 'I'm trying to do it differently,' he said. 'It's more about impact philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people … I really care about what I do.' The prince also reflected on the personal challenges of the past year, calling 2024 'probably the worst year of my life' as he navigated the cancer battles faced by both his wife and father, King Charles. William, who also founded Homewards' initiative to combat homelessness and launched the Earthshot Prize to tackle environmental issues, said his focus was firmly on delivering real-world results. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Harry and Meghan are continuing to expand their business ventures. Meghan has launched her first alcoholic beverage — a rosé wine — under her American Riviera Orchard brand, which will go on sale on July 1. The Napa Valley vintage joins other lifestyle products, including limited-edition spreads and homewares. Meghan has also recently shared rare footage of Prince Harry playing with their two children in a touching Father's Day post — a move that drew both praise and criticism. Royal commentator Ingrid Seward told The Sun that while the video was 'charming,' it was 'hypocritical' given the couple's previous calls for privacy. Meghan made headlines following a recent podcast appearance on Aspire with entrepreneur Emma Grede, where she was asked if she would rewrite her public narrative. 'Yes,' she replied. 'I would ask people to tell the truth.' The comment has drawn commentary from royal watchers, with Royal Exclusive panellists questioning the sincerity of the remarks and describing the tone as lacking authenticity. Still, Meghan remained measured in her response, adding that advice from close friend Serena Williams helped her stay grounded. 'A lie can't live forever,' she said. 'Eight years is a long time, but not forever.'
