UK

The government’s extended childcare policy is beginning today – but it starts amid warnings of a lack of funding and not enough staff to fulfil the pledge. From today, eligible parents and carers of two-year-olds will be entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare per week. It is the first part of a £8bn package

The King waved to well-wishers as he attended the traditional Easter Sunday church service at Windsor Castle in a rare public appearance since he was diagnosed with cancer. The 75-year-old monarch, who has stepped back from major public engagements while receiving treatment, was joined by the Queen and other members of the Royal Family. But

Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives are on course to win fewer than 100 seats in the general election, according to a major poll that suggests the party is facing the worst result in its history. A survey of 15,000 people, used to build a seat-by-seat breakdown, indicated the Tories would win in just 98 constituencies in England

Dozens of Afghans who fled the Taliban after risking their lives to help the UK during the 20-year conflict are to be housed on a military camp in Wales. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) estate in St Athan, in the Vale of Glamorgan, will receive 50 people by the end of this month, with more

Gavin Robinson, the interim leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), has called Jeffrey Donaldson’s charge a “devastating revelation” that has caused “tremendous shock”.  But he has criticised “some who have sought to score cheap political points”. Mr Robinson’s comments come as Donaldson stepped down as DUP leader earlier today after he was charged with

A man arrested in connection with the death of Gogglebox star George Gilbey has been released under investigation. He was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with Gilbey’s death on Thursday. The 40-year-old star reportedly died following an accident at work on Wednesday. Essex Police said: “As part of our ongoing investigation

The chief executive of Thames Water has refused to rule out bill increases of up to 40% for customers as the troubled company tries to secure its future. It comes as the business, which serves nearly a quarter of the UK’s population, struggles with more than £15bn of debt and the huge interest payments required

The Met Office has warned there is a “small chance” of injuries and “danger to life” as a result of strong winds and large waves hitting the south of England. Winds of up to 70mph battered the south coast, along with hail and thunder, as the Easter weekend kicks off. Yellow weather warnings for rain

In a hostel in northern France, the atmosphere was tense. A father and his family were waiting for a call, a sign sea conditions were right and it is finally time to go. After fleeing from Kurdistan, they’ve paid around €8000 (£6,850) to cross the Channel on a dinghy provided by smugglers who value money

Public satisfaction with the NHS has dropped to the lowest level on record, according to findings from a long-running poll. Just 24% of people said they were satisfied with the health service in 2023, with poor access to GPs and long wait times for hospital treatment the main reasons for dissatisfaction. More than 3,000 people

Documents revealing why Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi – a convicted sex offender – was granted asylum have been made public for the first time, while Sky News has obtained pictures of him being baptised in church. Ezedi attacked a woman and two children with an alkali on a street in south London in January.

The mastermind of an armed robbery in which PC Sharon Beshenivsky was shot dead nearly 20 years ago has been found guilty of her murder. Prosecutors said Piran Ditta Khan, 75, planned the raid at Universal Express travel agent in Morley Street, Bradford, West Yorkshire on 18 November 2005. PC Beshenivsky, 38, and her colleague

Sadie suffers flashbacks of the worst night of her life whenever she smells petrol. Warning: This story contains descriptions of abuse some readers may find distressing The scene she describes sounds like something from a horror film – but it was her reality. She was held hostage in her own home by her then-husband who

The Duchess of York has said she is “full of admiration” for the Princess of Wales after Kate announced she was being treated for cancer, adding: “I hope she will now be given the time, space and privacy to heal.” Sarah Ferguson, who was married to Prince Andrew and had daughters Beatrice and Eugenie with

Eleanor Williams’ mother broke down in tears as she absorbed the guilty verdict against her daughter, saying: “The person being portrayed in the media is not the person I know.” It was too much for Allison Johnston to take. Had it all been a lie? Warning: This article contains images people may find distressing In

The King is “frustrated” about the speed of his cancer recovery and is “pushing” staff and doctors to be able to return to duties, according to his nephew, Peter Phillips. However, Mr Phillips – the son of Princess Anne, the Princess Royal – says the monarch is in “good spirits” and remains “pragmatic”. He made

A 12-year-old boy has been arrested after a teenage girl was stabbed in Kent, police have said. Officers and paramedics were called to Adelaide Drive in Sittingbourne at 3.55pm on Friday after reports of a stabbing, according to Kent Police. They found the girl with knife wounds at the scene and rushed her to hospital

The Prince and Princess of Wales are “extremely moved by the public’s warmth and support” after Kate revealed she is receiving treatment for cancer. Kensington Palace said the future king and queen are “enormously touched” by the outpouring of “kind messages” from across the world following the release of Kate’s emotional video message on Friday.

The Princess of Wales said she and Prince William have been doing everything they can to “process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family” after revealing she is receiving cancer treatment. The future queen added it has “taken time” to explain her diagnosis to her children George, Charlotte and Louis in

Kate, Princess of Wales, has revealed she has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing preventative chemotherapy. In a personal message, the 42-year-old said planned abdominal surgery in January was successful and it was initially thought her condition was non-cancerous. But tests after the operation found cancer had been present, she said, adding: “This of