How the King’s pointed letter ‘surprised’ Harry and Meghan

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were “surprised” by the release of a letter on behalf of King Charles, which clarified their status as “akin to private citizens”, a spokesperson for the couple has said.

It’s not the first time a public briefing has been used as a means of communication within the family.

• The letter was sent by a top Palace official to military officials, Government departments and Harry’s team on Monday.
• It stated that as non-working royals, the Sussexes will not use the titles of “His and Her Royal Highness”.
• The couple, who only learned of the letter when they received it, “were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance”.

Why are the titles important?

The reference to the HRH title was seen as an attempt to slap the Sussexes down amid concerns that the couple may want to monetise their royal status, including via Meghan’s lifestyle products brand, As Ever.

The title was seen in a video Meghan posted accompanying a podcast last year.

Not a quiet word in your ear, not a private memo; no, this was a formal, blunt statement of fact sent to Harry on his father’s orders. Ouch!  There is to be no doubt: the King is not going to be bounced into accepting any change in the Sussexes’ status just because they have chosen to return to the UK.

• The letter clarified that “in short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests”.
• But a friend of the couple previously told The i Paper that Harry, as the King’s son, could never be an entirely private citizen.
• “Some people will say, ‘But they’re private citizens.’ Nonsense. Utter nonsense. They are two of the most high-profile people in the world,” the friend added.

Charles and Prince William are said to be worried that family members doing business deals alongside official duties for the state opens themselves up to the sort of abuse of position accusations facing the King’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

• This led to them clarifying that Harry and Meghan won’t be attending state functions or official engagements.

The couple returned to the country for what they called an extended period on 26 August, after quitting royal duties in 2020. Their children have reportedly been enrolled in English schools.

The row over who will pay for their security is ongoing, with the couple currently paying for it but lobbying the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) – which is set to meet this week – for taxpayer-funded police protection.

Watch more from The i Paper

New first-time buyer ISA on the way – here’s what we know

Andy Burnham’s Government is looking at a “new and improved product” to replace the existing Lifetime ISA (LISA), for savers who want to get on the property ladder.

What is a LISA?

• A LISA is an account that allows you to save £4,000 per year tax-free.
• The government tops up the account by 25 per cent a year.

No upper age limit or penalties

The current LISA only allows savers to withdraw their money when they reach 60 or when buying their first home. You can only open an account before you are 40 and must stop paying in at 50. These restrictions would be abolished under Labour’s plans, with no withdrawal penalties for using the money for alternative means.

Consultations on a new LISA closed last month, with Burnham’s team confirming interest in launching the accounts. It could come as soon as the Budget on 28 October.

• Any changes to savings limit, the top-up amount and the price cap on properties you can spend your savings LISA on (currently at £450,000) are yet to be confirmed.

Watch more from The i Paper

UK politics

State pension triple lock could be axed – how to replace it

Andy Burnham is facing growing pressure to scrap the triple lock on state pensions to help repair the nations’ finances.

Here’s how the Government could navigate any journey away from the policy – and what could replace it.

The British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) has, for the first time, called on Chancellor John Healey to abandon the policy, under which the state pension rises by whichever is highest of inflation, wage growth or 2.5 per cent each year.

The BCC argued that replacing it with an inflation-matched raise (a single lock) could save £3.3bn in two years. Currently, the triple lock costs £146bn a year.

Smoothed earnings link

Mostly following wage growth but rising with inflation if there’s a temporary price shock.

Double lock

Removing the 2.5 per cent guarantee, rising with the higher of inflation or wages.

People build up credits through work and activities, and retirement age is determined by individual health.

Why is it controversial?

The Labour Party committed to keeping the triple lock in its 2024 manifesto. Going back on this would likely alienate older voters, who are generally more likely to go to the polls in an election than younger generations.

‘The triple lock has got to go’

There is no longer a financial or moral justification for keeping the triple lock, but scrapping it represents a political risk that no prime minister has felt like taking.

It was only introduced to rebuild the value of the state pension after decades in which it had fallen relative to earnings – not necessarily as a permanent settlement.

The inescapable fact is that most of us are living longer and collecting pensions for longer. Someone has to pay for that, and the bill goes to people of working age.

The films men ‘secretly enjoy’ watching with their partner

More than a quarter of men enjoy watching romance films with their partner but view it as a “guilty pleasure” they wouldn’t tell anyone about, a new survey shows.

Here are their top choices for movie night.

Though they would not admit to it,

26%

of male partners surveyed said they “secretly enjoy” watching romance films.

Netflix commissioned a poll of more than 2,000 Brits in relationships.

50%

of men see this as a guilty pleasure and would never tell their friends.

Nine in 10 couples said watching these films brings them closer as a couple.

• 1 – 31%
• 2 – 26%
• 3 – 25%
• 4 – 25%
• 5 – 24%
  

How the baby bust is devastating primary schools

With birth rates falling across the UK, London’s schools and parents are dealing with the consequences.

Dropping birth rate

In England, declining birth rates have led to over 100 schools permanently closing in the last decade.

Fewer pupils

England’s state schools are largely funded according to the number of pupils they teach; when school rolls fall, so does their income.  

Unchanged costs

But operational costs do not shrink at the same rate as pupil decline.

Expert opinion

In London, a pupil will attract £6,000 to £7,000, so each pupil you lose is costing you quite a lot

Jon Andrews, head of analysis at the Education Policy Institute, explained that costs will stay the same despite pupil numbers falling because “you’re still needing a teacher in front of that class – and potentially a teaching assistant, too”.

A growing problem

The Inbetweeners 3 – what we know as Netflix releases teaser

  is making a comeback, with Netflix announcing production has begun on a third film.

Netflix announced that the cast of the popular E4 sitcom are due to reunite for another raunchy cinematic romp which is “now in production”, according to a new minute-long teaser trailer.

The cast last appeared on the big screen together in 2014’s The Inbetweeners 2, which saw them take a gap year across Australia.

Continuing the story

It marks a continuation of the popular series, which aired from 2008 to 2010 followed by films in 2011 and 2014.

The gang’s all back

Actors Simon Bird, James Buckley, Blake Harrison and Joe Thomas will reprise their roles as Will, Jay, Neil and Simon.

Creators to direct

  creators Damon Beesley and Iain Morris will return to write and direct the film.

Ooh, friends again!

It’s been super-fun hanging out with our friends again, and we’re going to work hard every week to ensure there are no problemos making this new film for humans.

  creators Damon Beesley and Iain Morris

‘I’ve struggled to find a goal since The Inbetweeners’

All James Buckley wanted growing up was to be in a well-loved sitcom. That dream gave him direction and purpose. When he was 20, earlier than he’d ever imagined, it came true. The problem is, when your dream comes true so quickly, it’s hard to come up with another.

Why children are being urged to get flu vaccine

Parents are being urged to ensure their children are vaccinated against flu this winter after a drop in vaccinations last year.

Here’s how to check if your child is eligible.

• In 2025/26, just 55.5 per cent of primary school children had a flu vaccine, according to new figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
• This is around 2.5 million youngsters out of the 4.5 million who were eligible.
• The vaccine, given as a nasal spray, is estimated to have prevented 68 per cent of children from being admitted to hospital last year and kept 52 per cent from having to visit their GP.

Who is eligible?

Toddlers aged two to three, primary school-aged children, secondary school pupils and children aged at least six months with long-term health conditions.

Where can you get it?

At the GP for toddlers, while older children are offered it in school.

When will it start?

Expert opinion

Ensuring children are vaccinated against  with a painless and easy nose spray, not only helps to protect them, but also helps stop them spreading it into the wider community.

Dr Suzanna McDonald, UKHSA’s flu programme lead, said ensuring appropriate protection will take a “concerted effort” from parents, school vaccination teams, and head teachers.