Newspaper review: 'King puts William first' and Harry security could cost public '£5m a year'

Newspaper review: 'King puts William first' and Harry security could cost public '£5m a year' The lead story across several front pages centres on Prince Harry’s return to the United Kingdom after six years in California. According to the Daily Telegraph, he hopes to regain the King’s favour, in part by pledging to stop publicly discussing private family matters. The Times suggests that the monarch will continue to prioritise William, viewing the heir and the institution as his main focus. The Sun reports that a “royal Harry summit” is planned at Balmoral, while the Daily Mirror declares there is “no way back to royal life” for the Sussexes. The Daily Characterises the situation as “back in the fold but not in the firm.” Over fifteen pages of coverage, the Daily Mail likens the episode to the prodigal son parable and argues it is too early to judge how Harry’s re‑entry will shape the future of the House of Windsor. The Guardian notes that equalities minister Bridget Phillipson believes racism and sexism have become normalised in Britain, with young men drawn into aggressive misogyny by a toxic social‑media environment. She tells the paper’s podcast: “Things that not precise agelong agone felt wholly unacceptable are becoming normal.” The Times cites the head of Ofqual, stating that reforms introduced by former Education Secretary Michael Gove have turned England into a “maths powerhouse.” The publication adds that strong mathematics results in Thursday’s GCSEs were “dragged down” by older teenagers sitting resits, underscoring a growing gap between the highest and lowest achievers. One outlet describes a bitter power struggle within Nigel Farage’s senior team, involving the former Reform UK affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf. It warns that if he is expelled from the party for a second time, several members may choose to follow him. Britain experienced heavy downpours on Thursday, the Sun reports, noting that water authorities warned the anticipated deluge would do little to alleviate the nation’s worst drought in half a century. The Daily Express photographed women arriving for Ladies’ Day at York Races, describing how umbrellas went up as the rain fell, under the headline: “Don’t rainfall on my parade.”