Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay’s wedding was certainly an explosive one set to the backdrop of a savage family feud. Here, we take a look at the hidden bombshells from the big day
View 4 Images
Holly and Adam’s wedding was full of high-profile moments(Image: Mancpicss66)
With a star studded celebrity guest list, masses of fans and a family feud, Holly Ramsay and Adam Peaty’s wedding was one of the most talked about this year.
Bath Abbey was packed with family and friends including Victoria and David Beckham, but there was one group missing from the glitzy bash – Olympic swimmer Adam’s own family. After being axed from the guest list after a series of rows, the Peaty family were left heartbroken. The bitter fall out appears to have ignited when the wider Peaty family were not invited to the couple’s engagement bash, and culminated in Adam’s own mum Caroline being banned from the hen do and wedding. At first, Caroline said she and Holly were close, telling the Daily Mail how she shared her fears that her son was pulling away. “I remember her words ‘You’ve got him back now, he’ll always be part of your family,'” she said.
This morning, Caroline shared a string of cryptic posts this morning, where she revealed she feels she’s ‘lost a piece of herself’ and admitted she was ‘praying for peace’ in 2026.
READ MORE: Nicola Peltz takes brutal three-word swipe at Beckham family after Peaty weddingREAD MORE: Adam Peaty’s ‘hurtful’ wedding move saw Gordon Ramsay show his true colours
But tensions arose when Adam’s aunties were allegedly not invited to celebrate his engagement, prompting Caroline to text Holly. “I told her, ‘You know how important family is to you, as it is to me. My sisters are not coming to the party, they have been there all through Adam’s life.’ But Adam didn’t take kindly to me sending that message.”
For Adam’s part, he insisted on social media that there “are always two sides to every story”, insisting, “I am continuing to learn about myself and how I can be the man I want to be; a worthy partner, father, businessman, friend and athlete; even through these challenging times.” The feud reached its crescendo on December 27 when the wedding went ahead without Adam’s distraught mum. And while all eyes were on the guestlist and designer dresses, behind the scenes, yet more fuel was being poured onto the fire. Here are the biggest bombshells from the big day…
Name change
Adam wasted no time in shedding the old him following his wedding – and has already changed his name. The Olympian appears to have made a huge statement about his future by changing his name on social media. Two days after his wedding, the star has revealed he now goes by Adam Ramsay Peaty, in homage to his new wife.
The name change is the latest sign that Adam has distanced himself from his own family, after uninviting his parents from his wedding at Bath Abbey. Holly has followed hubby Adam’s footsteps and made the big name change official. Her Instagram account now shows off her new title – Mrs Holly Anna Ramsay Peaty.
Vogue deal
Most brides don’t bother with a coat for the nuptials, but Holly set tongues wagging when she arrived at the Abbey wearing a silk cape with a lace hood. She wore the same cloak to leave the service and the reason soon became clear – a Vogue deal.
It’s now been reported that Holly will be featured in Vogue on New Year’s Day and that is where her dress will finally be unveiled. She is said to have worn two different dresses during her reception, with one being her mum Tana’s from her wedding to TV chef Gordon Ramsay in 1996.
Gordon’s brutal wedding speech
The wedding was certainly a Ramsay family takeover, with proud dad Gordon Ramsay walking his daughter into the Abbey, and making a speech at the wedding breakfast, with the renowned TV chef holding no prisoners. The 59-year-old gushed over how beautiful his daughter looked, telling Adam he was a “lucky man” and said to look at Tana, his wife and Holly’s mum as it’s what he has “to look forward to” according to The Sun. “Shame you don’t have the same,” he slyly told Holly following the toxic fall out with her in-laws. In a move bound to have pained Adam’s own mum, Gordon then told Adam that Tana would be an “amazing mum” to them both. It was also claimed Adam failed to mention his family or parents in his own speech following reports he’s blocked their texts. Instead, he voiced his praise for his swim coach Mel Marshall for being his “everything” and for “grounding and inspiring him”. In a brutal dig to his estranged mother, he is believed to have said that Mel was “like a mum”.
Ramsay ‘plan’ claims
Caroline previously expressed worries about the Ramsay family’s influence and power, telling the Mail of her son: “He’s in Gordon’s clutches. I can’t help but feel like they are pulling him away from me. Their family is very insular.”
And now, in response to the father-of-the bride’s supposed speech, a family source fumed: “This was the Ramsays’ plan all along. They wanted Adam’s family gone and they have succeeded. You’d think that as parents, Gordon and Tana would have a bit more compassion towards Caroline, Mark and the family.” The source also then slammed sister Bethany – who served as a bridesmaid and was the only Peaty to be invited – for trying to “fit in” with the celebrity lifestyle, and said she had ‘betrayed’ her mum to see ‘what she can get out’ of being the only member of the family to get on with Holly and Adam.
Article continues below
According to reports, Adam told his dad Mark – via Bethany – that he could attend the service but would have to sit at the back behind the plus ones and would not be welcome at the reception. It appears that his father declined, choosing instead to stay with a heartbroken Caroline.
Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay’s wedding was certainly an explosive one set to the backdrop of a savage family feud. Here, we take a look at the hidden bombshells from the big day
View 4 Images
Holly and Adam’s wedding was full of high-profile moments(Image: Mancpicss66)
With a star studded celebrity guest list, masses of fans and a family feud, Holly Ramsay and Adam Peaty’s wedding was one of the most talked about this year.
Bath Abbey was packed with family and friends including Victoria and David Beckham, but there was one group missing from the glitzy bash – Olympic swimmer Adam’s own family. After being axed from the guest list after a series of rows, the Peaty family were left heartbroken. The bitter fall out appears to have ignited when the wider Peaty family were not invited to the couple’s engagement bash, and culminated in Adam’s own mum Caroline being banned from the hen do and wedding. At first, Caroline said she and Holly were close, telling the Daily Mail how she shared her fears that her son was pulling away. “I remember her words ‘You’ve got him back now, he’ll always be part of your family,'” she said.
This morning, Caroline shared a string of cryptic posts this morning, where she revealed she feels she’s ‘lost a piece of herself’ and admitted she was ‘praying for peace’ in 2026.
READ MORE: Nicola Peltz takes brutal three-word swipe at Beckham family after Peaty weddingREAD MORE: Adam Peaty’s ‘hurtful’ wedding move saw Gordon Ramsay show his true colours
But tensions arose when Adam’s aunties were allegedly not invited to celebrate his engagement, prompting Caroline to text Holly. “I told her, ‘You know how important family is to you, as it is to me. My sisters are not coming to the party, they have been there all through Adam’s life.’ But Adam didn’t take kindly to me sending that message.”
For Adam’s part, he insisted on social media that there “are always two sides to every story”, insisting, “I am continuing to learn about myself and how I can be the man I want to be; a worthy partner, father, businessman, friend and athlete; even through these challenging times.” The feud reached its crescendo on December 27 when the wedding went ahead without Adam’s distraught mum. And while all eyes were on the guestlist and designer dresses, behind the scenes, yet more fuel was being poured onto the fire. Here are the biggest bombshells from the big day…
Name change
Adam wasted no time in shedding the old him following his wedding – and has already changed his name. The Olympian appears to have made a huge statement about his future by changing his name on social media. Two days after his wedding, the star has revealed he now goes by Adam Ramsay Peaty, in homage to his new wife.
The name change is the latest sign that Adam has distanced himself from his own family, after uninviting his parents from his wedding at Bath Abbey. Holly has followed hubby Adam’s footsteps and made the big name change official. Her Instagram account now shows off her new title – Mrs Holly Anna Ramsay Peaty.
Vogue deal
Most brides don’t bother with a coat for the nuptials, but Holly set tongues wagging when she arrived at the Abbey wearing a silk cape with a lace hood. She wore the same cloak to leave the service and the reason soon became clear – a Vogue deal.
It’s now been reported that Holly will be featured in Vogue on New Year’s Day and that is where her dress will finally be unveiled. She is said to have worn two different dresses during her reception, with one being her mum Tana’s from her wedding to TV chef Gordon Ramsay in 1996.
Gordon’s brutal wedding speech
The wedding was certainly a Ramsay family takeover, with proud dad Gordon Ramsay walking his daughter into the Abbey, and making a speech at the wedding breakfast, with the renowned TV chef holding no prisoners. The 59-year-old gushed over how beautiful his daughter looked, telling Adam he was a “lucky man” and said to look at Tana, his wife and Holly’s mum as it’s what he has “to look forward to” according to The Sun. “Shame you don’t have the same,” he slyly told Holly following the toxic fall out with her in-laws. In a move bound to have pained Adam’s own mum, Gordon then told Adam that Tana would be an “amazing mum” to them both. It was also claimed Adam failed to mention his family or parents in his own speech following reports he’s blocked their texts. Instead, he voiced his praise for his swim coach Mel Marshall for being his “everything” and for “grounding and inspiring him”. In a brutal dig to his estranged mother, he is believed to have said that Mel was “like a mum”.
Ramsay ‘plan’ claims
Caroline previously expressed worries about the Ramsay family’s influence and power, telling the Mail of her son: “He’s in Gordon’s clutches. I can’t help but feel like they are pulling him away from me. Their family is very insular.”
And now, in response to the father-of-the bride’s supposed speech, a family source fumed: “This was the Ramsays’ plan all along. They wanted Adam’s family gone and they have succeeded. You’d think that as parents, Gordon and Tana would have a bit more compassion towards Caroline, Mark and the family.” The source also then slammed sister Bethany – who served as a bridesmaid and was the only Peaty to be invited – for trying to “fit in” with the celebrity lifestyle, and said she had ‘betrayed’ her mum to see ‘what she can get out’ of being the only member of the family to get on with Holly and Adam.
Article continues below
According to reports, Adam told his dad Mark – via Bethany – that he could attend the service but would have to sit at the back behind the plus ones and would not be welcome at the reception. It appears that his father declined, choosing instead to stay with a heartbroken Caroline.
Actor and director Rob Reiner and wife Michele were found stabbed to death on December 14 at their $13.5 million Brentwood estate
View 2 Images
Elwes paid tribute to the director(Image: FilmMagic)
The Princess Bride star Cary Elwes has broken his silence on director Rob Reiner’s murder. Actor and director Reiner and his wife Michele were both found dead on December 14 at their $13.5m Brentwood home.
The couple’s son Nick was arrested that night and has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Nick had a history of drug issues, going to rehab for the first time when he was just 15.
He was living in his parent’s guest house after a bout of homelessness. Friends and family of the pair have been leaving their tributes and now Cary Elwes, who worked on The Princess Bride with Reiner has left his own message.
READ MORE: Rob Reiner’s friend shares heartbreaking Christmas message ‘sent from Heaven’READ MORE: Martin Scorsese’s heartbreaking tribute to late stars Rob and Michele Reiner
He shared a statement along with footage of Reiner guiding him through a fight scene which was featured in the 1987 movie. The clip was followed by another of a 25th anniversary reunion Elwes had with Reiner.
The Princess Bride starred Elwes who played the farmhand Westley with a quest to win the hand of Princess Buttercup. To do this, he and his friends must rescue her from Prince Humperdinck.
Writing in an Instagram tribute, Elwes said: “Enough time has passed that I can finally put my grief into words. I was 24 when I first met Rob Reiner on The Princess Bride. And from that very first meeting I fell in love with him.
“I was already a fan of his work so meeting him in person was a dream come true. As we began spending more time together I knew this was someone I wanted in my life.”
The actor added: “This was a man who felt deeply. Whose heart was filled with love and compassion. He wasn’t impressed by how much money you had or if you had a privileged upbringing. He just wanted to know if you were a ‘good guy’. He always tried to find the best in people. And if that person had problems he felt bad for them.
“He loved his family and friends immensely. He obviously loved making movies – and was clearly a brilliant filmmaker – but he told me what he really enjoyed the most was the experience itself.
“He used to say, ‘Once the movie is released it belongs to other people. But while you are making it, that’s your time on the planet, so you wanna make it good’. And boy was my time with him on The Princess Bride beyond great. I can’t remember a single day without laughter.”
Elwes then went on to mention Reiner’s wife Michele who he describes as “incredibly loving”. He added: “In a town where many talk the talk, they truly walked it. Whenever we got together we would talk about family, life, movies and politics. But without fail Rob would always find a way to make us laugh. That was important to him. Finding the joy.
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“And if I could make him laugh in return, I felt like I had won the lottery. His laugh was one of the greatest sounds I’ve ever known — so heartfelt it still rings in my ears.”
Elwes finished off his message by saying: “With this note my family and I send our deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers to their family, friends and fans.”
There’s no better place to celebrate the new year than Jools Holland, and Mirror man Mark Jefferies can now reveal the reasons behind the celebrations.
View 6 Images
Mark Jefferies can reveal what really happens at the recording of Jools Holland’s Hootenanny(Image: Michael Leckie / BBC)
Even though I only have two bottles of beer, I’m on my feet dancing and singing along at 8:47 PM. Some people appear a little teary, while others are hugging or arm-in-arm. It’s midnight on New Year’s Eve in this make-believe world I’ve entered.
Thanks to Jools Holland and a magical night in a glittering West London TV studio on December 10, I had a special occasion to celebrate 2026 before all of you. Hootenanny by Jools Holland is just as important as soaps and the monarch’s Christmas Day address. For the 33rd time, Jools will officially welcome the new year’s eve.
Peter Kay, a comedian, claimed that his mother still believes it to be live in his most recent book. Before visiting Versa Studios, my main inquiry was how to create the party atmosphere, which, it turns out, is as real as it appears on television.
A free bar offers drinks to attendees, which is unusual for the BBC, and they can take their seats. Around 30 minutes after the music starts, they are given glasses of prosecco to celebrate “midnight.”
Jools asks us to be quiet while the performers sing and then yell “keep it up” at the end. That is fantastic if you feel the urge to dance and move as a result. We have some incredible musical guests, and everyone is looking very beautiful.
Ronnie Wood, Olivia Dean, Craig David, Lulu, Jessie J, The Kooks, Heather Small, Imelda May, and the 1st Battalion Scots Guards are on this year’s bill.
The running order and set list are changed before the final version of the set list, according to Executive Producer Alison Howe, and it is important to have a diverse lineup of musicians.
People who accept it as New Year’s Eve are the other thing that counts. You kind of enter a mystical world where you forget what is going on inside the doors, she says.
Many musicians are very excited about the performance. Luke Pritchard, the singer behind Kooks, states: “It’s quite nerve-racking but in the best way. The New Year’s Eve show is Hootenanny, not just another gig. You’re a part of this unique experience that only occurs once while everyone is watching, and we hope everyone is in good spirits. It’s a legitimate right to be fair.
Knowing that you are someone’s soundtrack to their night, or the song they’re dancing around the kitchen with their nan means a lot to me. When you consider it, it is quite touching.
Jools leaves after taking a photo with me and spends the next three hours chatting and greeting A-list stars. He starts recording music, plays it on the piano with his band, and interviews famous people in the audience. To navigate a teeming circle of bands, singers, and guests, he only receives assistance from whiteboards with names or directions.
When the recording is over, Jools says, “It’s kind of like a swimming pool where you just throw yourself in and it’s all right once the water’s clear and you start swimming,” and you keep the momentum going.
You’re attempting to recall your piano playing. What will happen when that is over? Because of this, I can remember where I need to go for the next bit on a board.
With the exception of a few brief moments when production requests a pause, the filming is nonstop. Its goal is to film it without any breaks or stops. You want the energy to keep going, Jools states. So it becomes like real if we record it in a recording studio. It was all just, bang, bang, bang.
Who cares if there are a few minor errors there, though? It is what it is. Olivia Dean, a singing sensation who sings hits and sings alongside Jools in Natalie Cole’s 1975 debut single This Will Be (An Everlasting Love), is a “definite highlight.”
Olivia Dean has “gone ballistic this year,” he claims. She was playing clubs when she first appeared on the show a few years ago. She is currently adding on nights and selling stadiums from all over the world, including Rio de Janeiro to Munich to London’s O2.
She is an extraordinary, unbeliever, and a remarkable person. She enjoys doing things with us or doing things for me because she recalls her childhood favorites, Carole King, and, in this case, Natalie Cole songs.
I thought it was fantastic. a person might perform at a Christmas party. My grandfather would throw a Christmas party at my nan’s house, where everyone would sing their favorite songs, which were frequently musical ones. And that’s a little similar. “
The other key component is Jools’ band, who collaborate with many of the musicians, including both new songs and cover songs that they don’t typically play while traveling.
Everyone gets to soundcheck and practice their tracks after a day’s worth of rehearsals in the studios, followed by the other bands on the recording day.
There is a lot to learn for my band, Jools says, as well as a lot of horn-related arrangements. The public generally does not notice that.
Making notes while taking notes in their hotel rooms, so that when we go to rehearsal and play the first time, it sounds good. The band has never sounded better, and I’m not just saying that.
Continue reading the article.
Tonight at 11 p.m., Jools’ Annual Hootenanny airs on BBC2 and BBC iPlayer.
There’s no better place to celebrate the new year than Jools Holland, and Mirror man Mark Jefferies can now reveal the reasons behind the celebrations.
View 6 Images
Mark Jefferies can reveal what really happens at the recording of Jools Holland’s Hootenanny(Image: Michael Leckie / BBC)
Even though I only have two bottles of beer, I’m on my feet dancing and singing along at 8:47 PM. Some people appear a little teary, while others are hugging or arm-in-arm. It’s midnight on New Year’s Eve in this make-believe world I’ve entered.
Thanks to Jools Holland and a magical night in a glittering West London TV studio on December 10, I had a special occasion to celebrate 2026 before all of you. Hootenanny by Jools Holland is just as important as soaps and the monarch’s Christmas Day address. For the 33rd time, Jools will officially welcome the new year’s eve.
Peter Kay, a comedian, claimed that his mother still believes it to be live in his most recent book. Before visiting Versa Studios, my main inquiry was how to create the party atmosphere, which, it turns out, is as real as it appears on television.
A free bar offers drinks to attendees, which is unusual for the BBC, and they can take their seats. Around 30 minutes after the music starts, they are given glasses of prosecco to celebrate “midnight.”
Jools asks us to be quiet while the performers sing and then yell “keep it up” at the end. That is fantastic if you feel the urge to dance and move as a result. We have some incredible musical guests, and everyone is looking very beautiful.
Ronnie Wood, Olivia Dean, Craig David, Lulu, Jessie J, The Kooks, Heather Small, Imelda May, and the 1st Battalion Scots Guards are on this year’s bill.
The running order and set list are changed before the final version of the set list, according to Executive Producer Alison Howe, and it is important to have a diverse lineup of musicians.
People who accept it as New Year’s Eve are the other thing that counts. You kind of enter a mystical world where you forget what is going on inside the doors, she says.
Many musicians are very excited about the performance. Luke Pritchard, the singer behind Kooks, states: “It’s quite nerve-racking but in the best way. The New Year’s Eve show is Hootenanny, not just another gig. You’re a part of this unique experience that only occurs once while everyone is watching, and we hope everyone is in good spirits. It’s a legitimate right to be fair.
Knowing that you are someone’s soundtrack to their night, or the song they’re dancing around the kitchen with their nan means a lot to me. When you consider it, it is quite touching.
Jools leaves after taking a photo with me and spends the next three hours chatting and greeting A-list stars. He starts recording music, plays it on the piano with his band, and interviews famous people in the audience. To navigate a teeming circle of bands, singers, and guests, he only receives assistance from whiteboards with names or directions.
When the recording is over, Jools says, “It’s kind of like a swimming pool where you just throw yourself in and it’s all right once the water’s clear and you start swimming,” and you keep the momentum going.
You’re attempting to recall your piano playing. What will happen when that is over? Because of this, I can remember where I need to go for the next bit on a board.
With the exception of a few brief moments when production requests a pause, the filming is nonstop. Its goal is to film it without any breaks or stops. You want the energy to keep going, Jools states. So it becomes like real if we record it in a recording studio. It was all just, bang, bang, bang.
Who cares if there are a few minor errors there, though? It is what it is. Olivia Dean, a singing sensation who sings hits and sings alongside Jools in Natalie Cole’s 1975 debut single This Will Be (An Everlasting Love), is a “definite highlight.”
Olivia Dean has “gone ballistic this year,” he claims. She was playing clubs when she first appeared on the show a few years ago. She is currently adding on nights and selling stadiums from all over the world, including Rio de Janeiro to Munich to London’s O2.
She is an extraordinary, unbeliever, and a remarkable person. She enjoys doing things with us or doing things for me because she recalls her childhood favorites, Carole King, and, in this case, Natalie Cole songs.
I thought it was fantastic. a person might perform at a Christmas party. My grandfather would throw a Christmas party at my nan’s house, where everyone would sing their favorite songs, which were frequently musical ones. And that’s a little similar. “
The other key component is Jools’ band, who collaborate with many of the musicians, including both new songs and cover songs that they don’t typically play while traveling.
Everyone gets to soundcheck and practice their tracks after a day’s worth of rehearsals in the studios, followed by the other bands on the recording day.
There is a lot to learn for my band, Jools says, as well as a lot of horn-related arrangements. The public generally does not notice that.
Making notes while taking notes in their hotel rooms, so that when we go to rehearsal and play the first time, it sounds good. The band has never sounded better, and I’m not just saying that.
Continue reading the article.
Tonight at 11 p.m., Jools’ Annual Hootenanny airs on BBC2 and BBC iPlayer.
If we had been able to see into the future this time last year, we would have never have believed it was the best of times, it was the worst of times, 12 months full of incident and intrigue.
View 6 Images
The Princess of Wales during the Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey in London. (Image: PA)
From global conflicts to political turmoil at home and abroad, Royal scandals, dizzying advances in technology, high profile deaths, a Coldplay concert kiss that went viral and even a pop star in space, 2025 has been a year to remember.
And while at times the world may have seemed a dark and troubled place there were also lighter moments that brought celebration and laughter. It was a year of firsts across the year too.
In February, Beyonce won her first-ever album of the year award at the Grammy’s, May saw Pope Leo X1V become the first Head of the Catholic Church to have been born in the US and July saw a much anticipated series of huge concerts after the band Oasis reunited after a 16 year hiatus.
Sadly, we lost a host of famous faces in 2025 from across the worlds of religion, entertainment, sport and fashion including Pope Francis, Joe Bugner, Gene Hackman, Ozzy Osborne, Prunella Scales, Giorgio Armani and Robert Redford.
READ MORE: Michael Le Vell’s new contract ‘relief ‘ as he hints at Corriedale drama and affair
But as we said goodbye to some, other names were emerging onto our screens and timelines to dominate the headlines. After all, who could have predicted that the country would elect retired rugby player and television personality Joe Marler to its hearts in October or that Alan Carr would win the series, with his tears becoming a television show of the year?
Or that a performance back in March by actor Owen Cooper playing a troubled teenager in the TV series Adolescence would spark a national debate on toxic masculinity? Additionally, remarkable courage was demonstrated last year. The families of three little girls killed at a dance class in Southport in 2024 established legacy projects to help others in their name. Chris Hoy, a former Olympic track cyclist who currently has stage four cancer, continued to raise money and raise awareness for prostate cancer.
Then there was Gisèle Pelicot whose testimony at her own mass rape trial resulted in a change in French legislation around sexual violence. And earlier this month the world watched in horror as Ahmed al-Ahmed disarmed a gunman on Australia’s Bondi Beach. The terrorist was one of two now accused of murdering 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration.
But, back in January, all this was still to come. A little under 12 months ago we were battling snow, floods and some of the iciest temperatures in a decade courtesy of storms Eowyn and Herminia. The cold took its toll in the US too with the inaugural address of the 47th President, Donald J Trump, having to move indoors because of the plummeting thermometer.
It was all warm smiles in Bradford, though, which began its year as the UK City of Culture and there were celebrations too in Cheshire when local lad Luke Littler became the youngest World Darts Champion at the age of 17. And it was a month of good news for the Royal Family with the Princess of Wales announcing she was in remission from cancer. The year bookended with even more positive Royal news as the King, who has also been battling the disease, revealed earlier this month his schedule of treatment would be reduced for 2026.
The months in between however, were less happy for the House of Windsor with the relationship between the former Prince Andrew and the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein dominating the headlines. Pressure mounted in March with the death of Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent survivors of Epstein’s abuse. In August a biography of Andrew was released casting fresh doubt on his claims as to when he and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson first met the financier while a leaked email in October appeared to contradict a previous claim about when he had ceased contact with the convicted child sex offender.
Later that month, King Charles took action and officially stripped his brother of his titles, forcing him to fund himself privately and quit his 30-room mansion. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is expected to move home in 2026. Meanwhile, Prince Harry and wife Meghan also continued to make headlines. In May he lost his appeal over the level of security he and his family are entitled to in the UK.
Scandal within the British Royal Family was not the only topic to a cast long shadows this year with global conflict and the quest for peace continuing to govern the international landscape. In February there was a fiery meeting in the White House between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump with tempers flaring amid talks to end war with Russia.
Cordial terms were restored but the Ukraine/Russia conflict continued as the year grew older. Between October and December Russian forces launched huge missile and drone strikes against Ukraine which has recently secured a £79 bn loan from the EU. Meanwhile the year saw ceasefires begin and end in the Isreal-Gaza war – the latest made in October remains in place. In July the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification declared famine in the region. The IPC reported recent improvements in nutrition and food supplies but said 100,000 people still experienced ‘catastrophic’ conditions in November.
Nearer to home, the political landscape remained complex. Large anti-immigration protests swept cities – the largest was in London in September – as immigration and border control remained the hottest of topics. But there were other political headline grabbing moments – who could forget Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ tears in the Commons back in July or the leaking of her budget in November?
We’ve had high profile political resignations too, most notably Deputy PM Angela Rayner in September after a row over underpaid tax on a house in Hove. But 2025 has also seen the government increase the National Living Wage increased in April, introduce the Renters’ Rights Act, abolishing ‘no fault evictions’ and implement measures to penalise water company bosses who pollute rivers and seas.
Meanwhile, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has risen in popularity despite its leader, Nigel Farage, facing claims of racism and anti-semitism in November. March was a month of ups and downs with Firefly Aerospace’s “Blue Ghost” becoming the first commercial lander to reach the Moon. Just weeks later pop star Katy Perry also went to space aboard Blue Origin’s rocket as part of an all female crew – and sang ‘Wonderful World’ to mark the occasion.
A wonder of the world was also revealed that month when a colossal squid was captured on video in its natural habitat for the first time in the South Atlantic Ocean. Overall, 2025 was a good year for music lovers. Charli XCX was the big winner at The Brit Awards, taking home five prizes in March. She later headlined at Glastonbury in June. And Taylor Swift fans were thrilled both with her new album and the news in August that she was engaged to American footballer Travis Kelce.
Less thrilled though were the two work colleagues caught on camera at a Coldplay concert in a warm embrace back in July. Called out by frontman Chris Martin their horrified reaction went viral. Technology showed its best and worst sides this year with AI becoming ever more embedded in our lives. In April the Co-op was the subject of a cyber attack. Jaguar Land Rover also fell victim in August and M&S followed in September.
However, in April, doctors gave birth to Grace Davidson of London, the first woman to do so in the UK using a transplanted womb. The past year saw us looking back as well as forward with major celebrations across the country in May and August to mark the 80th anniversaries of both VE Day and VJ Day. Our long-established law courts also had some defining moments.
The Supreme Court ruled in April that the legal definition of a woman should be based on biological sex – transgender people remain protected under the Equality Act – while the Assisted Dying Bill, allowing terminally ill adults to request assistance to end their lives, passed the House of Commons in June. In May two men from Cumbria were found guilty of illegally cutting down the world famous Sycamore Gap Tree. They were each jailed for more than four years.
There were sporting landmarks aplenty across the year and none bigger than England’s Lionesses winning the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 final in July after beating Spain. Gary Lineker presented his final Match of the Day after 26 years in May, David Beckham also received a knighthood in November and just this month (Dec) British racing driver Lando Norris won the Formula One World Driver’s Championship.
The UK summer of 2025 was the hottest ever on record, and Europe was ruled over by a string of heatwaves from April until October. President Trump made a state visit in September and all eyes were on a scorching Wimbledon where electronic line calling meant eliminating human line judges for the first time. Iga writting in the women’s final and Jannik Sinner claiming the men’s title.
The summer was tinged with grief, though, as fans paid tribute to Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne who died in July. Diogo Jota’s passing that same month shocked the entire world. Heat warnings continued into August and, while we all scrambled for shorts and t-shirts, clothing retailer Topshop announced a return to the high street five years after its parent company collapsed. Following a restructuring plan, Potundland was also saved from closure.
Immigration remained the hottest of topics. In the wake of Home Office figures showing there were a record 111,000 applications for asylum in the UK, national flags began appearing across cities in England and Scotland. Summer often brings wedding invitations and the lucky guests who saw Amazon founder Jeff Bezos marry Lauren Sanchez in June were treated to a spectacular celebration in Venice. Other notable matches this year included actress Selena Gomez married musician Benny Blanco and Twilight saga star Kristen Stewart tied the knot with actress Dylan Meyer.
There were celebrity splits too, though, including Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban in September. In modern times, Amy Schumer, Chris Fischer, Lily Allen, and David Harbour parted ways, and in September, there was the first Catholic funeral for a Royal Family member after Katharine, Duchess of Kent, passed away, as well as the long-running Epstein scandal, which swept the Duchess of York after an email from her to him. In the days that followed various charities dropped her as a patron.
Another religious first came in October with Dame Sarah Mullally named as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury while King Charles became the first British monarch to pray with a pope with Henry V111 split with the Catholic Church. However, the news agenda was dominated by an attack on a synagogue in Manchester in which two people were killed, marking a year of sometimes shocking news stories including that of Paul Doyle who drove his car into Liverpool FC’s victory parade crowds in May and a mass stabbing on a train in Cambridgeshire in November.
It was a stellar year for TV with The Traitors commanding huge audiences, I’m a Celebrity marking its 20th series and Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daley stepping down from hosting Strictly this month. Radio favourite Sara Cox also raised £11.5m for Children in Need in November after a 135 mile marathon challenge The news was less good for the BBC that same month which saw Director General Tim Davie resign following criticism of a Panorama report which edited together parts of speech by President Donald Trump. The President announced he would sue the corporation.
The year looks to be ending as it began with unpredictability in both the weather and in politics. December saw warnings in place for heavy rain and flooding, the Justice Secretary, David Lammy, raised the question of whether every trial needs a jury and a case containing the Crown Jewels came under attack from protesters throwing apple crumble and custard at it.
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After Girlguiding announced that transgender girls would not be able to join the Girl Guide groups, gender issues were once more up for debate. A report into the £10.9 billion in government funds lost due to fraud and error was published, keeping the pandemic at bay. It’s been a year of fast change and uncertainty. One thing is certain about 2026: it will be just as surprising as it was in 2025.
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