The Telegraph Frontpage for Friday 2022 December 16

By Danny Boyle After the final part of Harry and Meghan’s Netflix series was released, our royal experts have analysed what we learnt.

 

The big story: The 17 key moments from Netflix finale After all the anticipation, that is it. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s controversial documentary has been released in full. The series came to a conclusion today, with the final three episodes premiered on Netflix. As the world gained unprecedented access to the couple’s private life, a spotlight was shone on their relationship with senior members of the Royal family. Catch up on the 17 key moments picked out by our royal experts. Among the most incendiary allegations made by Harry was that Prince William “screamed and shouted” at him, claiming he and Meghan will “never get a genuine apology” for the way they were treated. As Victoria Ward reports, he also accused Buckingham Palace of “institutional gaslighting“. And the Duke accused the publishers of the Mail on Sunday of causing his wife to miscarry as he ramped up his ongoing battle with the media. In other developments, the Duke said:

he “hates himself” for how he dealt with Meghan’s suicidal thoughts; Meghan “did the royal job better than those who were born to do it”; and he wonders what would have happened if it were not for Megxit.

In her analysis, associate editor Camilla Tominey says it has become increasingly clear that, as far as the Sussexes are concerned, it is not enough for love to “win” – the royals must also lose for the couple to come out on top. She outlines why she thinks Harry is attacking William. And, in his commentary, Simon Heffer derides the “vague insinuations” against those who cannot or will not defend themselves.

How big is royal cottage?

The Sussexes lamented the reality of living at Nottingham Cottage, describing it as “so small” and having “really low” ceilings. Just a stone’s throw from Kensington Palace, Prince Harry’s childhood home, the cosy property, known by royal insiders as “Nott Cott”, boasts two bedrooms, two reception rooms, a bathroom and a small garden. An ideal starter home for the couple, the property also provides fantastic access to the trendy shops, boutiques and spas on Kensington High Street. Victoria Ward examines the size of the cottage and its previous residents.

What could come next The royal family’s principles of rising above and never complaining or explaining have stood the test of time for a reason. Instead, says Judith Woods – who watched the latest three episodes of the Netflix show yesterday morning – Meghan and Harry were tireless in their pursuit of “truth” and, later, “peace”. But the thing about providing exclusive access and never-before-seen archives is that you have one shot and then you are done. So what comes next for the couple? Judith imagines the major plot twist that could re-monetise The Greatest Love Story Ever Sold.

Team Wales put on united front after criticism In the face of escalating public criticism from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the Prince of Wales last night made a plea for “togetherness” as the Royal family united for a Westminster Abbey carol concert. Prince William spoke hours after Prince Harry launched his most explicit allegations to date, claiming in a Netflix documentary that he had broken a pledge never to let the “institution” come between them. The palace “lied” to protect his older brother, the Duke claimed, accusing his father, the King, of saying “things that just simply weren’t true” in negotiations for the Sussexes to leave the working Royal family. These are the key moments from the TV show. Royal editor Hannah Furness reports how the family assembled in an unmistakable show of unity – wearing outfits that Tamara Abraham says sent a clear message to Harry and Meghan.

 

While the NHS is under extreme pressure, with a big rise in serious flu cases, the Royal College of Nursing union is considering a fresh round of strikes. We have details of that – and today’s rail walkouts.

Evening briefing: Today’s essential headlines

Strikes | Downing Street has distanced itself from England’s chief nurse after she attended a Royal College of Nursing picket line and reportedly expressed support for striking NHS staff. Dame Ruth May was pictured next to nurses outside London’s St Thomas’ Hospital in the first national strike. These are the charts that show why NHS nurses turned down a pay rise and, with another 48-hour bout of train strikes from tomorrow, Oliver Gill examines how rail workers have had years of surging pay.

Fears flu illness could be the worst in years

The NHS is bracing for one of the worst outbreaks of flu in recent years. Flu hospital admissions have jumped more than 40pc in a week, while analysis of NHS data shows that rates are more than eight times higher than expected at this time of year. Science editor Sarah Knapton reports that flu cases are so high they have now overtaken Covid admissions for the first time since the start of the pandemic. The rise could not come at a worse time for the NHS. It is already suffering the biggest treatment backlog in history – likely to be exacerbated by strikes by nurses and paramedics. Tens of thousands of nurses walked out yesterday in the first national strike by members of the Royal College of Nursing. More industrial action is planned for Dec 20, with fresh strikes being considered for the new year when flu cases usually peak. Meanwhile, new data lays bare how the creaking NHS is failing Britons. It comes amid more travel misery as railway workers launch a fresh strike. Members of the RMT are walking out for another 48 hours, with the union left isolated in its row with train chiefs after a rival voted overwhelmingly to accept a pay offer and end industrial action. Some 85pc of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association members at Network Rail backed an identical deal that was rejected by the RMT on Monday, which saw staff offered a 9pc pay rise. Network Rail’s third union, Unite, agreed to the same terms earlier this week. Oliver Gill reports how RMT general secretary Mick Lynch’s language contrasts with that of his counterparts. Our strike guide has the dates and lines affected.

The grown-up guide to festive hangover cures Now we are deep into party season, it might be time to think about how to avert the worst hangovers of Christmas past. In years gone by, Fiona Gibson enjoyed nursing hers while lazing about with friends, sipping gallons of coffee and eating bacon sandwiches. These days, at 58, her hangovers are less chuckles-over-breakfast and more complete mental collapse. So she went in search of a solution. Read the results of her tests of pre- and post-booze products that promise to ease the morning after.

Also in the news this Friday EU corruption claims | Belgian spies were investigating widespread foreign interference in EU decision-making when they uncovered a corruption and bribery scandal that has engulfed the European Parliament. The country’s secret service broke into the house of one of the key suspects, a former Italian MEP, where they discovered €700,000 in cash. As Joe Barnes reports, the discovery pointed to an alleged plot linked to World Cup host Qatar that has tarnished EU institutions.

Belgian spies were investigating widespread foreign interference in EU decision-making when they uncovered the corruption and bribery scandal that has engulfed the European Parliament. … Ms Kaili, a serving Greek socialist MEP, and Mr Giorgi are being held by Belgian authorities after they were arrested on Dec 9 on suspicion of corruption. Investigators found €900,000 in cash during raids on their home and a hotel room occupied by Ms Kaili’s father, Alexandros Kailis. Since being arrested, Ms Kaili has pleaded her innocence.

Long Covid | Study finds how exercise can reverse condition Scientists in Leeds have found that fatigue, brain fog and breathlessness can be cut down by using the right exercise regimen Tory backlash | Plan to put asylum seekers in holiday camps David Davis among MPs to criticise proposal to house migrants at Pontins sites and in converted student accommodation Sturgeon | Scotland’s middle classes to pay more income tax Middle-class Scots are to pay hundreds of pounds more income tax next year after Nicola Sturgeon’s government raided their wage packets by adding a penny to each of the top two rates. Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced that from next April the higher rate in Scotland will rise from 41p to 42p, while the top rate will increase from 46p to 47p, despite households struggling with a cost of living crisis …. The Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) said Mr Swinney’s decision to further widen the cross-Border tax gap was “exceptionally concerning”. Both the higher and top rates will be 2p lower in England next year, 40p and 45p respectively. Trump ‘the superhero’ | Ex-president mocked for trading cards Donald Trump boasted he was “better” than Abraham Lincoln on Thursday as he unveiled a set of NFT digital trading cards featuring him as a superhero, an astronaut and a cowboy. The former president was roundly mocked after promising he would make a “major announcement”, which fans had speculated would be related to his 2024 presidential run, but instead turned out to be a “desperate” new money-making venture. Mr Trump promoted the cards – which will sell as non-fungible tokens for $99 (£80) each on his Truth Social media page – with the boast that he was more popular than former presidents Lincoln and George Washington. Mimicking Hitler | Students perform Nazi salute during play Pupils at a boarding school in Somerset performed a Nazi salute after watching a play about Hitler, it has emerged. Photos show pupils at Millfield School, where fees are £45,000 a year, laughing while doing Sieg Heil salutes facing a swastika flag and an actor dressed as Hitler on stage. … “It makes me feel sick,” the parent of a Jewish pupil told the Jewish Chronicle. “What on earth were the teachers thinking? It would not be appropriate to give this kind of play the green light for school children at any time, least of all on the eve of Yom Kippur.” The one-man play by Pip Utton, 70, a solo performer, portrays Adolf Hitler’s final days. … Gavin Horgan, headmaster of Millfield School, said: “The play is critically acclaimed and has been performed in many schools over the last 25 years. It deals with shocking historical events and is intended to educate about manipulation and intolerance.

World news: Uncovering the ‘Butchers of Bucha’

Russian forces killed hundreds of civilians in the first few weeks of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the United Nations said today. Volker Turk, the UN rights chief, revealed the scale of the likely war crimes across three regions of Ukraine from the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. It came as a Russian deserter disclosed how fellow soldiers raped women and his unit – dubbed the “Butchers of Bucha” – was given orders to shoot unarmed civilians during its brutal occupation.

Around the world: Russia ‘preparing for another go’

Russia is preparing to launch a large-scale offensive in the new year and is building up its forces to advance deep into Ukraine, as far as Kyiv, Ukraine’s top commander has warned. General Valery Zaluzhny said that Moscow’s mobilisation drive “has worked” and Russia is assembling troops to overturn the summer’s embarrassing defeats and gain more territory. It comes as Ukraine sought to take the initiative around Donetsk, launching a wave of strikes on the Russian-occupied city.

A firefighter examines a burned car after a shelling by Ukrainian forces in Donetsk. Credit: AP

Comment and analysis

Fraser Nelson | We have not learnt lessons of lockdown failure The apparatus that was so eager to apply restrictions last Christmas is still there, ready to pounce again It was a year ago today that Britain was set to be locked down again for the fourth time. The Omicron variant was at large and experts at Sage had predicted there would be between 600 to 6,000 deaths a day unless “interventions” were made. Plans were drawn up and an emergency press conference pencilled in – but this time, the script changed. When Rishi Sunak heard what was happening, he threatened to resign. He flew back early from his trip to California and demanded this was discussed at a Cabinet meeting, which, as he knew it would, killed the idea. David Frost | In Whitehall, civil servants reign over ministers Government departments are impossible to control, since politicians have little influence over officials Benedict Rogers | Brutal China again shows its true colours Good riddance to the five Chinese officials whose alleged behaviour in Britain showed the contempt the regime has for the rules-based order Telegraph View | The demands of nurses have no easy answers Reader letters | How strike could have constructive outcome

Sport briefing: Now Saudis make a double grab Saudi Arabia is seriously considering an audacious and hugely controversial double bid to host the Olympics and World Cup in the same decade. As the current World Cup in Qatar reaches its finale, the rival nation’s sports minister told sports news correspondent Tom Morgan about Saudi’s “incredibly ambitious” plans. In Karachi, Rehan Ahmed is in line to become England’s youngest Test cricketer tomorrow as Ben Stokes considers calling him up for the series conclusion.

Editor’s choice Bernard Arnault interview | ‘Being the world’s richest man didn’t mean anything to me’ On the search for newness | ‘Help, after 40 years in fashion, I’m having a style crisis’ After 40 years working in the media end of the fashion world, Maggie Alderson is having a style crisis.

	What should be on your plate | What your diet should look like at every age No day goes by without us thinking about food. For most of us, taste will usually be the dominant factor in what we decide to eat, with ease, cost and, of course, nutrition, all playing a part in that decision. But are you really eating the right food for you?
	Countdown of the finest programmes | The best TV shows of 2022 – and the worst
	Chart-toppers | From Cliff Richard to Mr Blobby, the weird world of Christmas No1s

Business briefing: Royal Mail ignores striking workers The leaders of Royal Mail have vowed to ignore striking workers as thousands cross the picket lines and support for industrial action crumbles. Chairman Keith Williams and chief executive Simon Thompson said they intend to push through reforms to the business with or without the backing of the Communication Workers Union ahead of another round of walkouts. In other news, Britain’s largest North Sea oil producer is refusing to bid for new UK oil and gas wells and reviewing its investments in response to the Government’s tax raid on the sector.

Here is a selection of articles we think you’ll be interested in today.

Live – Strikes latest: First nurses’ strike cancels 60pc of routine operations JK Rowling: Gender reforms will be Nicola Sturgeon’s poll tax Nurses’ strike latest: No 10 distances itself from chief nurse who joined picket line Andrew Western becomes MP as Labour wins Stretford and Urmston by-election Chinese envoy flees UK after clash with protesters