By ISABELLA MACHIN, REPORTER

Published: 06:07 EDT, 14 March 2026 | Updated: 10:18 EDT, 14 March 2026

A fundraiser for the group leading the Al-Quds Day rally in London shouted ‘death to the IDF’ and ‘Khamenei makes us proud’ at a protest last weekend.

Raza Kazim attended a pro-Iran demonstration outside the US embassy last Saturday after the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in an Israeli drone strike. 

Footage shows him leading crowds with a chant of ‘say it clear, say it loud, Khamenei makes us proud’. In another video, he is seen yelling ‘death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]’ – a slogan described as hate speech last year by Sir Keir Starmer.

This week, the Home Secretary banned a planned Al-Quds Day march through London by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) due to the risk of serious disorder, but it will still go ahead on Sunday as a static protest. 

Mr Kazim – who leads a course training maths teachers at Middlesex University – is a trustee of the IHRC trust, the charitable arm that funds the IHRC. 

The IHRC was described in the independent review of the Prevent strategy as an ‘Islamist group ideologically aligned with the Iranian regime, that has a history of extremist links and terrorist sympathies’. 

It claims it is a separate entity to the IHRC trust, although they share the same business address and phone number.

In a statement reported, Mr Kazim praised Khamenei – whose regime has killed thousands of protesters – for ‘his principled opposition to systems of racial and political oppression’. 

He said the IDF chant was a ‘creative and forceful expression calling for the dismantling of a genocidal military institution responsible for terrorising, killing, raping and torturing Palestinians, while enforcing a system of apartheid that denies their basic humanity’. 

Lord Walney, the Government’s former extremism adviser, called his comments ‘deeply disturbing’.  

He told The Times: ‘These kinds of remarks are not remotely acceptable and not remotely peaceful and they make a mockery of those who claim there is no link between regime supporters and charities.’

Mr Kazim has organised previous Al-Quds Day marches. The event – named after the Arabic word for Jerusalem – was created by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after Iran’s 1979 revolution to express opposition to Israel. 

Other IHRC figures have gone on the record to praise the Iranian regime.  

They include its co-founder and chair Massoud Shadjareh, who was previously filmed recalling a meeting he had with Khamenei. 

Mr Shadjareh, who was born in Iran in the 1970s, said he had been summoned to describe the findings of an IHRC report, entitled Environment of Hate: The New Normal for British Muslims in the UK.

He told an audience at an event: ‘We did a report about Islamophobia, how the environment is created by politicians by the media and in that environment people became so bad that even sometimes themselves they were shocked at how they had become so racist.

‘I was asked to explain this research, this book, to Ayatollah Khamenei and in the small gathering I explained the whole findings of this.’

The IHRC chairman said the despot had listened ‘very attentively’ before replying: ‘This is because they want to destroy your confidence in yourselves as Muslims and in your deen [all-encompassing faith]. Don’t let it happen.’ 

Revealing how inspired he was by Khamenei’s words, Mr Shadjareh said: ‘Day in day out, when these Zionists and neocons are attacking us, abusing us, writing and demonising us, it is because they want to remove this confidence from you.

‘Our confidence comes in the fact that we have got the most powerful entity backing us and guiding us and this is why we are here and this is why we will be victorious if we unite.’

Faisal Bodi, the IHRC’s spokesman, described the late dictator as a man of ‘principle and integrity’.

Asked if he would hold a picture of Khamenei, Mr Bodi told the BBC earlier this week: ‘Happily. I would rather hold a picture of the Ayatollah than Keir Starmer or Donald Trump. He was a man of principle, a man of integrity, a man who stood for justice.’

He added: ‘In the same way I would happily hold a picture of Nelson Mandela and Malcolm X and many other towering personalities.’

Mr Bodi added that Khamenei ‘stood on the side of Palestine’. He also quoted Tehran’s figures for the number of protesters that had been killed during a recent wave of street protests – rather than independently verified figures that are in the tens of thousands. 

The IHRC said on Wednesday that it ‘strongly condemned’ the decision to ban its march and would continue with a static protest.

Shabana Mahmood had said the move was necessary ‘to prevent serious public disorder, due to the scale of the protest and multiple counter-protests, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East’. 

The Home Secretary added: ‘Should a stationary demonstration proceed, the police will be able to apply strict conditions.

‘I expect to see the full force of the law applied to anyone spreading hatred and division instead of exercising their right to peaceful protest.’

Neither the Government nor police have powers under the Public Order Act to ban a static demonstration.

Police chiefs believe the demonstration could potentially attract 12,000 people or more and are planning to use the River Thames as a barrier to keep rival groups apart. 

At least a thousand officers from the Metropolitan Police and forces around the country are being drafted in to patrol the crowds, with more made available if needed.

Met deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan warned the measures taken by police cannot ‘guarantee’ disorder will not take place but it is hoped the measures will mitigate disruption.

Speaking to reporters today, he said: ‘While we will protect the right to freedom of speech, there is a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime and anyone who crosses the line can expect to face arrest.’

The protest has drawn criticism over apparent backing for the Iranian regime after its organisers expressed support for the country’s late leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Government banned the march but people can still legally assemble and take part in a so-called ‘static protest’.

Mr Adelekan said this would be ‘immeasurably easier to police’.

But Lord Walney has warned this could still cause serious disorder and blamed a ‘loophole’ in public order laws depriving ministers of the power to stop rallies that stay in one location.

All protests and counter-protests will take place between Vauxhall and Lambeth bridges and are permitted between 1pm and 3pm, the Met said.

Counter protesters can assemble on the Millbank side of the Thames. Lambeth Bridge will be closed, with access only for emergency vehicles.

The force needed a ‘unique plan’ to respond to ‘unique circumstances’, Mr Adelekan said – but he stressed this would not set a precedent.

‘I’ve been in this organisation for 31 years, I cannot think of a time when we used it.

‘So as far as I’m concerned it’s new, it’s new in my generation of policing,’ he said, adding: ‘It will keep both sides apart whilst also allowing people to protest within the law.’

Mr Adelekan said anticipating protest turnout was ‘not an exact science’ but that it was his ‘professional judgment that numbers I think will go up to 6,000 in terms of the counter protest, which is a significant number when you combine all of those groups’.

He said: ‘I caveat that by saying you could see significantly more based on the current political situation.’ 

Mr Adelekan later added that police anticipate a ‘similar number or more’ supporting the protest.

Officers are having to be redeployed from neighbourhood policing to cover the event and patrol Jewish neighbourhoods in the capital, Mr Adelekan said.

Middlesex University has been contacted for comment.  

What is Al-Quds Day?

Al-Quds Day – named after the Arabic word for Jerusalem – was created by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after Iran’s 1979 revolution.

Falling on the last Friday of Ramadan, it was billed as an international day to express support for Palestine and opposition to Israel and Zionism.

The London march has taken place for more than 40 years and is organised by the UK al-Quds Committee led by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC).

It is seen by many as a hate march, and each year sees numerous arrests for supporting terrorist organisations and anti-Semitic hate crimes. 

The IHRC has backed Iran’s late despot Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing him as having been ‘on the right side of history’.

Braidy Wassilyn’s goal just 1:06 into third period stood up as the game winner as the London Knights held off the Guelph Storm 4-3 on Friday, March 13, at Canada Life Place.

Jesse Nurmi returned to the lineup from illness and had a pair of assists in the victory that pulled the Knights to within a single point of the Soo Greyhounds for fourth place in the Western Conference and home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Both London and the Greyhounds have four games remaining and it is now guaranteed that they will be first round opponents.

There are good starts to a game and then there is what the Knights had going through the first five minutes and 42 seconds of the first period.

The score was 3-0 for London and shots on goal were 12-0.

Evan Van Gorp finished off a five-shot barrage with his fourth goal in five games just 2:50 into the game.

The goal was challenged by the Storm for offside, but after review it stood and the miss on the challenge landed Guelph in the penalty box with a bench minor for delay of game.

Just 24 seconds into the power play, Jesse Nurmi fed Will Nicholl for his 12th of the year to make it 2-0.

On another Knight man advantage, Henry Brzustewicz scored his 17th goal of the season and it was 3-0 for London.

That goal ended the night for Storm goaltender Zach Jovanovski as he was replaced by Colin Ellsworth.

Shortly after, a hit by London’s Brody Cook on former Knight Noah Jenken resulted in a five-minute major and a game misconduct for Cook for kneeing and a leg injury to Jenken that saw him leave and not return.

Guelph scored on the ensuing power play when Carter Stevens tipped in a Jakko Wycisk shot past Seb Gatto and the game went to the intermission with London ahead 3-1.

The goaltenders became the story of the second period as they stopped a combined 27 shots through the first 19 minutes and 46.1 seconds.

That’s when Ethan Miedema chased down a puck and scored with just 13.9 seconds to shrink the Knights lead to 3-2 heading to the final 20 minutes.

Ryan Brown of the Knights forced a turnover a little over one minute into the third period and Braidy Wassilyn buried a shot from the slot for his 18th goal of the year to stretch the score back to a two-goal advantage.

A turnover behind the London net with 4:10 remaining gave Layne Gallacher of the Storm an empty net to shoot at and he tightened the gap to a goal at 4-3.

Guelph defenceman Quinn Beauchesne received a match penalty for slashing Brown of the Knights at 17:04.

Brown was able to stay in the game and London held on for their third win of the season over the Storm.

The Knights outshot Guelph 37-25.

London was 2-for-5 on the power play.

The Storm went 1-for-3.

No OHL team will reach 50 wins in 2025-26

The math won’t allow it. For the first time in 13 seasons, no Ontario Hockey League team will finish the year with 50 victories.

Even the 2019-20 season that was ended early due to the start of the pandemic had a 50-win team.

During the 12 straight seasons that have had a 50-win club the London Knights have hit the 50-mark four times, Erie has hit it four times and Ottawa has done it three times.

In 2025-26 Brantford and Kitchener can each reach 49 which incidentally was the high mark the last time 50 was not hit – when the Knights had 49 in 2011-12.

Up next

London will head to Windsor to meet the Spitfires for the fifth time this year at 4 p.m., on Sunday, March 15.

The Knights won their last visit to the WFCU Centre in overtime on a game-winning goal by Andoni Fimis on

Windsor won the last game between the teams when they downed the Knights 6-1 0n Feb. 27 at Canada Life Place.

Coverage will begin at 3:30 p.m., on 980 CFPL, at www.980cfpl.ca and on the iHeart Radio and Radioplayer Canada apps.

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The Princess of Wales opted for a glamorous sentimental jewellery piece during her surprise royal outing with the Prince of Wales in London yesterday.

Teaming new £995 Jimmy Choo shoes with cropped trousers and a Catherine Walker checkered blazer, Kate and William enjoyed a jam-packed day in the capital ranging from a tour of Bermondsey’s Beer Mile to a boat ride along the Thames.

And eagle-eyed onlookers may have noticed a rather touching detail to Kate’s look: her Cartier ‘Trinity’ hoops believed to have been a thoughtful gift from William to mark her 43rd birthday. 

Priced at £3,200, Kate, 44, has been spotted wearing the chic earrings on five separate occasions this year alone – with the gorgeous jewellery piece featuring three intertwined bands in an 18-carat white, yellow and rose gold.

Created by Louis Cartier in the 1920s, the earrings are Kate’s sixth jewellery item from the Trinity collection, with the three intersecting hoops thought to be a nod to her three children. 

The jewellery piece is also believed to be a loving tribute to her beloved mother-in-law, Princess Diana, who was a firm fan of Cartier’s ‘Trinity’ collection and famously frequently wore a distinct Trinity ring on her pinky finger. 

Kate first debuted the striking piece in January 2025 during a poignant visit to London’s Royal Marsden Hospital, her first solo engagement following her cancer diagnosis and to announce she was in remission.

The momentous royal outing, which came just days after her birthday, fuelled speculation that the earrings may have been a loving gift from her doting husband following a rather tumultuous year.

Throughout 2025, Kate wore the hoop earrings on eight different occasions as they became a staple part of the princess’s summer looks and Wimbledon wardrobe.

Indicative of her love for the sentimental item, Kate opted to wear the timeless piece for the Sandringham Christmas Day service before re-wearing them for a visit to Bradford in January.

The meaningful jewellery item was also featured in her and William’s heartwarming St David’s Day message earlier this month, with the three bands believed to represent past, present and future, alongside love, loyalty and friendship.

Since she first entered the royal fold in 2011, the princess has often opted for Cartier pieces during her numerous engagements and even selected a petite Cartier halo tiara for her wedding day. 

Kate and William were both in high spirits yesterday as they embarked on a royal pub crawl and poured pints, while also learning about beer production during the outing in London.

The couple made their way through the Bermondsey Beer Mile, a renowned walking route featuring more than 20 craft breweries, taprooms and bottle shops.

They popped into the Southwark Brewing Company where they were shown the process, got to smell some ingredients and even got to stir a brewhouse kettle. 

When she was invited to try some beer and cider, Kate told owner Hannah Rhodes: ‘Since my diagnosis I haven’t had much alcohol.’

She added: ‘It’s something I have to be a lot more conscious of now.’ Ms Rhodes, who offered Kate a soft drink instead, said: ‘Fair enough.’ 

Turning to William, Kate patted her husband’s knee and said: ‘But you like your cider, don’t you?’

Earlier William and Catherine tried their hand at brewing at nearby Southwark Brewing Company, a craft beer firm further down the Bermondsey Beer Mile which was founded in 2014 as one of the area’s first small-batch breweries under the railway arches.

Greeting Peter Jackson, 66, they were shown how to ascend a ladder where William wore black rubber gloves to add hops to the ‘kettle’.

After tipping the hops in, William said: ‘It smells like horse feed as you’re doing it. There’s a real mixture of smells.’ 

Mr Jackson joked: ‘Yes. It’s good that it changes by the time it gets to your glass.’

Catherine then went up the ladder to stir them in. They then had a competition to see who could pull the best pint, and Kate and William’s was declared to be better than the owner’s. 

Mr Jackson told them: ‘Do you know what? You can come back on Saturday for a shift.’ 

The royal couple also visited Humble Crumble, a dessert business which grew from a single market stall into multiple locations and now has a large social media following. 

For their final stop of the day, the royal couple arrived at the RNLI Tower Lifeboat Station by E-class lifeboat, thanking the crew for steering them safely ashore.

Delivering cake and biscuits they had bought at Borough Market earlier that day, they joined staff and volunteers to learn more about their lifesaving work on the tidal river and mark the 25th anniversary of the RNLI Lifeguards.

After getting changed out of the yellow waterproofs, the Prince and Princess took seats at a table for a cup with representatives of the lifeboat station, and were brought cups of tea while they talked. ‘Oh, that’s very kind,’ said the Princess.

Outside, where a small crowd had gathered to meet them after the engagement was pre-announced, there was a lone shout of ‘have you been covering for Andrew, William?’ – referring to William’s uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his friendship with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Several dozen well-wishers, however, shook their hands and asked for photographs.

One woman shouted ‘Happy Mother’s Day, Catherine!’ and a second showed her the tattoo she has of the Princess’s handwriting on her torso.

The Princess responded: ‘Oh my goodness, my handwriting isn’t the best!’

When I first moved to London in 2018, I was always trying to nab a seat on the Tube.

On a rammed Northern Line train during a morning commute, I was desperate for a seat to avoid being smushed into a stranger’s armpit. 

And on the way home after work, I’d gaze longingly at the seats, waiting for the moment one would free up so I could get off my feet (I had a terrible habit of wearing uncomfortable shoes).

But flash forward to today, and you’ll hardly ever catch me sitting down on the Tube. 

Instead, I opt to stand – a choice I appreciate I’m privileged to have as many fellow Londoners need to sit due to mobility issues.

My aversion to sitting on the Tube began in 2023, amid the bedbug outbreak in France. 

Like many others, I became paranoid about inadvertently bringing the critters home, especially after seeing videos of them crawling around on Tube seats. 

And while we didn’t end up having an infestation on the Underground here, I found myself unable to return to sitting on the vast majority of the lines, as the more I stood, the more I noticed just how gross many of the seats actually looked.

I’d argue the worst culprits can be found on Northern, Central, Victoria, and Picadilly lines, which have previously been named as some of the ‘dirtiest’ and ‘most polluted’ lines in the city.

To give you a better idea of what we’re dealing with, one study by the London Metropolitan University found 22 different types of living bacteria on the Victoria line, four of which were on the WHO priority list as potentially deadly, antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

And if this doesn’t make you think twice about parking your bum, this just might…

Latest London news

To get the latest news from the capital, visit Metro’s London news hub.

A video has been doing the rounds on social media this week, showing an unknown man urinating on a priority seat on a Northern Line tube after a night out. 

The original clip appears to have been deleted, but the damage has already been done.

Many Londoners have shared snippets of the clip as a warning, proclaiming they’ll ‘never sit on the Northern Line again’, while some went as far as to vow they’d never sit on any Tube again. 

And honestly, I’m feeling pretty vindicated about my decision to stand right about now.

Do you prefer to sit or stand on the Tube?

Sign up to The Getaway Expert, your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro’s travel editor, Alice Murphy.

If something like this has happened once, you can bet there will be so much more we haven’t seen – as a Reddit thread also seems to attest.

Over on the r/London forum, people have shared the ‘worst’ things they’ve witnessed on the London Underground, and the jaw-dropping list involves many more accounts of people weeing on Tube seats, as well as incidents involving ‘explosive puke’, ‘dogs with diarrhoea’, ‘masturbation’, and ‘faecal matter’.

I’ll spare you any further details, but what we can take from that is that those seats have seen just about everything and more.

Understandably, for those who need to sit, it does beg the question…

How often are the Tubes cleaned?

Transport for London (TfL) revealed how often seats on the Tube were cleaned in 2024 in response to a Freedom Of Information (FOI) request.

David Wells, the FOI case officer at TfL, said: ‘On the London Overground, there is a 30-day heavy cleaning programme for the interior of trains which includes seats. A dry foam is used and then vacuumed out. 

‘On the London Underground, seats across the fleet are brushed and checked daily prior and post going into service. The seats are also further cleaned and hoovered every 28 days, with the Northern Line also receiving an annual steam clean, due to the levels of dirt and dust being seen, with at least two trains per week being achieved as part of this maintenance programme.’

He added: ‘These cleaning programmes are also supported by seat covers being changed where necessary (for example, due to vandalism, chewing gum, paint damage and so on).’

Metro has contacted TfL for further information on their cleaning process.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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The King, Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales today led the largest gathering of senior royals since the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, marking Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey.

Kate dazzled in a navy Catherine Walker dress coat and five-strand pearl necklace that belonged to her husband’s late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II.

His Majesty, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, ignored a small but vocal group of anti-monarchist protestors as they arrived at the Abbey to support the King and Commonwealth.

It came amid reports that Charles is set to discuss the thorny issue of his brother Andrew and his place in the order of succession with Commonwealth leaders later. 

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer took time away from the Iran crisis to join dignitaries from around the world in central London this afternoon. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper was also in attendance.

Prince Albert of Monaco, Geri Horner and her husband Christian joined an array of stars and politicians in the Abbey.

Charles and Queen were the last guests to arrive after William and Kate, who were welcomed at the Abbey door by Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster.

The King and Queen then greeted all the other royals just inside the church before walking through the Abbey together as a family.

Charles’s annual address to the family of nations was included in a special booklet given to the congregation. He said in his message: ‘Working together, we can ensure that the Commonwealth continues to stand as a force for good…’.

The King praised the ‘precious’ Commonwealth, describing it as a forum for ‘honest discussion’ aimed at improving the lives of billions in an ‘increasingly fragmented’ world.     

Charles has also used his Commonwealth Day message to highlight how the institution has ‘untapped potential for prosperous trade between trusting partners’.

His words to the 56 member states of the family of nations were released ahead of Monday’s Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.

The King is the titular Head of the Commonwealth, following on from his late mother, Queen Elizabeth. 

Earlier large crowds had gathered to catch a glimpse of the royal party, who joined an 1,800-strong congregation celebrating the historic ‘family of nations’, formed in the breakdown of the British empire but now comprised of 56 independent member countries, united by ‘shared values including a commitment to promoting democracy, human rights, the rule of law and equality for its 2.7 billion citizens’.

The royal party arrived to a fanfare inside the Abbey with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester arriving first, followed by The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and then the Prince and Princess of Wales.

All were greeted by the Dean of Westminster and presented to the Chapter and members of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

They included Commonwealth Secretary General, The Hon Shirley Botchwey, and Chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Janet Cooper.

Outside the faintest occasional cry of ‘what did you know’ could be heard from a small group of flag-waving anti-monarchist protesters from the Republic pressure group in reference to Andrew, but they were competing with the sound of the abbey bells and a group of Commonwealth musicians.

The King and Queen were the last to arrive, shaking the hands of those in the line-up before greeting the rest of the family with warm kisses. Charles opening up his arms to welcome to his eldest son and heir, with a smile of delight.

The ladies slightly giggled amongst themselves given the size of their hats, Princess Anne smilingly indicating to Catherine that she wouldn’t even attempt a kiss. Others just offered a peck on one cheek, instead of the traditional two for fear of knocking their sizeable headwear.

Led by the King, the family then formed into a processional group ahead of the National Anthem.

The party walked to their seats behind the Commonwealth Mace Bearer during the first hymn “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation”.

In his annual Commonwealth Day message – which this year emphasises the theme of ‘collaboration’ – King Charles acknowledged deeply challenging times globally, but insisted it was also an opportunity for the Commonwealth to demonstrate its ‘enduring spirit’.

In his address, which was printed in the order of service, he said: ‘We join together on this Commonwealth Day at a time of great challenge and great possibility.

‘Across our world, communities and nations face the increasing pressures of conflict, climate change and rapid transformation. Yet it is often in such testing moments that the enduring spirit of the Commonwealth is most clearly revealed.

‘Ours is a remarkable association that spans every ocean and continent. Embracing an extraordinary diversity of culture, language and faith, our Commonwealth family is united by shared values of justice, democracy, opportunity, compassion and mutual respect.

‘In a world that can feel increasingly fragmented, this voluntary union of free association remains rare and precious – a forum for open and honest discussion and debate to help improve the lives of the nearly three billion people who call our Member States home.’

He stressed that the organisation holds ‘untapped potential for prosperous trade between trusting partners’ – which some might consider a backhanded nod towards President Trump and his controversial trade tariffs.

He added: ‘With nearly two-thirds of our population under the age of thirty, we are a family defined by youth and possibility. It is our shared responsibility to ensure that they inherit not only hope and ambition, but also a world in which they can flourish.’

The King also used his message to highlight an environmental message, saying the inheritance pf the Commonwealth ‘depends upon the health of our planet and on the restoration of the natural world on which we depend’.

He continued: ‘Across so many parts of our Commonwealth climate change is not an abstract or distant threat, but a lived reality. The stewardship of Nature, the protection of oceans and forests, and the pursuit of prosperity secured in harmony with the natural world are duties we owe not only to one another, but to generations yet unborn.’

Highlighting this autumn’s biannual Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, the King stressed that the organisation was very much the sum of its parts, saying: ‘We are reminded that the great gatherings of our nations are strengthened by the daily endeavours of their people. What distinguishes the Commonwealth is not only what our governments resolve together, but what our people do each day in countless acts of service, enterprise and creativity.

‘When leaders meet, they do so on behalf of millions whose quiet determination, resilience and generosity give true meaning to our shared endeavour.

‘Working together, we can ensure that the Commonwealth continues to stand as a force for good – grounded in community, committed to the kind of restorative sustainability that has a return on investment, enriched by culture, steadfast in its care for our planet, and united in friendship and in the service of its people.’

Today’s service brought together government representatives, young people and leading voices from the creative community, providing an example of ‘the Commonwealth at its best – its diverse voices harmonised in common purpose’.

This years’ Service featured several landmark artistic moments including the world premiere of the Commonwealth Symphony composed by Rekesh Chauhan and a bespoke dance collaboration between the Royal Ballet School and Sapnay Entertainments Ltd., uniting classical ballet and Bollywood in a powerful expression of cross-cultural partnership.

The Service also included an address from Royal Commonwealth Society Ambassador Geri Halliwell-Horner, a reflection from dancer and television personality Oti Mabuse and a poem from Selina Tusitala Marsh, the inaugural Commonwealth Poet Laureate.

Additional performances included a Scottish Ceilidh band, the Melodians Steel Drum Orchestra, and further special reflections and readings from notable guests.

Over the last 40 years the king has visited 48 Commonwealth countries, many of them on numerous occasions.

It came amid reports King Charles is ‘likely to discuss’ the removal of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession during a meeting with Commonwealth leaders today.

The monarch, 77, will join leaders of the 56 member countries to mark the annual celebrations during a service at Westminster Abbey later this afternoon. 

It will also be the largest gathering of Royal Family members since Andrew’s arrest last month following allegations he shared classified information with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. 

Charles attended the congregation of 1,800 people, made up of politicians and diplomats.

But in private, he is also likely to discuss removing Andrew, who denies any wrongdoing and remains under police investigation, from the line of succession.

The 66-year-old is currently eighth in line to the throne, with his removal requiring legislation in the UK and the approval of the 14 other Commonwealth realms where the King is head of state.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney became the latest Commonwealth leader to call for Andrew’s removal after describing his actions as ‘deplorable’. 

It followed interventions from the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand, who previously said they would support the UK Government in any such plans. 

It is understood that the UK Government will consider introducing legislation to remove Andrew from the line of succession once police have finished their investigation into the King’s disgraced brother.

Sources also told the Times that no decision has yet been made on whether Andrew’s daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, will also be removed. 

Beatrice, 37, as the oldest of the two siblings, is ninth in line to the throne, followed by her two children and Eugenie, 35. 

The pair were recently ‘blindsided’ by a decision to prevent them joining the rest of the Royal Family at Royal Ascot this year amid concerns about the unfolding scandal involving the House of York and their ties with Epstein. 

Defence Secretary John Healey last month ordered a review of military files for any evidence that Epstein used RAF bases to traffic girls into the UK. 

Mr Healey tasked officials with trawling through more than two decades of Ministry of Defence records and handing over to police any flight logs linked to the late paedophile financier. 

Meanwhile, former prime minister Gordon Brown has written to six police forces demanding investigations into whether Andrew used jets, funded by the taxpayer, and RAF bases during his time as trade envoy to meet Epstein.

Andrew served as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 until 2011, when he stepped down amid controversy over his friendship with Epstein. 

A Machine Gun Kelly fan suffered a mortifying moment after falling through a hole in the stage during the rapper’s London concert on Thursday. 

The 35-year-old Bad Things hitmaker had been joined by a group of concertgoers as he performed at the O2 Arena when the shocking incident took place in a clip obtained by USA Today. 

Kelly was in the midst of belting out lyrics to his track Bloody Valentine when one of the fans started waving towards the crowd in encouragement to cheer. 

The fan was towards the front of the group as they followed closely behind the singer down the stage.

However, she did not notice a gap within the stage and plummeted down into the small opening. Her hands could be seen slamming down on the edge of the hole in an attempt to stay up.

Kelly immediately turned around and yelled, ‘Oh my God!’ as others quickly ran over to help the fan. 

Kelly – whose real name is Colson Baker – also rushed over and reached one of his arms down to assist the fan as she climbed out of the gap. 

‘Are you okay?’ he asked with concern as he paused singing to make sure she was not injured. 

The fan nodded as she stood next to the music artist but he followed up with, ‘You are?’ 

When she once again nodded, Kelly energetically continued the show by saying, ‘Let’s f***ing go!’ 

The performer is currently in the midst of his Lost Americana Tour which kicked off late last year in November. 

The shows are in support of his seventh studio album Lost Americana which dropped in August 2025. 

Kelly previously reflected on the latest LP and how his music connects with fans during an interview with People. 

‘Vulnerability is how I was able to hold on to the fan base I’ve had for so many years. The human behind the music has to show the human side,’ he told the outlet. 

His next concert is scheduled for March 7 in Manchester, England before heading to Glasgow. 

The star will also travel to both Australia and New Zealand in the month of April for additional concerts. 

Kelly will head back to North America for performances in cities such as Houston, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, and Toronto throughout May and June.

His final tour date is set for July 1 in Ridgefield, Washington at the Cascades Amphitheater. 

And during downtime amid his busy schedule, the rapper has been spending time with family. 

Earlier this week on Wednesday, Kelly was joined by his teenage daughter Casie, 16, at Paris Fashion Week as they attended the LVMH Prize cocktail party. He shares his eldest child with ex Emma Cannon. 

When Kelly and Casie arrived to the event, the pair were surrounded by media and camera crews.  

Some mistakenly called out ‘Megan’ at the teen, referring to the singer’s ex Megan Fox, as per footage captured by Paris Videostars.

While walking towards the venue, Kelly quickly glanced over his shoulder and said with a laugh, ‘That’s not Megan, that’s my daughter.’

Fox and Kelly had began dating in 2020 but in late 2024 it was revealed that the pair had officially split, only weeks after announcing they were expecting their first child together. 

In March 2025, their daughter Saga Blade was born with the pair focusing on co-parenting the little one. 

However, speculation about the status of their relationship began to recently fuel when the rapper left a cheeky comment on the actress’s Instagram post earlier this week. 

The Jennifer’s Body star had shared an assortment of racy snaps as she returned to the social media platform.

She donned a black crop top as well a skimpy black thong while posing up a storm. In the caption, she simply wrote: ‘everything is more beautiful because we are doomed.’ 

Kelly had jumped to the comment section of the Instagram carousel and typed, ‘stoked i have your phone number.’ 

However, a source told TMZ that the status of their relationship has not changed and added the stars are still co-parenting their daughter.  

Braiden Clark and Cohen Bidgood each recorded hat tricks as the London Knights defeated the Erie Otters 10-2 on March 6 at Canada Life Place in the first of back-to-back games between the teams.

Henry Brzustewicz had four assists for the Knights and Braidy Wassilyn had three.

London had two goals before the Erie Otters had recorded their first shot of the game.

Cohen Bidgood and Braiden Clark scored 27 seconds apart at 13:55 and 14:22 of the opening period.

Knights goaltender Seb Gatto was not called on to make his first save until the 15:10 mark and that was the only save Gatto had to make in the first 20 minutes.

Ryan Brown scored his second goal in two games and 21st of the year with 1:03 remaining on the clock and London took a 3-0 lead to the dressing room.

Bidgood’s second of the game came on a power play at 1:30 of the second period and was followed by Evan Van Gorp’s third goal in three games at the 8:00 mark, extending the Knights lead to 5-0.

Tyler Cooper of the Otters managed to steal a puck deep in the London end and scored for the Otters at 11:26. However, that goal seemed to spark London as Jaxon Cover fed Bidgood to complete his hat trick and Braiden Clark wired in his 19th goal of the season.

The Knights led 7-1 through two periods and had held Erie to only seven shots to that point in the game.

London added three more goals in the third period as Clark completed his hat trick on a breakaway and Brody Cook scored short-handed on another breakaway.

Evan Headrick of the Otters scored a power play goal at 9:07 of the third period and Max Crete finished the scoring and brought the Knights to double-digits for the second time in 2025-26.

Alex Campeau and Cooper McAslan each earned their first OHL points with assists in the game.

The pair was taken in the first and second rounds respectively in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection.

Sixteen of the 18 London skaters recorded at least one point.

The Knights were 1-for-3 on the power play.

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Erie was 1-for-1 on the man advantage.

London outshot the Otters 37-18.

Movement at the NHL trade deadline

Several former London Knights changed teams at this year’s NHL trade deadline.

After Michael McCarron went from Nashville to Minnesota and Olli Maatta ended up in Calgary after a deal between the Flames and the Utah Mammoth on March 4 and 5, respectively, more ex-Knights were given new addresses.

In a stunner, John Carlson went to bed as a member of the Washington Capitals and woke up on the Anaheim Ducks.

Jackson Edward was traded from Boston to the Philadelphia Flyers. Londoner Brett Harrison also went to Philadelphia in that deal.

Corey Perry also went back to the Tampa Bay Lightning from the L.A. Kings. Perry went to the Stanley Cup final with the Lightning in 2022.

Nazem Kadri won the Stanley Cup with Colorado that year and Kadri was traded back to the Avalanche right before the deadline arrived.

Up next

The Knights and Otters will meet again on March 7 in the second of their home-and-home series in a game that will complete their season series against one another.

Coverage will start at 6:30 on 980 CFPL, at www.980cfpl.ca and on the iHeart Radio and Radioplayer Canada apps.

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

As Londoners, we’ve all dread that text: the one from your landlord, explaining that your rent is about to increase.

Some areas are more infamous for rent rises than others — and considering that the average rent in London is £985, it’s worth knowing where you might be able to find a good deal.

Now, new data has shed light on the neighbourhoods with the greatest — and lowest — changes in monthly payments over the last five years.

Increasingly popular with young professionals, Bethnal Green has seen the steepest change.

In 2020, the price of the average room here was £706, but now, it’s £1,104, which marks a 56.3% uptick in costs.

West Norwood is also on the list, as rents have jumped up by 51.2%, from £616 to £932.

On the other end of the spectrum, though, there are plenty where rents have stayed fairly reasonable.

These aren’t by any means the cheapest areas to rent a room in London (for that, you’ll have to go to southeast, to Bexley), but these neighbourhoods also aren’t experiencing the same wallet-damaging changes as others.

At the top of SpareRoom’s research is North Finchley, where rents have increased by 22.1% since 2020. Back then, a room would set you back £687 on average, but nowadays, it’s more like £839.

But perhaps more surprising is that the second place spot goes to Herne Hill in South East London.

The bougie enclave is often described as feeling ‘like a village’, with its independent coffee shops, breweries and weekly farmers’ market.

On the borders of zone 2 and 3, it’s just a 12 minute train to Blackfriars (whereas North Finchley is in zone 4, and takes around 40 minutes to get to King’s Cross via public transport).

And while renting costs haven’t remained stagnant in Herne Hill, the average rent here was £711 in 2020. Now, it’s still a fairly reasonable (for London) £893, which is a 25.6% increase.

The 10 London postcodes with the lowest five-year rent change, according to SpareRoom

1. N12 (North Finchley). Average room rent in Q4 2025: £839, average room rent Q4 2020: £687
2. SE24 (Herne Hill). Average room rent in Q4 2025: £893, average room rent Q4 2020: £711
3. N5 (Highbury). Average room rent in Q4 2025: £1,020, average room rent Q4 2020: £809
4. E4 (Chingford). Average room rent in Q4 2025: £768, average room rent Q4 2020: £607
5. N10 (Muswell Hill). Average room rent in Q4 2025: £874, average room rent Q4 2020: £682
6. E18 (South Woodford). Average room rent in Q4 2025: £838, average room rent Q4 2020: £650
7. SW14 (Mortlake). Average room rent in Q4 2025: £897, average room rent Q4 2020: £692
8. SW5 (Earl’s Court, West Brompton). Average room rent in Q4 2025: £1,257, average room rent Q4 2020: £968
9. SW3 (Chelsea). Average room rent in Q4 2025: £1,341, average room rent Q4 2020: £1,033
10. SE5 (Camberwell). Average room rent in Q4 2025: £904, average room rent Q4 2020: £691.

Things to do in Herne Hill

If foodie scenes are your thing, then Herne Hill fits that bill. Besides the GAIL’s, which arrived a few years ago, the area is a haven for independent businesses, including Lulu’s (ideal for a flat white), The Sicilian Deli, and Archie’s, which also has a location in Archway.

Utter Waffle, which dishes out entirely gluten-free waffles, also started out in Herne Hill, before heading to Balham to open another restaurant.

We’d recommend the Wafflin’ Chicken, a mozzarella and thyme-stuffed waffle topped with fried chicken, garlic aioli, hot honey, and rocket. And the loaded hash stacks are always worth it, too.

For your little treat head to BunHead, a bakery which specialises in sourdough buns, with flavours rooted in Palestine. This spot had a viral moment on TikTok, and you’ll often find queues out the door.

If you want a nice dinner out, then Llewelyn’s is fit for a date night, serving up dishes like pork chop and cornish sole.

For the best coffee in town, head to the coffee shop beneath the arches and ask for a latte with a little shot of caramel in it. It’s always served with a smile.

Every Sunday, Herne Hill Market keeps the streets alive, and it’s buzzing with stalls serving baked goods, sausage rolls, and art. If you’re ever suffering from a sore head from too much partying the night before, the ever popular Tartiflette stall is sure to blow away the cobwebs.

Undoubtedly, the cherry on top of Herne Hill? Brockwell Park, which has impeccable views over London, a beautiful pond, and even a model railway.

For a pint or two, The Prince Regent has just undergone a rather snazzy refurb. There’s now an upstairs, and they serve a roast dinner on a Sunday.

On a sunny day, this institution is always brimming with locals drinking pints out the front. There are now even more tables to choose from, which feels apt considering spring has very nearly sprung in London.

And, for some unique literature choices from a shop that isn’t Waterstones, Herne Hill Books is right next to the station.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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Jaxon Cover and Ryan Brown each scored once and assisted on two others as the London Knights defeated the Guelph Storm 5-2 on Farmer’s Night at Canada Life Place on March 4.

The win secured at least fifth place for London in the Western Conference as it guaranteed the Knights could not be caught by Guelph.

London sits three points back of the Soo Greyhounds for fourth place. The Greyhounds have one game in hand on the Knights.

Braiden Clark and Henry Brzustewicz each had a goal and an assist for London.

After an early surge from Guelph, the Knights turned an offensive zone faceoff into the first goal of the game as London centre Braiden Clark got the puck back to Brzustewicz and the third-year defenceman wristed in his 17th goal of the season, making it 1-0 for the Knights at the 4:03 mark.

The period cruised along from there into the final minute when London struck for two more goals.

Evan Van Gorp took a drop pass and made an outstanding move to get to the Guelph net where the Watford, Ont., native scored his second goal in two games for a 2-0 Knights advantage at 19:04 of the opening period.

Cover raced back into the Storm end and found Braiden Clark in front for Clark’s 17th goal of the year with just 12.3 seconds to go and London found themselves ahead 3-0 through 20 minutes.

Brown hit the 20-goal mark for the Knights when he banged in a rebound at 13:09 of the second period to make it 4-0 for London.

Before the end of the middle period, the Storm hit the scoreboard when Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Grant Spada broke up a two-on-one at one end of the ice, then rocketed the puck off the end boards at the other end of the ice where Guelph rookie Mark Pape batted it in at the side of the Knight net to make it 4-1.

Londoner Parker Snelgrove tightened the score to 4-2 with a hard shot from the right the right side of the London end 7:59 into the third period. However, Cover restored the Knights’ three-goal lead as he hammered in a rebound in front of the Storm net at 12:21.

A late goal by Brzustewicz was negated when a review showed that the puck had been kicked into the Guelph net.

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London outshot the Storm 29-26.

Knights goalie Seb Gatto made 24 saves for his 19th victory of the year.

The Knights were 1-for-2 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.

Former Knight Michael McCarron moved to Minnesota

As the National Hockey League trade deadline arrives on March 6, big moves are always anticipated.

Two of the first trades ahead of the deadline involved two of of the biggest players in the league by sheer size as Tyler Myers went from the Vancouver Canucks to the Dallas Stars and former London Knight Michael McCarron was acquired by the Minnesota Wild from the Nashville Predators.

McCarron played for the Knights in 2013-14 and to start 2014-15 and then was traded to Oshawa where McCarron helped the Generals to win the Memorial Cup.

Up next

London will play a home-and-home series with the Erie Otters beginning with a game at Canada Life Place on March 6 at 7 p.m.

The two clubs will meet the next night in Pennsylvania.

The Knights are 3-0-1 against Erie this year.

Coverage will start at 6 :30 p.m., on 980 CFPL, at www.980cfpl.ca and on the iHeart Radio and Radioplayer Canada apps.

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.