Saturday's newspaper front pages are dominated by fallout from Earl Spencer's forthcoming book about his sister Diana, Princess of Wales, alongside coverage of international tensions and domestic policy debates.
Earl Spencer's claims about King Charles
Multiple papers lead with Earl Spencer's recent interview discussing his new book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, which according to the BBC is due for UK release next month, nearly 30 years after Diana's death. In his conversation with a national broadcaster, Earl Spencer reaffirmed his account of a telephone exchange with the then Prince Charles following his sister's death. The earl maintains he is recounting events truthfully, though Buckingham Palace responded with a statement suggesting that familial sorrow might affect recollection of such conversations.
According to excerpts published in a national newspaper, Earl Spencer stated that King Charles III told him
we'll forget her soon enough, a characterisation the earl has described as troubling. The Daily Star's coverage uses the single word
Monstrousas its headline to capture the earl's assessment of the King's alleged remarks.
Another tabloid has highlighted what it characterises as a contradiction in Earl Spencer's position, noting that in a 1998 interview he declared he would
never profit from my sister's life, yet the paper reports he now derives substantial income from her legacy through his book project.
A third major newspaper cites author Tom Bower's claims that Earl Spencer is
undoubtedlycollaborating with his nephew, the Duke of Sussex, to
damageKing Charles, with the paper referring to this alleged partnership as the
Spencer alliance.
The Times features a photograph of Earl Spencer with the caption
I don't hear denial from the King, reflecting his position that the Palace has not directly contradicted his account of their conversation.
Earl Spencer is scheduled to appear at the Althorp Literary Festival in Northamptonshire from 8 to 10 May 2026, where according to the BBC he will discuss the 1995 Panorama interview at his family home alongside journalist Andy Webb. The earl has long maintained that the Panorama interview was produced through serious misconduct within the BBC, a position he reinforced after the Dyson inquiry's findings were published in 2021.
What do the papers say about Russia's military plans?
The Daily Telegraph leads its front page with coverage of Russian military preparations, reporting that Western intelligence officials believe President Vladimir Putin is preparing what they describe as a
stealth mobilisationthat could result in thousands of Russians being conscripted. According to BBC reporting on 18 September 2026, Russian intelligence officials themselves believed administrative preparations were underway for a possible mobilisation, with efforts to increase contract recruitment including pressure on individuals facing trial or financial difficulties.
The Telegraph's reporting indicates that such a mobilisation decision could occur over a specific weekend, though the Kremlin's final determination remains uncertain and tied to Russia's electoral calendar.
British security and data protection concerns
The i Paper reports that the British Army
secretly relaxed security checksover a two-year period, with the paper claiming this resulted in
letting in far-right extremists who backed Russia.
A national newspaper's investigation reveals that
sensitivepolice data is being stored on a
vulnerablecloud platform, raising questions about data security and government oversight of sensitive information.
Taxation and business leadership
The Financial Times leads with commentary from Fred Done, founder of Betfred, who criticises Britain's tax burden. According to the paper, Done, described as
Britain's biggest taxpayer, states that at age 83 he is
too oldto relocate abroad for tax purposes as some wealthy individuals have done. According to the BBC, Fred and Peter Done founded Betfred in 1967 and previously topped the Sunday Times tax list with an estimated £400.1 million in tax paid over the past year. The BBC has also reported that Betfred announced plans to close 132 shops following gambling tax rises, with remote gaming duty rising from 21 per cent to 40 per cent and a new online sports betting duty of 25 per cent due to take effect in 2027.
Other front-page stories
The Times also reports that the Treasury is examining whether to lower the
mansion taxthreshold to £1.5 million ahead of next month's Budget. Citing unnamed government sources, the paper states that if Chancellor John Healey announces this change, thousands of additional properties would become subject to the tax.
The Daily Mirror leads with a tribute from Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood to a late politician, whom he describes as
an amazing human being, and brave. Revel Horwood tells the paper he spoke with her six days before her death.
The new Great British Bake Off presenter Nigella Lawson appears on another front page alongside a chocolate cake, stating that
eating is my superpower.
What happens next
Earl Spencer will speak with journalist Andy Webb at the Althorp Literary Festival from 8 to 10 May 2026, where he is expected to reflect further on the 1995 Panorama interview and his new book. The new online sports betting duty is scheduled to take effect in 2027. Russia's mobilisation decision remains tied to an expected weekend decision point, with the Kremlin's next move still uncertain.
