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ALISTER: Did you see Prince Harry skipped the VE Day events? Not exactly shocking after that interview where he blamed "security stuff" for the rift with his father. Let’s not forget, he stepped away from royal duties in 2020, cashed in on a memoir, and turned family drama into Netflix content. Actions have consequences.

MERIDYTH: I’m not a royal superfan, but I actually agree with Harry… in principle. He’s a royal by birth and even served in the armed forces. If we provide lifelong security to former Prime Ministers, then why deny it to someone who can’t stop being a royal and arguably faces greater public threat?

ALISTER: But unlike those PMs, he opted out of public service. You can’t quit your job, move abroad, then demand perks from the same system you walked away from.

MERIDYTH: Haven’t nine PMs resigned in the past 50 years? Anyway, there are reports of credible threats to his family, including death threats against Meghan. That alone would make me question visiting without proper security. Meanwhile, we’re paying for the protection of politicians, like Liz “Lettuce” Truss, who resigned and held office for less time than Harry served in the army.

ALISTER: The court reviewed all that and still ruled the security decision lawful. Even the judge said the downgrade was understandable. And let's be honest, his media strategy keeps making things worse. Sky News called it “emotional blackmail.” You can’t reconcile through news headlines.

MERIDYTH: 100%. It’s not a show of reconciliation, rather the complete opposite. But as I said, it’s about principle and this feels less like law and more like punishment. Anyway, I hate that we’re debating royal drama when there are bigger issues at stake.

ALISTER: What’s a bigger issue than this? Strip away the celebrity gloss and you’ve got a real discussion about dignity, public duty, and the ethics of turning personal pain into public spectacle. 🫤 Just don’t ask me to binge-watch the docuseries.

🛂 Immigration shakeup. Labour will unveil significant immigration plans today - from foreign graduates losing post-study work rights to stricter English language requirements. Some are concerned about the potential limiting of Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, which has been used to stop deportations in favour of family unity.

💚 Maybe not so green belt. London's mayor has had a radical U-turn. He now wants to build on green belt land. Pressure to hit govt’s goals for housing combined with lack of home builder engagement, while facing off against environmental and urban sprawl protection… rock, meet hard place.

💰️ Art of the deal. The UK & US agreed to a trade deal, which some believe to be more political optics over substance - securing a quick trade win using “flattery” as opposed to a comprehensive free trade deal. We get lower tariffs and protections for UK steel and aluminium, while the US gets to import ethanol and meat to us (food safety rules still apply). Both sides acknowledge this is just the beginning.

🌳 Friendship as strong as an oak. Or so they hoped. The two men, who cut the Sycamore gap tree, have now been convicted while also turning on each other after four years of inseparable friendship. Prison will be even more lonely for them now.

🔭 Reform watch. The Lib Dems have setup a “Reform Watch” to monitor their rivals, and hold them to account. Believing many of Reform UK’s promises at a local level will leave individuals worse off, Lib Dems hope keeping receipts can make people see the light.

Good news… for Trump, who declared a win in his books for negotiating a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan. Bad news… for the India/Pakistan ceasefire agreement, as both countries accused each other of violating it. Fingers crossed they navigate through it and stick to the deal.

♟️ Diplomatic chess. PM Starmer joined world leaders in Kyiv to advocate for a Ukraine/Russia ceasefire and promising to "ratchet up pressure on Russia's war machine". European leaders are applying pressure regarding a potential 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.

⛪️ Inside the conclave. Turns out electing the Pope isn’t like the movie - no rancour or drama. The head of the Catholic church for England spoke about his experience and even commented on how much he enjoyed not having his phone!

♰ Speaking of the Pope. MAGA is having a full-blown papal panic over Pope Leo XIV. Turns out the new American pontiff had previously posted critical notes on Twitter of Trump’s immigration policies and JD Vance. While some are saying he might be an American, but not “America first.”

💧 Are you hydrating properly? Probably not. According to Fortune, and on average men should drink 125oz, while women should drink 91oz of water. A good way to check if you’re drinking enough is by looking in the toilet. If your pee is pale yellow or clear, you’re good. If dark yellow, start chugging!

♹ It contains what??? Our body contains loads of microplastics, which isn’t good for us and come mostly from what we eat. A new study shows the top 7 foods & drinks with the most microplastics - sea salt, beer, bottled water, shellfish, rice, apples, carrots, and tea! But at least there are tips to try and reduce it.

🎤 Eurovision kicks off. The final will be on the 17th and is always worth a watch! Here is a list of the acts (not everyone will make it to the final). One to watch out for will be France’s song entry “Maman” - sharing an intimate conversation between daughter and mother about cancer. Won’t be a dry eye in sight 😭 

🪙 Uncle Scrooge would approve. Just when science couldn’t get more amazing, the team at the Large Hadron Collider has managed to turn lead into gold! Can I please borrow the machine?

⚡️ Got your refund? Over £7m is expected to be returned to households all over the UK from ten energy suppliers who were overcharging customers. (Booo… British Gas is not one of them.) Regulators found their calculations from 2019 to 2024 were off. If you’re an impacted customer, the overpayment will be returned automatically. If you’ve changed suppliers since, the previous supplier will contact you directly.

By Meridyth

Do you make your own coffee or tea at home? And are you always on the go?

I’ve tried multiple travel mugs. They’re usually way too big for my one cup of coffee/tea, require some cumbersome flip or twist to drink from, and my biggest pet peeve… they leak.

Enter Circular & Co’s 8oz insulated travel mug. (Not a paid link.)

So simple, affordable, and I can attest… 100% leak-proof! I’ve tossed this cup into my bag where it’s bounced around, turned upside down - all without a drop lost. To close, just press down on the centre circle. To open/drink, press again to pop the circle up. You can also ensure a secure lock when closed, by gently twisting the circle.

I also love that I don’t need turn it to find a small sipping hole. I can drink anywhere along the brim. And the stainless steel keeps my drink hot… not for hours like a Stanley cup, but just enough to finish my coffee.

It’s been undoubtedly one of the best purchases I’ve made!

The glitz, the glamour, the singing, the jokes… and of course, the awards. Yes, last night was BAFTA TV night.

And while you might have seen the best dressed, here’s some of the worst dressed including a very questionable dress featuring metallic-like paint splats covering key torso “bumps”. 🤨

But I also love the comedic, yet honest and heartfelt acceptance speeches… like the one from Ruth Jones for Female Performance in the Gavin & Stacey finale.

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Her joy is so genuine and man, she’s funny. So watch it again or watch it for the first time, but enjoy!

Whew, you made it!

Another week ticked off. And we are already counting down to the next bank holiday. Sigh. Be sure to join us next week for another Squabble!

Alister & Meridyth