In the parallel world that the British ruling class reside Kate and William have announced that Prince George is off to Eton from September 2026. School fees are £63K but it is after all a local school to Windsor.
The Times (where else 19th June 2026) has published a brief memoir from Kimberley Bond who had a summer job at the official Eton uniform outfitters, Billings and Edmonds whose shop is located on Eton High St.
The uniform consists of morning coat, black waistcoat, pinstriped trousers, collar and white tie. Shoes were also required. The cost is around£1K. These items would be much cheaper in M&S- indeed I have several pairs of pinstriped trousers for official duties which cost around £40.
The Times is a supporter of US imperialism and whoever is administering it in the White House. However its Editorial on 19th June suggests that it has run out of patience with Donald Trump.
The Times may not reflect on it but it is the latest in a series of defeats for US imperial power from Vietnam to Afghanistan and Iraq.
Even so its warmongering is still capable of inflicting death and destruction on a global scale, as of course is Putin’s Russia if it is so minded.
It’s Farage’s Dr Who moment. In a 2005 episode the Dr commented of Prime Minister Harriet Jones, don’t you think she looks tired? Her downfall followed..
On the second day of the Oval Test between England and New Zealand a long running feature of Test Match Special (Radio 5 and web) returned.
The feature ran until 2024 with former International Test Umpire John Holder. However when he decided to leave the crease, it did not appear in 2025.
It has now reappeared with Ian Gould former Middlesex player and then a member of the ICC Elite Umpires Panel.
Ask The Umpire fills the lunch time slot in the TMS Day, and runs for around 30 minutes. Typically the Umpire answers questions from listeners on the quirky world of cricket and issues that arise with the numerous Laws of Cricket.
On Thursday one question was about a player with a toupe that became detached in windy conditions and prevented a ball from reaching the boundary. Ian Gould ruled that this was not something that came under the obstruction of play.
This led Jonathan Agnew on to a question from the Beard Liberation Front
A player edges a ball to a slip fielder with a long W G Grace style beard. The ball lodges in the beard, but then after an interval of a few seconds drops to the ground without the fielder touching it.
Is the batsman out?
Ian Gould’s view was that the batter would be out as the beard was attached to a player and this was the key point not the use of the hands
Aggers went on to reference an historic Ask The Umpire question from the BLF about players in a slip cordon intertwining their beards to catch a ball.
At this point one suspects Ian Gould may have started to wonder what he had got himself into…
The second Trump menu this week and still no cheeseburger or incinerated steak.
The dinner at Versailles on June 18th was where Trump signed his latest deal with Iran…
The Versailles Menu
White asparagus with lobster and caviar
Chicken roasted with truffles and potatoes cheese
Hot chocolaté pie with vanille ice cream NOTE: Potato Cheese – Slice of potatoes roasted with some comte cheese
Gratin Dauphinois: A classic French side dish made from thinly sliced potatoes, garlic, milk, and cream, all baked in a buttered dish with melted Gruyère or Emmental cheese)
Rupert Murdoch does not of course write the Times Editorials. He does however own the paper and is reputed to taken an interest in the political line it takes. The Times did not back Starmer for PM in 2024 (The S*n did) but its Editorial (17th June 2026) describes Wes Streeting’s policies as ‘by and large sensible.
Whether this is support Streeting wants we can’t be sure but he did write an OpEd for the paper outlining the policies..
The Labour leadership crisis is, one senior party figure observed to me recently, in danger of turning into a political version of The Archers – endless plot twists, a confusing cast of characters and no conclusion. That soap opera is now coming to an end with the expected return of Andy Burnham to parliament. One way or another the drama will have to be resolved.
Rachel Sylvester, The Observer, 18th June 2026
If Makerfield is coming to Ambridge the key issue is, who is Eddie Grundy voting for? And is it known if Andy Burnham listens to the Archers?
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that England Men’s Football Captain Harry Kane will lead the Beard of Summer list when it is announced next week as part of National Beard Week.
As part of England’s opening World Cup game against Croatia, Kane scored a penalty, a second goal from open play and blocked a Croatian attempt on goal in added time.
The campaigners say that Harry Kane’s Beard Power has long been a significant factor in England football. It provides leadership and most importantly helps Kane’s goal scoring record.
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, with Harry Kane’s Beard Power England could go far in the 2026 World Cup
Notes
National Beard Week runs from 22-27 June 2026. The Beard of Summer is announced on 27th June
