Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has once again captured the public's attention with her heartfelt tradition of baking a birthday cake for her youngest son, Prince Louis, the night before his birthday. This charming custom, revealed during a 2019 BBC programme, underscores the princess's dedication to her family and her love for creating personal, memorable moments for her children. As Prince Louis turns seven, the royal family prepares to celebrate this milestone away from the public eye, emphasizing their desire for privacy and family time.

This year, the Prince and Princess of Wales made headlines by choosing to celebrate Easter separately from the traditional royal gathering, opting instead for a private service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham with Kate's parents. Their decision to avoid the public and leave via the back entrance has sparked discussions about their increasing preference for privacy and the potential strain within the royal family. While some view this as a snub to royal traditions, others see it as a natural choice for a family seeking to shield their children from the relentless public scrutiny.

The dynamics within the royal family have been further complicated by the fallout from Prince Harry's memoir, 'Spare,' which included critical remarks about Kate Middleton. Descriptions of Kate as 'cold' and 'rigid' have reportedly caused deep hurt within the family, particularly affecting the once-close relationship between Harry and his sister-in-law. The public airing of private grievances has not only strained familial bonds but also ignited a debate about the boundaries of privacy and the impact of public disclosures on personal relationships.

As the royal family navigates these challenges, the focus on personal traditions, private celebrations, and the repercussions of public disclosures highlights the delicate balance between public duty and private life. The choices made by the Prince and Princess of Wales reflect a modern approach to royal life, one that prioritizes family well-being amidst the complexities of public expectations and familial discord.

London's Metropolitan Police has reversed its longstanding position on grooming gangs in the capital, acknowledging for the first time that it has multiple active investigations into group-based child sexual exploitation. The shift came after an investigation by MyLondon and The Daily Express challenged official statements from both police leadership and Mayor Sadiq Khan, who had consistently maintained there were "no reports" or "no indication" of Rochdale or Rotherham-style rape gangs operating in London.

The investigation uncovered evidence from four separate His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services reports spanning 2016 to 2025 that documented at least six potential victims of grooming gang abuse. These case studies, which the Mayor of London personally responded to according to public statements, described children as young as 13 being exploited by groups of predatory men. The reports detailed how girls were plied with drugs and alcohol, raped in hotels by multiple perpetrators, and subjected to life-threatening situations.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley revealed to Assembly Members at City Hall that the force now acknowledges a "steady flow" of live multi-offender child sexual exploitation investigations and a "very significant" number of historic cases requiring reinvestigation. The commissioner estimated these reviews would cost "millions of pounds a year, for several years" to properly investigate, contradicting previous assertions that the force had "not seen" such cases in London.

Political figures including Reform UK MP Lee Anderson and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp have criticized the mayor's handling of the situation, with Anderson stating there is "real, credible evidence that grooming gangs exist in London" and Philp alleging that Khan is "facilitating a cover-up." A spokesman for the mayor maintained that Khan has "always been clear that the safety of Londoners is his top priority" and remains "committed to doing all he can to protect children in London."