‘King calls for unity’ and ‘medal at last’ for KJT

The headline in the Daily Telegraph reads: King calls for unity in the wake of riots — The top story across many papers on Saturday is the King’s call for unity in the wake of violent disorder and unrest across the country. The Daily Telegraph reports that King Charles has “spoken of his hopes that mutual respect and understanding will unite the nation”. Pictured beside that report is Team GB’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who won silver at the Paris Olympics in the heptathlon.

Under the headline ‘King hails riots response’, the Times reports that King Charles has “praised Britain’s community spirit” and expressed “his heartfelt thanks to the police and emergency services”. The Times also features a prominent image of Katarina Johnson-Thompson, and plugs an interview with Hannah Skelley, younger sister of Paralympic judo competitor Chris Skelley.

The headline in the Times reads: King hails riot response — Under the headline ‘King hails riots response’, the Times reports that King Charles has “praised Britain’s community spirit” and expressed “his heartfelt thanks to the police and emergency services”. The Times also features a prominent image of Katarina Johnson-Thompson, and plugs an interview with Hannah Skelley, younger sister of Paralympic judo competitor Chris Skelley.

The Guardian leads its weekend coverage with an exclusive into a “university financial crisis”. It reports that “English universities face a tipping point this autumn”, according to “vice-chancellors who say urgent intervention may be needed to stop institutions going under”. Team GB’s latest silver medallist, dubbed KJT, also graces the Guardian’s front page.

The headline in the Guardian reads: Universities face tipping point as money runs out — The Guardian leads its weekend coverage with an exclusive into a “university financial crisis”. It reports that “English universities face a tipping point this autumn”, according to “vice-chancellors who say urgent intervention may be needed to stop institutions going under”. Team GB’s latest silver medallist, dubbed KJT, also graces the Guardian’s front page.

Saturday’s Financial Times reports a “£5.4bn takeover” of British investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown by a “consortium” of private equity firms. Speaking to the paper, co-founder Stephen Lansdown describes the deal as a “bittersweet moment”.

The headline in the Financial Times reads: Hargreaves Lansdown agrees sale — Saturday’s Financial Times reports a “£5.4bn takeover” of British investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown by a “consortium” of private equity firms. Speaking to the paper, co-founder Stephen Lansdown describes the deal as a “bittersweet moment”.

The Daily Express also leads on the King’s praise of “Britain’s community spirit” in response to unrest across the country, accompanied by reports on what it dubs a “pension scandal” and Team GB’s silver in the heptathlon.

The headline in the Daily Express reads: King calls for unity in wake of riots — The Daily Express also leads on the King’s praise of “Britain’s community spirit” in response to unrest across the country, accompanied by reports on what it dubs a “pension scandal” and Team GB’s silver in the heptathlon.

The Daily Mail features the latest development in the Huw Edwards scandal, reporting he has been “urged to hand back the £200,000 salary he was paid after his arrest” by the broadcaster. It reports that BBC bosses “branded the newsreader a villain for taking licence fee money in bad faith”.

The headline in the Daily Mail reads: BBC tells 'villain' Huw: Hand back £200,000 of pay — The Daily Mail features the latest development in the Huw Edwards scandal, reporting he has been “urged to hand back the £200,000 salary he was paid after his arrest” by the broadcaster. It reports that BBC bosses “branded the newsreader a villain for taking licence fee money in bad faith”.

The Daily Mirror also leads on the Huw Edwards story, headlining “BBC to shamed Huw… Give back our cash”. The front page snippet features a quote from BBC chair Samir Shah, who said that Edwards “knew what he had done but still look licence fee money”.

The headline in the Daily Mirror reads: Give back our cash — The Daily Mirror also leads on the Huw Edwards story, headlining “BBC to shamed Huw… Give back our cash”. The front page snippet features a quote from BBC chair Samir Shah, who said that Edwards “knew what he had done but still look licence fee money”.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves eyes fuel duty hikes, the i Weekend says. The paper reports that Reeves is “considering lifting the 13-year-freeze on fuel duty”, but that she faces a dilemma as a poll commissioned by the i “shows voters are not in favour” of it.

The headline in the i weekend reads: Reeves eyes fuel duty hike in Budget but voters are opposed — Chancellor Rachel Reeves eyes fuel duty hikes, the i Weekend says. The paper reports that Reeves is “considering lifting the 13-year-freeze on fuel duty”, but that she faces a dilemma as a poll commissioned by the i “shows voters are not in favour” of it.

The top story in the Daily Star is a report into petty crime in office workplaces, blaming the “cost of living crisis” for workers “nicking pens, notepads and even printer paper from work”.

The headline in the Daily Star reads: Pssst! Want to buy some paperclips? — The top story in the Daily Star is a report into petty crime in office workplaces, blaming the “cost of living crisis” for workers “nicking pens, notepads and even printer paper from work”.

King Charles’s response to the recent riots and unrest in England and Northern Ireland makes the front pages of a number of Saturday’s papers.

The Telegraph reports that the King is hoping to visit communities affected at some time in the future, when doing so would not place any “additional pressure” on security and local services. The paper notes the King has not yet addressed the nation directly about the violence – but says he released a written statement expressing his “profound shock” about the stabbings in Southport.

The future of England’s universities is the lead story for the Guardian. It says that many face a “tipping point” this autumn which may push them into financial crisis. The paper reports concerns being raised by vice-chancellors that there may not be enough students to go around. It says leading figures believe mergers of institutions and departments may be a short-term solution until universities receive more secure funding.

The BBC’s request to its former newsreader, Huw Edwards, to hand back £200,000 of salary, paid to him before the corporation knew he’d been arrested for possessing images of child abuse, is the lead in the Mail, the Sun and the Mirror. He pleaded guilty to the charges last week. The Mirror quotes the BBC chair, Samir Shah, who said Mr Edwards “knew what he had done but still took licence fee money”. ‘Give Back Our Cash’ is the headline.

The i reports that Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering lifting the 13-year freeze on fuel duty in her Budget in October in a move that would raise £3bn for the Treasury. The paper says she’s looking for measures to plug a £22bn hole in the nation’s finances, but she faces a dilemma as a poll it carried out suggests voters are not in favour of increased taxes on fuel or inheritances.

The Chancellor features in a different story in the Times, which reports that plans to cover up a urinal used by Winston Churchill in her private Treasury bathroom have been scuppered by the size of the bill to do the work. The paper says Ms Reeves, who is Britain’s first female chancellor since the office was set up, has been told she can’t remove it and has been quoted at least £8,000 to cover it up. According to the Times, a Treasury source joked that the situation “shows you everything that’s wrong with our planning system”.

Britain’s biggest spider, which can grow to the size of a man’s hand, is surging in number according to the Mail. The paper reports that the Fen Raft Spider was on the verge of extinction 14 years ago, but thanks to a concerted campaign the number of breeding females has risen to 3,750 at 12 sites in Norfolk alone.

And images of a beaming Katarina Johnson-Thompson – wearing a crown and draped in the union flag after winning Olympic silver in the heptathlon – grace many of the front and back pages. “Near we go again” says the Express, reflecting on how she missed out on the gold by a very narrow margin.