Newspaper review: 'Wallace quits' and Prince George 'can skip army'

Prince George and Prince William at Wimbledon mens' final dayPA Media

A story about Prince George led the coverage in the Mail on Sunday

By BBC News
Staff

"George can skip stint in forces" is the front page headline in the Mail on Sunday. In what the paper calls a "significant departure" for the Royal Family, the second in line to the throne will be "free to shape his own destiny".

Writing in the paper, the historian Dominic Sandbrook says the tradition of royals joining the military "lends crucial legitimacy to the monarchy" - while taking them out of their "sheltered lives of impossible privilege".

A friend of Prince William has defended the change - saying "the rules are different now", and there would be nothing to stop Prince George becoming an astronaut if he wanted.

The Sunday Times leads on the announcement from Defence Secretary Ben Wallace that he will be standing down as an MP at the next election.

In an interview with the paper, he predicts Britain will be "in a conflict" by 2030. He says this could involve a military showdown with Russia, a Cold War against China or intervention to combat terrorist groups in Africa. Mr Wallace is the 47th Conservative MP to be quitting Parliament, in what the Sunday Times describes as "an exodus that has come to resemble rats leaving a sinking ship".

The Observer suggests three losses for the Tories in this week's by-elections could prompt even more MPs to announce they are standing down. Voters go to the polls in Selby and Ainsty, Uxbridge and Somerton and Frome on Thursday.

"It will be a clean sweep" is the downbeat message from cabinet ministers in the Sun on Sunday. A veteran Tory predicts in the Sunday Express three defeats will lead to MPs sending in letters calling for a vote of confidence in Rishi Sunak. But the Mail on Sunday says that activists remain defiant, with Mr Sunak's wife among those to have been campaigning in Uxbridge.

The Sunday Telegraph reports that new housing developments in England are being blocked, unless councillors agree to introduce ultra low emission zones or low-traffic neighbourhoods. The paper says the approach has already "prompted anger" at Epping Forest in Essex.

The environmental watchdog, Natural England, has said local planning authorities can decide whether or not to take its advice.

Under the headline, "cup, up and away", the Sunday Times reports that British Airways is bringing back free tea and coffee for short haul economy flights. The service returned for passengers on flights from London to Cairo and Amman last week. A full roll-out is unlikely, because galley space in some planes has been cut to make way for more seats so there is little room to store tea, coffee and cups.

"Vonder woman" declares the Observer, as it toasts Marketa Vondrousova, the first unseeded player to win the women's singles at Wimbledon. The paper describes her as "something of a disruptor", having previously knocked Japanese star Naomi Osaka out of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

The Sunday Mirror suggests the Czech player will be "Sova the rainbow", at her triumph - and for those wondering, the Sunday Telegraph, says Vondrousova could have been backed at odds of 250 to 1 on the first day of the tournament.