Royal insider's green energy bid rejected

Buckinghamshire councillors threw out plans for a biogas plant on Harry Aubrey-Fletcher's estate despite planning officers recommending approval. The 44-year-old is Prince William's longtime friend and godfather to Prince Louis.

Who is Harry Aubrey-Fletcher

Harry attended Ludgrove and Eton College with Prince William, served as an usher at William and Catherine's wedding, and now advises the Duchy of Cornwall. He's been at the heart of the royal circle for decades.

The biogas plant proposal explained

Acorn Bioenergy proposed converting crops and organic matter into gas for the national network using 15 acres at Hornage Farm. The facility would operate 24 hours with five digester tanks, storage areas, and two lagoons.

Traffic concerns dominated opposition

Up to 140 lorry movements per day during peak harvest could have been allowed on narrow country lanes. Residents feared air pollution, road safety risks, noise, odour, and threats to nearby waterways.

Community mobilized against the scheme

Eight parish councils objected and an opposition campaign gathered more than 1,600 signatures. Conservative MP Greg Smith called it a 'monster of a proposal' that was 'wrong and frankly dangerous' for communities.

“It's wrong, and frankly dangerous, for our communities and must be stopped.”

Council prioritized community safety

Buckinghamshire Council's Strategic Sites Committee rejected the scheme at a meeting earlier this month, citing priority for community concerns regarding traffic and safety over environmental benefits.

Cat Jarman's alpaca romance update

Norwegian archaeologist Cat Jarman and Earl Spencer's alpacas had summer visitors from a Warwickshire stud farm. The couple hopes for baby alpacas in 2027 after their 'handsome boys' returned home.

“A sad goodbye to Tyra and Andora's boyfriends, who have stayed with us for the summer.”

Florence Pugh's aperitif workout

The 30-year-old actress performed bicep curls with Aperol Spritz glasses in each hand during a Venice workout. She posted the video online after her trainer had only 30 minutes available.

Pugh's upcoming film projects

The Little Women and Oppenheimer star will return to screens in December for Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday. Her father Clinton Pugh is a former Oxford restaurateur.

Sajid Javid's Commons invisibility

The former Tory home secretary, once tipped to succeed Boris Johnson, had to be escorted by security to Speaker's House. Security guards asked if he'd ever visited the Commons before, prompting him to note how quickly politicians are forgotten.

“How short memories are in this place...”

Jonathan Aitken's grandson christened

The 84-year-old former Cabinet minister and prison chaplain attended his first grandchild's christening at St Matthew's Church, Westminster. William Junior had his first swimming lesson off Ibiza.

Aitken's grandson's notable guests

The christening was attended by Dame Mary Archer, Diane Abbott, former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, and Ben Goldsmith. Goldsmith persuaded about half the congregation to continue celebrations at Mayfair club 5 Hertford Street.

Richard Hammond's business liquidation

The former Top Gear star, 56, has put his production company Hamster's Wheel Productions into liquidation after trading in his wife Mindy for therapist Kiki Glen. The firm had 4 million pounds in assets.

Hammond's marital home company wound up

The Hamster also dissolved the company managing Bollitree Castle Estate, his former marital home. Richard and 61-year-old Mindy were co-directors of both companies after marrying in 2002.

Jamie Oliver's school stink bomb prank

The TV chef admitted to setting aside hundreds of eggs to go off over months at Newport Free Grammar School in Essex. He made kilos of porridge with rotten ingredients, wrapped them like stink bombs, and hid them in a suitcase.

“I was just watching it all play out and giggling like a gremlin.”

Oliver's prank consequences

The stink bomb prank caused kids to cry and most of his year group received detention. Oliver never admitted to the scheme and watched the chaos unfold from the sidelines.

“There were kids crying, most of my year got detention.”