King Charles remembers Air India victims as London is treated to flypast by vegetable powered jets

The King has celebrated his official birthday with an 'eco-friendly' flypast by the Red Arrows and remembered all those killed in the Air India plane disaster. Trooping the Colour was a display of military pomp and pageantry but Charles asked for the traditional programme to include a minute’s silence, and for senior royals and officers taking part to wear black armbands as a mark of respect.

When the royal family gathered later on Buckingham Palace ’s balcony they acknowledged the crowds and watched an aerial display of vintage and modern aircraft with the Red Arrows’ finale powered by a blend of 'sustainable' aviation fuel. The world-famous acrobatic team also used vegetable oil to produce their trademark red, white and blue vapour trails over the royal residence – believed to be a first.

Trooping, also known as the King’s Birthday Parade, fell silent after Charles had inspected hundreds of troops on Whitehall’s Horse Guards Parade from a carriage with the Queen by his side. The moment of reflection acknowledged the aviation disaster on Thursday that killed 241 passengers and crew, including more than 50 British nationals, and around 30 people on the ground.

The Red Arrows take past in a flypast, seen from Horse Guards Parade (Image: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

Charles led the royal colonels in wearing black armbands, with the Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, Princess Royal, Colonel Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel Scots Guards, all wearing bands on their left arms.

Young royals delighted monarchy fans by making an appearance, with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis riding in a carriage with their mother Kate. George, Charlotte and Louis joined other members of the royal family, including the Duchess of Edinburgh in the former office of the Duke of Wellington, to watch the spectacle in honour of their grandfather the King.

Kate took her place next to the King and Queen on the dais, in her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards – a symbolic position and one she was unable to take up last year because she was receiving cancer treatment, and instead watched the ceremony with her children.

People walk down the Mall after Trooping the Colour ceremony in Central London (Image: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

Trooping the Colour is as much a social occasion as a ceremonial celebration, and stands around Horse Guards Parade were filled with around 8,000 partners and parents of the guardsmen and officers on parade. The colour – or regimental flag – being trooped this year was the King’s Colour of Number 7 Company, Coldstream Guards, also known as the sovereign’s bodyguard, which is celebrating its 375th anniversary.

The minute’s silence was observed when Charles and Camilla returned to the dais, following an announcement to the spectators and a bugler sounding the Last Post. During the pageantry, the colour was first trooped through the ranks of soldiers before the guardsmen marched past the King, first in slow then in quick time, with Charles acknowledging the command of “eyes right” with a salute.

Lieutenant Max Martin, 24, who carried the regimental flag at the heart of the ceremony, said: “The King’s Colour emphasises and symbolises everything that has ever gone before in the Coldstream Guards. The gold embroidered silk of the flag is physically heavy, especially in the flourish, but the symbolic weight is heavier still. It bears 44 of our 113 battle honours: the achievements and sacrifices of countless generations of our forebears.”

Grenadier Guards during Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade (Image: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

Thousands lined the royal procession route from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade where Trooping was staged. A group of activists from the anti-monarchy group Republic staged a 'Not my King' protest.

During the fly-past Louis, who was dressed in an identical red tie and suit outfit as older brother George, was seen chatting to his father, William, and waving to the crowds. The 'sustainable' display by the Red Arrows is in keeping with Charles decades long support for sustainability and climate action.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King was not involved in the decision but was 'delighted' because he has been encouraging use of the fuel on royal flights where practical and hopes the example will lead to wider use across the aviation sector.

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Putney house fire live as firefighters battle flames for two hours

Around 40 firefighters have been battling a house fire in Putney for two hours this afternoon (Friday, June 13). A three-storey mid-terraced property on Chelverton Road is up in flames, with part of the first and second floors still alight.

London Fire Brigade was called just after 3pm and scrambled six fire engines from across Chelsea, Richmond, Kensington, Tooting, Wandsworth and Soho to the residential road. They remain on scene as of 5pm.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, according to a statement released by London Fire Brigade.

London Fire Brigade has been contacted for more information.

MyLondon will bring you the latest updates as we get them.

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'I'm an aviation enthusiast - here's what I think happened to Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner'

A flight bound for London met with tragedy shortly after takeoff this morning, carrying 242 passengers, 53 of whom were UK nationals. The aircraft came down in a residential area near Ahmedabad airport in India, erupting into flames upon impact as captured by harrowing footage shared on social media.

The controlled descent of the plane has sparked widespread speculation about the cause of the crash. Aviation enthusiast Jerry Dyer from Big Jet TV, who often records aircraft movements around the UK, analysed the footage and shared his insights with the Daily Express: "As soon as I saw it I recognised the flap settings straight away, that is the moving part of the wing that extends at the back.

"From that video it seems that they were not extended and that means you do not have enough lift because the flaps increase the size of the wing and give the plane more lift. Without them you will not have any lift. It will take off but do so shallowly and lose altitude and ultimately crash.

The plane was carrying 242 people when it crashed shortly after take off (Image: AP)

"That is something that the pilot controls. The pilot inputs the setting before takeoff. My biggest concern is I am sure that the systems on these aircraft are sophisticated so the system should shout back at the pilot if wrong.

"As soon as they applied throttle to takeoff, they would have had a warning I would imagine. There would have been fail safe measures in place to configure.

"Whether it was a malfunction or human error we don't know. It is not something that you can see as a pilot, you wouldn't know. It comes up on the screen on the flightdeck but who is to know that it showed the flaps were extended but they weren't?".

The mystery behind the fatal crash continues to deepen as rescue personnel tirelessly search for any possible survivors and brace for an exhaustive probe into the tragedy. Jerry observed that aircraft are extremely vulnerable during takeoff owing to their heavy load at this critical moment.

He continued: "You have to remember the plane is very heavy at the point it crashes. It is flying from India to London so it has a full fuel tank and is full of passengers.

"From the pitch angle it looks like it is trying to land and that is the standard angle of attack when landing an aircraft but they would have had no opportunity even with engine full power to correct it if the flaps weren't extended, the aircraft would not respond without the flap setting being correct."

You can follow our live updates on the Air India crash here.

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Whitehall 'chaos' first photos after coach crash and police surround abandoned car

The first photos of the scene around Parliament this afternoon (Wednesday June 11) have been shared.

Two separate incidents have ground the immediate area around Parliament Square to a halt.

Photos from incident one show the emergency services having flooded Abingdon Street by the House of Commons following reports of someone trapped beneath a coach.

Just slightly up the road - on Whitehall - the street was cordoned off as a precaution due to an abandoned car.

Civil servants are reportedly not allowed in-or-out nearby government buildings.

The Met Police's Westminster team posted on X at 2.52pm: "A cordon is in place at the southern end of Whitehall as a precautionary measure while officers investigate an abandoned vehicle in the vicinity of Downing Street. It is not linked to a separate road traffic collision involving a coach and a pedestrian in nearby Abingdon Street."

Follow below for more

Are you nearby with photos or information? Please either email me at rafi.benady@Reachplc.com,or X me at @RafiMauro1

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'Petrified' policeman recalls how Hainault attacker 'chopped' colleague with 'glistening' sword

The first police officer to confront the Hainault attacker has described the moment his colleague was slashed with a sword as they chased him down an alleyway. Marcus Monzo, 37, is accused of murdering 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin and attempting to kill four others during a 20-minute series of attacks in Hainault in April last year. He denies all charges.

At the Old Bailey on Tuesday (June 10), first-responder PC Cameron King told jurors about the moment he turned around to find Mr Monzo wearing a yellow jumper holding a 'long sword', repeatedly shouting 'Do you believe in God?'. Asked how he felt, PC King said: "Petrified." PC King tried to use his PAVA spray, an irritant like pepper spray, but it failed to have any effect on Mr Monzo.

"I recall the look in his eyes was very blank," PC King told the jury, "He could see I was there but he was almost looking through me." Describing the sword, PC added: "The length of it was coming quite far away from his body. I could see the light glistening of it, which meant it was very sharp."

Floral tributes to Daniel Anjorin were placed in Laing Close (Image: Lucy North/PA Wire)

Jurors were shown body-worn camera footage of PC King telling Spanish-Brazilian Mr Monzo 'drop the sword, drop the f**king sword'. In a statement, another officer said the PAVA spray was ineffective due to the wind. After chasing Mr Monzo to an alleyway, PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield took the lead as she had already drawn her TASER.

But as PC Mechem-Whitfield got close, Mr Monzo stepped out and attacked her, jurors were told. PC King said he saw Mr Monzo 'come down in a chopping motion' on her. After attempting to use his PAVA, which had run out, PC King said he drew his baton and put himself between Mr Monzo and Ms Mechem-Whitfield to halt the attack.

PC King told jurors Mr Monzo continued asking about their religious convictions, while he returned 'some expletives' to demand he drop the weapon. Another police officer said he saw PC Mechem-Whitfield holding her bloody head while PC King gave her first aid.

'I am Jesus'

Jurors previously heard how Mr Monzo then ran into the home of a couple with their four-year-old daughter, attacking a male before running off and being backed into a nearby garage by police.

Another officer, Inspector Moloy Campbell, then suffered a hand injury as they tried to stop Mr Monzo, jurors were told. Mr Monzo was eventually chased onto a garage roof and disarmed and arrested.

Once Mr Monzo was handcuffed and restrained by his legs, an officer said they could hear him saying 'Do you believe in God?', 'Allahu Akbar', and 'I am Jesus'."

Last week jurors heard Mr Monzo skinned and deboned his own cat before carrying out the alleged attacks, and was under the influence of cannabis. But, the prosecution say the psychotic state was self-induced and did not meet the threshold for diminished responsibility.

Mr Monzo has admitted possessing two swords but denies murder, attempted murder, wounding with intent, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article.

The trial under Mr Justice Bennathan continues.

Got a tip, a court date, or some gossip? Please email callum.cuddeford@reachplc.com or WhatsApp 07580255582.

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Rauw Alejandro at The O2 setlist, London support act, stage times and tickets

Rauw Alejandro is arriving at London's O2 stage very soon. The Puerto Rican Grammy award-winning superstar loaded with style and charisma does not shy away from fans flinging their bras on stage and even flexes with Daddy Yankee in PANTIES Y BRASIERES.

The Todo De Ti and Tattoo Remix (with Camilo) reggaeton star who can't help being a hearthrob (he says, "I'm trying to do my best, man...Puerto Rican flavour, I guess") is now en route to London with his latest album drop Cosa Nuestra - as Rauw sung in Pasaporte, having seen New York City, the streets of Madrid, samba of Brazil and cherry blossoms of Japan - it's now time for 'una nueva aventura, otra ciudad, otra ciudad' (A new adventure, another city).

He's amping up for a global sixty-show takeover and has been leading a new generation of Latin music artists since 2017. The Desesperados, LOKERA and Tiroteo singer creates a uniquely danceable, catchy and energetic sound by layering dancehall, Latin R&B, reggaeston, trap and even bursts of synth pop and disco.

Rauw Alejandro date and timings for O2 concert

Rauw plays for one night only, at London's O2 Arena on Tuesday, June 17 2025. Doors open at 6.30pm. Average show length is two hours and twenty five minutes. The O2 allows A4 size bags or smaller and advises fans to consider if they need to bring a bag to the venue - full bag policy here.

Set list for Rauw Alejandro at the O2

Rauw is likely to mix up all the classic favourites with newer sounds. As with his recent Florida show, Rauw Alejandro has often opened his shows with PUNTO 40 (from his 2022 album Saturno) followed by more recently released IL Capo from the Cosa Nuestra album. An average Cosa Nuestra World Tour setlist looks like this:

1. PUNTO 40
2. IL Capo
3. PANTIES Y BRASIERES
4. Déjame Entrar
5. Santa (Rvssian cover)
6. ⁠Mil Mujeres
7. Tattoo
8. Fantasías
9. El efecto
10. Desesperados
11. Revolú
12. ⁠Committed
13. La Old Skul
14. NO ME SUELTES
15. Touching The Sky
16. Todo de ti
17. Carita Linda
18. ⁠Amar De Nuevo
19. 2/Catorce
20. SEXPLAYLIST1
21. DILUVIO
22. Khé?
23. Pensándote
24. Se fue (Laura Pausini cover)
25. Pasaporte (Rauw Alejandro & Mr. NaisGai song)
26. Cosa guapa
27. Ni Me Conozco
28. Cosa Nuestra
29. Tú con él (Frankie Ruiz cover)
30. Espresso Martini
31. ⁠Baja Pa' Acá
32. Qué Pasaría...
33. LOKERA
34. 2:12 AM
35. Desenfocao'
36. ⁠SEXXXMACHINE

Also from 2024's Cosa Nuestra, main set closers have been SEXXXMACHINE preceded by Desenfocao', from Rauw's 2021 album Vice Versa. Also from Vice Versa, in his Florida show, he left the audience with El Efecto and Desesperados.

How to buy tickets for Rauw Alejandro show

Official ticket sales for Rauw Alejandro at the O2 are taking place through AXS for Tuesday night's show. The show is pretty popular but there are still last minute chances to grab a ticket. Tickets have been going for as low as £60 on the cheapest end and for just under £260 on the priciest end.

Viagogo and resale tickets

Sites such as viagogo, Stubhub, and Vivid Seats allow fans to buy resale tickets from other fans. However, it is important to note that ticket conditions often prohibit resale after initial purchase. Those tickets may not be valid for admittance to gigs.

Fans intending to buy tickets for live events through resale websites should check the ticket terms and conditions, to confirm whether resale is prohibited, before they buy. Ticket terms and conditions can be checked with the original seller, such as Ticketmaster or Live Nation. If resale is prohibited, tickets bought second-hand could be voided and admission to the event refused.

Despite them selling fast and with just a few days until Rauw Alejandro plays at the O2, fans can still get their hands on tickets through Viagogo, Stubhub and Vivid Seats. Sites such as Viagogo, Stubhub, and Vivid Seats allow fans to buy resale tickets from other fans. However, it is important to note that ticket conditions often prohibit resale after initial purchase. Those tickets may not be valid for admittance to gigs.

Fans intending to buy tickets for live events through resale websites should check the ticket terms and conditions, to confirm whether resale is prohibited, before they buy. Ticket terms and conditions can be checked with the original seller, such as Ticketmaster or Live Nation. If resale is prohibited, tickets bought second-hand could be voided and admission to the event refused.

Resale tickets are a popular way of fans getting a chance to see their favourite stars. Stubhub an online space where fans buy and sell tickets has had a number going - cheaper tickets have been going for as low as £114 with some fans reselling for just over £700! Viagogo a popular resale site has had tickets going from as low as £103.

Rauw Alejandro London support acts

Rauw Alejandro has performed alongside some of leading men of Reggaeton including Daddy Yankee and J Balvin. (Image: (Photo by CBS via Getty Images))

Having collaborated with a good number of stars including Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Pharrell Williams, Daddy Yankee, Romeo Santos and Karol G, the question is, will Rauw Alejandro bring any special guests to the London stage? There have been no official announcements yet, but as with some recent London shows, there's always the possibility of some last-minute surprises.

Travel Advice

For Rauw Alejandro, the O2 advises fans to get to the arena early, to allow time for security checks and to find your spot. Getting to the O2 from Central London takes twenty minutes, or just ten minutes from Stratford.

The O2 is on the Jubilee Line and the nearest station is North Greenwich. On the night that Rauw Alejandro plays (Tuesday, June 17) there is some disruption to the Elizabeth line and Overground lines (Lioness, Mildmay and Suffragette).

Rauw Alejandro plays at the O2 Arena Tuesday, June 17 2025. For tickets, see AXS, Ticketmaster, Stubhub and Viagogo.

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Couple quit jobs to spend £40k travelling down world's longest road

A couple quit their jobs and spent £40k travelling 40,000 miles on the longest road in the world - through 16 countries. Matt Saunders, 28, and his girlfriend, Rachel Kelly, 26, from Clapham, took a break from their jobs to travel down the Pan American Highway - with a budget of £40k.

On June 4, 2024, the pair set off from the UK to Canmore, Canada, where they spent £15k purchasing a Dodge Ram - a pick up truck- a camper for the back, and spent money getting it roadworthy. They then made their way to Alaska and set off down the Pan American Highway, visiting 16 countries on the way - including Guatemala, Peru and Bolivia.

Matt, who is a quantity surveyor, admits that it has not been smooth sailing; the couple nearly died in the Peruvian Andes after their truck nearly fell off a road with a 1000ft drop due to the road conditions.

The couple are currently at the Galapagos Islands before heading back to the UK. Matt said: "The freedom that this trip has given us is insane. We spent 11 months visiting some of the best countries in the world.

"It has been daunting, but this lifestyle has given us so much freedom. The freedom of living in the van, being able to be where you want each day, waking up with a different view.

"When you backpack and fly everywhere, you end up missing so much, whereas the drive gives you that adventure and excitement that nothing else can."

The couple managed to save £40k from their salaries

In 2018, Matt got his first taste of adventure when he drove from London to Mongolia in a 1-litre Suzuki Alto. When he returned to the UK, he met Rachel on Tinder in 2020, who had told him she wanted to travel, so the pair got planning this trip down the Pan American Highway.

Matt said: "Seven years ago I drove from London to Mongolia in a little crappy car that your grandma would drive. After doing that, I got the sense of adventure. When I first met Rachel, she said that she wanted to go travelling. I told her to wait a couple of years as I had a plan to explore America by car, and she was on board."

The couple managed to save £40k from their salaries and set off from the UK and headed to Canmore, Canada, to visit Matt's brother on June 4, 2024.

They drove 40k miles through 16 countries in 11 months

While in Canada, the couple spent £15k buying a 1997 Dodge Ram and a camper for the back. But, a few days into their journey, the roof on their camper collapsed and the truck's transmission blew up, leaving them needing to spend £10k to get it fixed.

Matt said, "Day three into our journey to the Arctic, our camper broke and we had to live with it like that for six weeks. When we got to Washington State, a mechanic said it was unfixable, so we had to shell out another £5k to buy a new one, which was half of our budget gone."

Matt and Rachel, a sales person, set off from Alaska down to Pan American Highway - the longest road in the world - on June 24, 2024.

They drove 40k miles through 16 countries in 11 months before they finished in Ushuaia, Argentina Matt said some of the highlights from the trip have been the countries they visited, including the USA, Chile and Argentina.

He said: "We loved visiting the American National Parks with their remoteness and wildlife. The culture in Central America was really cool, they had some great beaches.

"Patagonia has some incredible wildlife, which was amazing. We spent 11 months on the road going to some of the best countries you can visit."

The truck was set on fire twice

Matt said some of the biggest challenges they have faced have been the breakdowns. The truck was set on fire twice, the wheel fell off in rural Patagonia, and the couple nearly died in the Peruvian Andes after their truck nearly fell off a road with a 1000ft drop.

Matt said: "We have had our fair share of breakdowns, we had two fires in the camper, which was scary. We nearly died in the Peruvian Andes with our car nearly sliding off a 1000ft drop on muddy roads.

"It was a dangerous road, and intense rain basically made it impassable but we couldn't turn around. Last week the wheel fell of the truck in rural Patagonia and had no spare. We were stuck for three days figuring out what to do."

After completing their Pan American Journey in Ushuaia, Argentina, they sold their 1997 Dodge for £5k to a follower in Uruguay and headed to Brazil on foot before arriving in the Galapagos Islands.

The couple plan to head back to the UK in the summer

The couple plan to head back to the UK in the summer, but said they are "daunted" by the thought of returning.

Matt said: "We are spending a few days Galapagos Islands before returning to the UK in a few weeks. We are daunted by the feeling of returning to the UK, but we are excited to see our family and friends. I will be returning to work, and Rachel is still figuring out what to do."

Matt and Rachel are sharing their travels on: @ramonthepanam

LIST OF COUNTRIES:Canada, America Mexico, , Salvador Honduras Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brasil

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