'US shuns war anniversary' and 'Prince of Darkness'

Getty Images A person walks past The Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine in Kyiv on February 25, 2026.Getty Images

"Prince of Darkness" is a headline in the Daily Express as it has a picture of Lord Mandelson returning home after what the paper calls a "grilling" from the police. He was arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. According to the Times, officers had reportedly planned to interview the former cabinet minister under caution in a fortnight. But the Daily Telegraph says he was detained after officers received information he was about to move to the British Virgin Islands. Lawyers for Lord Mandelson have described allegations that he was going to flee the country as "baseless".

The Sun reports that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been given a riding ban. Royal aides reportedly fear him being seen grinning on horseback is a "bad look" while under investigation for allegedly leaking secrets to Jeffrey Epstein. "Get orf your high horse, Andy", is the Sun's headline.

The Daily Express leads on a poll which suggests 48% of adults avoided or delayed contacting their GP about a health concern last year. The finding is based on a survey of 2,200 people. Reasons for putting off a visit included problems contacting surgeries and the expectation of not getting a suitable appointment time. The Guardian says the results "underline the public concern" about getting fast access to NHS services.

The Financial Times features a photograph of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky leading commemorations in Kyiv on the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. The paper says while "most European nations sent either leaders or senior officials" there was no one from the Trump administration. The Daily Star's editorial strikes a sombre tone. "We pray," the paper says, "for an end to this conflict soon."

And the Times notes that even though broadcasters are "tiring" of the obligation to read out all 11 candidates in the Gorton and Denton by-election, the situation "could be worse". The paper reminisces about the record 26 candidates who stood in Haltemprice and Howden in 2008. The list included the Church of Militant Elvis Party, the Miss Great Britain Party and the conspiracy theorist David Icke.

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