nicholas witchell, our ro al will be sworn in.mikhail gorbachev, the last leader of the soviet union, who died yesterday at the age of 91. his period in power led to end of the cold war between east and west, the eventual reunification of germany, and the collapse of the vast communist soviet union. but as our russia editor steve rosenberg reports, the west's admiration for mr gorbachev is not widely shared in his homeland. for a man who has made such a huge impact, a tiny memorial. mikhail gorbachev may have helped to end the cold war, but in russia, there is no major outpouring of grief at his passing. instead, this on russian state tv. the presenter claims its the enemies of russia — in other words, the west — that have been praising mr gorbachev. and veiled criticism from the kremlin — a spokesperson says that gorbachev had been badly wrong about the prospect of better relations with the bloodthirsty west. many russians blame mikhail gorbachev for the collapse of the soviet empire — something president putin calls the greatest

nicholas witchell, bbc news.llo there. i'm sure many people have been making the most of this generally dry weather with some sunshine — we had a lot of sunshine actually around on tuesday, and we've got more of the same for today. we start, though, with temperatures on the whole in double figures early on wednesday morning. but it'll be a bit colder, i think in the northeast of scotland, could be down to 3—4 celsius here. now many places will start wednesday dry and sunny, but there's cloud coming in off the north sea to bring a few showers into the far north of england, and with the cloud bubbling up in eastern england, there could be the odd light shower here. but on the whole, it'll be dry for england and wales. quite windy in the south, especially through the english channel. not as windy for scotland and northern ireland, a sunnier day than it was on tuesday — but temperatures not changing very much, so again, we're likely to make 2a in southern parts of england and south wales. now high pressure extends al

nicholas witchell, bbc news, windsor.rmere, in the lake district, is becoming "critical". although blue—green blooms occur naturally, they can make human beings ill and be fatal to animals. 0ur north of england correspondent danny savage is at windermere for us this evening. the weather is typically cwmbran here, the mountains have disappeared into the mist and rain and not many people out enjoying the water. environmentalists and the authorities both agree that there is authorities both agree that there is a problem here, where they differ is what exactly is causing it, and what the solution should be, but for the time being, there are posters up round the shoreline here, warning people of the potential dangers of the water, in this popular lake. in this popular lake. earlier this month, parts of windermere turned green. the heat caused algae to bloom in this, the largest lake in england. and then the warning signs went up, telling people it could be dangerous, to them, and their pets. so would you go swimming in that? a

our royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports.n interview she's done with an american magazine called the cut in which she reflects on her departure from the british royal family. looking back to the few months she spent with the windsors as a working royal, she says of her and prince harry, "just by existing, we were upsetting the dynamic of the hierarchy." she doesn't explain what she meant. there was an ambiguous reference to family relationships. she told the interviewer, "harry said to me, i lost my dad in this process." according to sources, meghan was there referring to her broken relationship with her own father, rather than to harry's relationship with prince charles. and then to forgiveness. did she have room for forgiveness between her, the royal family and her own family? "it takes a lot of effort to forgive," meghan said. "i've really made active effort, especially knowing that i can say anything." so, how will this latest intervention go down? there is a huge amount of respect, particularly in america, for the queen.

nicholas witchell, our royal correspondent, | witchell, our royal correspondent, thank you. on to talk about mikhail billie mikhail gorbachev, i am just going to bring you some breaking news from the courts in the last few moments, we are just hearing that the jury from the ryan giggs trial has just been discharged. so ryan giggs, the formerfootballer, had pleaded not guilty to several charges, but the jury, we are told, has been unable to reach a verdict and therefore the jury to reach a verdict and therefore the jury has just been discharged. he jury jury has just been discharged. he jury was given a majority ruling a few days ago, i believe, but anyway, the decision there that ultimately the decision there that ultimately the jury simply cannot reach a verdict on any of the three counts, three cats to be specific. this was the case at manchester crown court you might have been aware of over the last few weeks. so the jury discharged and we wait to see what happens there after that with the case. but that news just through from manchester crown court. asi as i say, let's t

nicholas witchell, bbc news, windsor.ld in county cork where he died. michael collins, politician, ira leader and member of parliament for armagh. he was elected to the first northern ireland parliament in 1921, the year before his death. he was one of six sinn fein politicians elected. none of them took their seats in what was a chamber dominated by unionists and led by sirjames craig, the first prime minister of northern ireland. at the time, every move made by michael collins was watched closely by unionists. he had a complicated relationship with the north. early in 1922 on the one hand he had been agreeing packed with james craig about various to treaty handover of power is on things like that. at the same time, he had been encouraging units from the southern ira to destabilise the border. he was killed not by a british bullet but one fired by a fellow irishman during the irish civil war. republicans are split over the anglo—irish treaty. collins was killed in the cork countryside in an ambush by anti—treaty forces.

with the palace saying clarity now would help with time planning — as our royal correspondent nicholas witchellsters has been appointed by her here at buckingham palace. it's one of her prerogative powers, not done on the advice of ministers, and by convention, she invites the leader of the largest party in the house of commons to form a government. this time it will be different, it will take place at balmoral, as you've said, and the reason for that, of course, is to do with her health. now, we know that buckingham palace is extremely circumspect about any issue concerning her health. all it will say is that there are the mobility issues that we encountered during thejubilee and there is a need for all the participants to have certainty about the arrangements next week. so, next tuesday, the 6th of september, borisjohnson will be at balmoral where he will tender his resignation as prime minister, and moments later, either liz truss or rishi sunak — who by then, of course, will have been elected leader of the conservative party — will have an audience with the queen and she will invite them to

our royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports.th the windsors as a working royal, she says of her and prince harry, "just by existing, we were upsetting the dynamic of the hierarchy." she doesn't explain what she meant. there was an ambiguous reference to family relationships. she told the interviewer, "harry said to me i lost my dad in this process." according to sources, meghan was there referring to her broken relationship with her own father, rather than to harry's relationship with prince charles. and then to forgiveness. did she have room for forgiveness between her, the royal family and her own family? "it takes a lot of effort to forgive," meghan said. "i've really made active effort, especially knowing that i can say anything." so, how will this latest intervention go down? there is a huge amount of respect, particularly in america, for the queen. so, actually, there's an argument that this could backfire. america is a conservative country, it has a lot of respect for the monarchy and a lot of respect for the notion of fa

nicholas witchell, bbc news.am what do you make of this interviewer and what stands out?— and what stands out? such an interesting — and what stands out? such an interesting interview - and what stands out? such an interesting interview and - and what stands out? such an | interesting interview and many people are talking about it nonstop so i think it accomplish what she wanted to, to get her name out there and start the conversation. i think she is desperately trying to shape her and mitch post royalfamily and she's trying to shape that image into exactly what she wants the public to see her as. this interview did a lot to show her as bubbly and candid and quaintly awkward in some respects but also very wealthy and very privileged and others. she was very privileged and others. she was very purposeful and everything she said. is very purposeful and everything she said. , , . very purposeful and everything she said. ,, . , very purposeful and everything she said. ,,. very purposeful and everything she said. ,_ .

nicholas witchell reporting there.d, despite recent rainfall. the decision means 11 out of the environment agency's 14 english regions are now officially in drought, after some of the driest conditions in nearly 90 years. let's get the latest darren bett has details. let's get the latest weather. darren bett has the details. at the end of this week and more especially into this weekend, the weather will change again and there is some rain in the forecast. very quite weather before then, mind you. sometime around today. the best of the sunshine to end the day is going to be across wales and the southwest of england, cool in eastern scotland. we will see some clear skies developing across many parts of the country overnight, but there is this area of cloud coming in off the north sea and i could bring some showers into the northeast of england later on in the night. i had of that, further north, in the northeast of scotland, temperatures could be down to 3 or 4 degrees night, sequentially start here for tomorrow. but som

our royal editor, nicholas witchell, is in windsor. tells us that as we know, the cambridges are absolutely determined that their true —— their three children should have as normal an upbringing as possible and preferably in a rural setting. so they are moving to adelaide cottage, which is on the home parkjust about ten minutes away from windsor castle here. and the three children, george, charlotte and louis will start at lambrook school next month. this is described as a leading, co—educational prep school not far from ascot. it has been in existence for about 160 years, it has 600 pupils aged between three and 13 and is set in 53 acres of its own ground. the other thing this move tells us is william and catherine are content to live in what, by royal standards, are content to live in what, by royalstandards, is are content to live in what, by royal standards, is a pretty modest home. it is adelaide cottage, the clue is in the title. four bedrooms, so no live—in staff. i suppose inevitably, comparisons will be drawn with a kind of ac

our royal correspondent nicholas witchell is here. so, why the break with tradition?invites the leader of the largest party in the house of commons to become prime minister. now, on every previous occasion throughout the 70 years of the queen's reign, that has taken place at buckingham palace, but not this time. this time it will take place at balmoral, where the queen is spending her summer break. why? well, of course, it is all to do with the queen's help. buckingham palace says very little on that subject, they recite the episodic mobility issues, that phrase that we have become rather familiar mobility issues, that phrase that we have become ratherfamiliar with, have become rather familiar with, they have become ratherfamiliar with, they want certainty in terms of the diary of the prime minister, they want certainty in terms of the arrangements, so, next tuesday, the 6th of september, the outgoing prime minister, borisjohnson, will go up to balmoral and he will tender his resignation, whereupon, shortly after that, either liz truss or rishi sunak, who by then will

appoint the next prime minister in balmoral, rather than in london. 0ur royal correspondent, nicholas witchelldeed it is. until now. — but do we know why? indeed it is. until now, everyone _ but do we know why? indeed it is. until now, everyone at _ but do we know why? indeed it is. until now, everyone at the - but do we know why? indeed it is. l until now, everyone at the queen's prime ministers has been appointed by her here at buckingham palace lives and it's one of her prerogative powers, not done on the advice of ministers and by convention, she invites the leader of the largest party in the house of commons to form a government. this time it will be different, it will take place at balmoral as you said and the reason for that of course is to do with her health. we know that buckingham palace is extremely circumspect about any issue concerning her health and all it will say is that there are the mobility issues we encountered during thejubilee and a need for all the participants to have certainty about the arrangements next week. so next tuesday, the 6th of september, borisjohnson will be

royal correspondent nicholas witchell is here with me now.t - tradition. it will be the first time in her 70 year reign that these l in her 70 year reign that these audiences have not taken place at buckingham palace and she will receive the outgoing prime minister and then receive the new prime minister and constitutionally it is only the monarch, the head of state who can invite the new prime and start to form a government and that is the purpose of that very important audience that will take place at balmoral next tuesday, so the new prime minister, whoever it is will fly out presumably with the raf and make the journey out from aberdeen to balmoral, 45 miles, and then be received by the queen for this audience and then either rishi sunak or liz truss will be prime minister. this comes back to the mobility issues of the queen at buckingham palace in bed a little, merely there needs to be certainty in the diaries of the outgoing and incoming prime ministers and therefore for safety they have decided to do this at balmoral. can we sa it deci

here's our royal correspondent, nicholas witchell.ng home here to windsor, to a place called adelaide cottage, about ten minutes away from here on the other side of windsor castle in the home park, and the three children, george, charlotte and louis will be attending a school in ascot from next month, and i think it not only send that message that they want their children to have as normal and private and upbringing as possible, it also sends a message that they, william and catherine, are content to live in what by royal standards is a pretty modest home. the clue is in the title, it is adelaide cottage. it is a four bedroomed house, they will be no live—in staff, no costly refurbishment necessary. it has been used by the royal family over many generations. the other message i think that it sendsis the other message i think that it sends is that this brings william of course very close to his grandmother, the queen. she is now based here at windsor castle, she is in belmore at the moment for her summer break in scotland, but she will

our royal correspondent nicholas witchell explained why the break in tradition.w, every one at the queen's prime ministers has been appointed by her here at buckingham palace. it's one of her prerogative powers, not done on the advice of ministers, and by convention, she invites the leader of the largest party in the house of commons to form a government. this time it will be different, it will take place at balmoral, as you've said, and the reason for that, of course, is to do with her health. now, we know that buckingham palace is extremely circumspect about any issue concerning her health. all it will say is that there are the mobility issues that we encountered during thejubilee and there is a need for all the participants to have certainty about the arrangements next week. so, next tuesday, the 6th of september, borisjohnson will be at balmoral where he will tender his resignation as prime minister, and moments later, either liz truss or rishi sunak — who by then, of course, will have been elected leader of the conservative party — will have an audience with

our royal correspondent nicholas witchell explained why the break in tradition.e largest party in the house of commons to become the prime minister. now, on every previous occasion throughout the 70 years of the queen's reign, that has taken place at buckingham palace. but not this time. this time it will take place at balmoral, where the queen is spending her summer break. why? well, of course, it is all to do with the queen's health. buckingham palace says very little on that subject, they merely cite the episodic "mobility issues," that phrase we have become ratherfamiliar with. they want certainty in terms of the diaries of the prime ministers, they want certainty in terms of the arrangements, so next tuesday, 6th of september, the outgoing prime minister, borisjohnson, will go up to balmoral and he will tender his resignation, whereupon shortly after that either liz truss or rishi sunak, who by then of course will have been elected leader of the conservative party — the largest party in the house of commons — they will sweep in and they will be invited by th

our royal correspondent nicholas witchell told us more about the reaction to the interview. have you looked at the interview online? . . ., . online? i have read the article. i thinkfirst _ online? i have read the article. i think first and _ online? i have read the article. i think first and foremost, - online? i have read the article. i think first and foremost, let's i think first and foremost, let's remember that the article was originally written to publicise the duchess of�*s spotify podcasts which coincidentally were launched last week so from that perspective yes, week so from that perspective yes, we are talking about spotify podcasts so it has done its job to that degree but there are other observations that i have regarding the article. it’s observations that i have regarding the article. 3 . observations that i have regarding the article. �* , ., , ., observations that i have regarding the article. �*, ., , ., ., the article. it's a question of the benefit and _ the article. it's a question of the benefit and disadvantage. - the article. it's a question of the be

, and was saying she hoped the same would not happen to her husband. 0ur royal correspondent nicholas witchellere was the oprah interview and other contributions. the role of the royal family is to be a unifying force and many will feel these views are stirring the pot again and not terribly helpful. because they�*re not working members of the royal family there is no reaction from many of the palaces but i suspect there would be a sense of rather weedy resignation as they read these comments and try to understand them because in some instances they are somewhat ambiguous. but many people will be fascinated to hear these views and many people, her supporters in particular, will feel she has every right to express them. one of the lines coming out of it is the duchess of sussex says she upset the dynamic of the hierarchy of the royal familyjust by existing. i suppose it is those kind of comments you are referring to that won�*t be particularly well received by some. that, almost to use the kind of language perhaps she would use, is her truth, that is how she perceives it and she is entitled to

our royal correspondent nicholas witchell is in windsor with all the details. please tell us.m and catherine, they want their family to have as normal as upbringing as possible, so george, charlotte and louis will be starting at the new school next month and that, of course, william eased the pressure in terms of the school run which they've been doing across a busy, crowded london until now and i think they want their children to have as normal a life as possible and have it in as rural a setting as possible and of course we know that catherine's and background is in berkshire as well. the second message it sayings strongly is that they are content to live in what, by royal standards, they are content to live in what, by royalstandards, is they are content to live in what, by royal standards, is pretty modest accommodation. the clue is in the title, adelaide cottage. this is a four—bedroom home, no living staff, there will be no major refurbishment necessary and honestly all the security considerations have been looked after. i think that is important to the cambridges. they