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Prince William tours Jaguar Racing base in Oxfordshire

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Arriving at the headquarters of the British Formula E team in Kidlington, the Prince of Wales met drivers and engineers.

In the factory, the prince was greeted by Antonio Felix da Costa, the 2020 FE world champion, who offered him the chance to sit behind the wheel of a development car, identical to the team’s current model.

“There’s not a lot of room in the legs, is there?” joked Prince William, who stands at 6ft 3in, as he settled into the car.

READ MORE: Prince William gets behind the wheel of Formula E racing car in Oxfordshire

Prince William in headphones at the Jaguar base in Oxfordshire. (Image: Jason Dawson)

Da Costa talked the prince through what it is like to race the car, as well as its equipment and features.

“And your head, would you be slightly lower down?” the royal asked.

“I would say slightly lower than you are now,” Da Costa replied.

Before getting out of the car, the prince thanked the sportsman, adding “that’s fantastic”.

Prince William, who is known to have an interest in the environment, appeared enthusiastic and engaged as he asked questions about the sustainability aspect of FE, something he described as “incredible”, and told engineers they are “doing very well”.

READ MORE: Prince William in Oxfordshire today on royal visit

Prince William sits in the Formula E racing car. (Image: Jason Dawson)

He wished the team luck ahead of their races in Berlin next month, and said: “I’m very excited to see you racing, I’m going to cheer you guys on.”

Meeting young engineers who had completed a graduate programme with Jaguar TCS Racing, the prince told them he had joked with their colleagues earlier that, with so many innovations in the sport, “at what point does the driver become the weak link?”

He added: “[At what point do we think] get rid of drivers, we’ll get an AI person in?

“We’re probably not far off that, are we?”

Speaking to 22-year-old graduate Phoebe Russell, the prince remarked that motorsport is “not necessarily the first thing women would think about joining”.

READ MORE: Cotswolds private school to close down after over 100 years

Prince William meets graduate Phoebe Russell. (Image: Jason Dawson)

He then asked: “Was it easy for you to find your way into this world?”

Ms Russell replied, “Not at all”, adding that she grew up with the sport, and speaking after the visit, she said she was “in shock” after meeting the prince.

She said: “Being asked to do a little career talk was very exciting.

“The fact that he had so much awareness of the sport and so much interest, and it ties into his whole sustainability project, it was very interesting.”

READ MORE: Historic fish market forced to find new home as rent doubles

HRH Prince William, the Prince of Wales visits The Jaguar TCS Racing Formula E team. Kidlington, Oxfordshire, UK. 23rd April 2026.Prince William is shown around the Jaguar TCS Racing base by Jack Lambert. (Image: Jason Dawson)

Jack Lambert, head of technical integration at Jaguar TCS Racing, who gave the prince a tour of the premises, was delighted with the visit.

“It went really well,” he said.

“When he’s here, and you’re spending time with him, it’s just a conversation as he’s so relaxed and interested.

“Having that level of interest makes the conversation so much easier, and it allows our guys who maybe don’t do this on a regular basis to have a really nice conversation about what they do and what they’re passionate about.

“And that’s where the magic comes out.”





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Jeremy Clarkson among famous men backing cancer treatment

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English actor and broadcaster Peter Duncan, 72, who has written and directed pantomimes for Oxford Playhouse, is urging health authorities to approve focal therapy more broadly across the UK.

Mr Duncan, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019, called the treatment “life-changing” after it successfully targeted the cancerous part of his prostate with minimal side effects.

Jeremy Clarkson is some of a few famous faces who have received focal therapy for prostate cancer (Image: PA)

Other public figures who have received focal therapy include Jeremy Clarkson and former prime minister Lord David Cameron.

Mr Duncan said: “I was originally offered a radical prostatectomy which would have removed the whole prostate, but I was lucky enough to be treated with focal therapy which was better for me and a less invasive option.

“It was a complete success, and I’ve only experienced very minor after-effects, allowing me to continue with my life as before.”

The treatment is backed by Prostate Cancer UK, which is urging the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) to review and approve the treatment for wider use on the NHS.

Peter Duncan received prostate cancer therapy accessed by Jeremy Clarkson (Image: Alistair Wilson)

Amy Rylance, director of health services, equity and improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Without a timeline from Nice, we simply don’t know how long men will have to wait for approval on the NHS.”

A recent report from Imperial College London found focal therapy is as effective as radiotherapy or surgery but carries a much lower risk of incontinence or erectile dysfunction.

One in eight men in the UK will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.





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Criminal broke into Oxford home and slept in owner’s bed, court hears

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Richie Reeves broke into the home in Westminster Way on January 12 this year.

Oxford Crown Court heard how the 33-year-old, of Bristow Close, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, spent the night there and then stole some pants and socks before leaving.

As well as this, Reeves was sentenced, on August 6, for stealing bank cards in various locations and then using them to buy things for himself.

Reeves stole a bank card, wallet and cash belonging to John Keen in Oxford on January 17.

READ MORE: Oxford University student from China found dead at accommodation

Richie Reeves (Image: TVP)

He also stole bank cards belonging to Gordon Boland and Aya Zemzam in Milton Keynes in April.

Using the bank cards, the total he spent was £586.87.

Judge Maria Lamb said: “You broke into a young man’s home. You slept in his bed and helped yourself to his belongings.

“The feeling of intrusion to that young man must have been very significant. You were a rough sleeper and entrenched in substance misuse.

“You are now beginning to realise the impact of your offending on other people. It has had an enduring impact. You are now seeking to turn things around.”

Reeves was jailed for a total of 16 months.

The judge added: “I hope you build on the work you are doing already.”





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Second weapon unveiled by police to combat e-scooters and e-bikes

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It was reported earlier this week that Southampton’s officers had started using DeterTech’s SmartTag spray.

This can be fired from a handheld canister over distances of up to 10 metres, coating riders, clothing and bikes with an invisible marker.

READ MORE: Tips will no longer accept these items as new £15 charge introduced

The spray is only detectable under ultraviolet light and carries a unique forensic code linked to the specific canister used, allowing investigators to match a suspect to a particular incident weeks or even months later.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary says the technology gives officers a safer tactical option when dealing with motorcycles, e‑bikes and e‑scooters being used in crime or anti‑social behaviour, reducing the need for risky pursuits or close confrontation.

The move comes amid growing complaints about riders using powered two‑wheelers on pavements and in public spaces, and follows similar trials by Dorset Police and other forces to tag offenders rather than chasing them through busy streets.

READ MORE: Oxfordshire shop to permanently close with all products now £1

Thames Valley Police has told this newspaper this week that a second spray is being used in Oxfordshire and across the region.

The DNA tagging spray from SelectaDNA acts in a similar way and is also being used to combat e-bikes and e-scooters.

TVP, which covers Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, has already seized more than 100 illegal machines in recent operations and warned that privately owned e‑scooters used on public roads risk fines, penalty points and confiscation.





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