DOMINIC LAWSON: Within days, we are told, the Government will 'decide' whether to award the Chinese firm Huawei the contract to develop and maintain this country's vital electronic network.

DOMINIC LAWSON: Lord Lucan is alive! Or so claims a building contractor called Neil Berriman. And why should we listen to Mr Berriman? Well, he is the son of the Lucan family nanny.

DOMINIC LAWSON: This was meant to be bad news, and in a way it is: Storm Ciara (easier to write than to pronounce) has swept across the United Kingdom.

DOMINIC LAWSON: Every year my sister gives me the same birthday present. Sorry, that's not fair: Nigella gives me a jumper, but each year it is one of a different colour.

DOMINIC LAWSON: So that's clear: it is absolutely unacceptable for anyone with eugenicist views to have a position of the slightest influence within British politics.

DOMINIC LAWSON: The 12th Baron Lucas inaugurated a debate asking the Government to ensure that at least half of toilet facilities in public buildings are available to women only.

DOMINIC LAWSON: The coronavirus sweeping the world can be traced back to a food market in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the new strain first transferred from wildlife to humans.

DOMINIC LAWSON: Johnson said in 2007 that Mayor Larry Vaughn was the true hero of the film Jaws: it was 'laudable' that he strove to help businesses in defiance of mounting hysteria.

DOMINIC LAWSON: As so often in her 68-year reign, the Queen gets it right. In her statement to the country on meeting the challenge of the coronavirus, she did not once use the word 'war'.

DOMINIC LAWSON: The founder of the People's Republic of China, Mao Zedong, invented a term for 'reactionaries' in the West who made threats against his regime. He called them 'paper tigers'.

DOMINIC LAWSON: Only a certain type engages in professional point-scoring in the midst of a pandemic. But Sir Paul Nurse, the Nobel prize-winning scientist, seems to fit that bill.

DOMINIC LAWSON: This wasn't supposed to happen. The British people have responded to a draconian lockdown with good humour and fortitude.

DOMINIC LAWSON: The decision to extend the lockdown has, unsurprisingly, intensified the complaint that 'shutting down the economy will cost more lives than the coronavirus'.

DOMINIC LAWSON: How mortifying to be complimented by a representative of the totalitarian regime now in the global dock for its conduct during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Locked-in Shirley Parsons (pictured) suffered a colossal haemorrhagic stroke from a clot on her brain in 2003. But she said she is happier than before her stroke, writes DOMINIC LAWSON.

Princess Charlotte, four, enjoyed a day out at the polo with her family on Wednesday. Eagle-eyed royal watchers spotted she was carrying a little sequin unicorn Beanie Boo purse, which costs just £4.

The Duchess looked glamorous in a bespoke green D&G midi dress, estimated to have cost £2,150, previously worn in 2016 on a visit to Kelowna, during a royal tour of Canada.

Giving Princess Charlotte a touch of sparkle on her way to school in London this morning was a pink, sequined unicorn head key ring seen dangling from her bag.

Prince William, 37, revealed Princess Charlotte, 4, 'loves unicorns' and declared the mythical creatures were 'very cool' during a royal visit to Harcombe House in Devon yesterday

Actress Michelle Dockery, 37, heaped praise on Kate Middleton, 38, as she recalled the royal's visit to the Downton Abbey set in 2015, as she appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Kate Middleton, 37, made the confession while visiting the Aga Khan centre in London yesterday, and revealed all about her family's preferences when it comes to spicy foods.

Executive assistant manager Ann-Kathrin Reichel, 31, from Cloppenburg, Germany, now owns 60 'repli-Kate' outfits, spending between £20 and £90 on each over the past year.

TALK OF THE TOWN: The Duchess of Cambridge, pictured, used the special entrance - originally installed by Prince Harry, to access the Hollywood Arms in Chelsea.

Kensington Palace suddenly cancelled Kate Middleton's attendance this afternoon, citing an undisclosed matter relating to Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, four, and Prince Louis, one.

It is understood Prince William took Charlotte and brother George to St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham before Christmas to familiarise them with its layout and explain about wellwishers.

From the floral smock dresses to the tailored wool coats, Gucci's latest collection, which debuted in Milan earlier this week, appears to pay homage to Princess Charlotte's, 4, style.

Princess Charlotte, four, was given a £1.50 pink plastic flamingo by royal fan Gemma Clark, 39, as she left St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate.

London-based Charlie van Straubenzee, who was one of Prince Harry's ushers, welcomed daughter Clover on Wednesday last week, reports The Sunday Times.

Royal fans are going wild online over the 'uncanny' resemblance between Princess Charlotte, 5, in her new birthday portraits and the Queen's niece Lady Sarah Chatto's, 55.

The trio joined the likes of Sam Smith, Emma Stone, Haim, Lily Collins, Jaime Winstone, Judge Rinder and Greg Rutherford at the sell-out event.

Former British Olympic athlete Greg Rutherford, 32, revealed he's been victim of online trolls who have been sending him cruel comments about his 'dad bod' while preparing to swim for charity.

JIM SHELLEY: Vicky Pattison and Neil Ruddock had more chance of beating Greg Rutherford at long jump than they did of defeating him in the kitchen tonight.

The sportsman, 32, staved off stiff competition from fellow finalists Vicky Pattison and Neil Ruddock to be crowned the winner of Celebrity Masterchef 2019.

Greg Rutherford was adorably interrupted by his two young children while giving an interview on how to keep children busy while in isolation amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Wonderkid Joao Felix executed a stunning goal during a Benfica training session to demonstrate why he is in such high demand across Europe this summer.

Ronaldo beat off competition from Atletico Madrid starlet Joao Felix, Manchester City's Bernardo Silva, Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes and Wolves' Ruben Neves.

KIT HOLDEN: In the end, Renato Sanches felt he was left with no other option but to pack his bags and leave Bayern Munich. He joined Ligue 1 side Lille this summer in a move worth £23million.

Details have been leaked by Football Leaks, via Der Spiegel, regarding one of Cristiano Ronaldo's most lucrative sponsorship deals with sportswear giants Nike.

Cristiano Ronaldo is on the brink of yet another milestone in his incredible career. Two goals against Luxembourg on Friday night will see him join the illustrious 700 club.

Cristiano Ronaldo was presented with a special Juventus shirt to commemorate the 700th goal of his professional career before he scored his 701st against Bologna on Saturday.

Cristiano Ronaldo hinted he would choose not to play in the majority of fixtures for Juventus, leaving himself fresh for their bigger Champions League ties and to represent Portugal.

The scramble for Euro 2020 places comes to its conclusion this week as the final international fixtures of the year are played out across the continent.

His haul of 98 is the best of any player still pulling on the shirt for their national side, as he added hat-trick number 55 of his career on Thursday night during Portugal's rout of Lithuania.

Cristiano Ronaldo will look back fondly on this decade but despite winning more trophies in 2019, this year has been his worst statistically in terms of goalscoring over the last 10 years.

The Juventus star was victorious on the international stage three years ago as Portugal beat France 1-0 after extra time. And now the 34-year-old has spoken out about the celebrations.

With Bruno Fernandes set for a £60m move to Manchester United and Gedson Fernandes loaned to Tottenham, Portuguese players have once again taken prominence in a transfer window.

Renato Sanches must have truly felt on top of the world after Portugal lifted the Euro 2016 trophy. But an assent to the lofty heights of the game can often be followed by a plummet to the bottom.

Bernardo Silva has stated he expects Portugal international team-mate Bruno Fernandes to be a success at Manchester United, after backing him to settle in England.

The Dutch FA took the decision on Friday to cancel the Eredivisie , with the title left by vacant by Ajax and AZ Alkmaar, and neighbouring Belgium could follow after a meeting on Monday.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Alan Pardew could only sit and wait for the phone call. There was nothing else to do as the fate of ADO Den Haag's season was debated in a series of video conference calls.