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.

Gemma Culverwell, 35, from Sheffield, South Yorks, is mum to daughter Marcy, five, who is often likened to Princess Charlotte by strangers. She says people regularly do a double take.

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.

Parents have praised the Duchess of Cambridge's reaction after Princess Charlotte, four, stuck her tongue out to crowds at the star-studded King's Cup regatta at Cowes, Isle of Wight, yesterday.

Princess Charlotte, accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George, will attend her first day of school at Thomas's Battersea on Thursday September 5.

Arriving at Thomas's Battersea, where her brother George is two years above, four-year-old Princess Charlotte clung to her mother's hand and was sure to keep her manners in check.

The Duchess of Cambridge, 37, was the picture of elegance on Thursday as she arrived at Thomas's Battersea with William, 37, and their son George, six, for Charlotte's first day of school.

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.

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.

Princess Charlotte has asked for a pony for Christmas, according to new reports.

The Duchess of Cambridge, 37, is allegedly working on her tennis game at the Hurlingham Club in Fulham, west London and is often joined by her husband and children.

The Duchess of Cambridge, 37, looked festive in tartan as she arrived with Charlotte and Louis for the Queen's Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace today.

LIBBY PURVES: Princess Charlotte certainly stole the show on her first walk about at Sandringham this week: in her smart little double-breasted coat, she wowed the crowd with aplomb.

A source told US Weekly that Kate and Prince William's three youngster's 'adore' seven-month-old son, Archie, and that Kate is hoping for more family time with their cousin in the year ahead.

Louise Heren, from the UK, spent time researching at Norland College - where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's nanny, Maria Borrallo, trained. She revealed the skills she learned to Mirror Online.

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.

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

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.

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.

Kieran Trippier - who signed from Tottenham in a £20million deal this week - made his debut for Diego Simeone's outfit as they ran out emphatic winners against Numancia on Saturday.

Hidden away by vast woodland and situated in Geres, the mansion - which includes a landing pad - was purchased for close to £3.5m seven years ago by the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

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

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 made yet more history as he scored four goals in Portugal's 5-1 victory over Lithuania in Euro 2020 qualifying on Tuesday evening.

Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, scored four times during Portugal's 5-1 victory over Lithuania to break Robbie Keane's record for most goals in European Championship qualifiers.

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 took his goal-scoring career tally to an incredible 700 after netting in Portugal's 2-1 defeat against Ukraine. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner confidently slotted away a penalty.

The Portugal captain scored a second-half penalty against Ukraine to reach the milestone - his 95th strike for his country and the 700th goal of his career. He said afterwards: 'Records come naturally!'

Ronaldo scored the 700th goal of his career from the penalty spot in Portugal's 2-1 defeat against Ukraine on Monday - the sixth player in the history of football to reach that incredible landmark.

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.

One of Cristiano Ronaldo's international team-mates has insisted the Portuguese star isn't carrying an injury - directly contradicting the claims of Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri.

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.