After a week in which the Princess of Wales was mercilessly and monstrously attacked for her Mother’s Day Photoshop mishap – accused of deceit, dishonesty and deliberate deception – we are entering uncharted territory.

Because her critics certainly run the risk of pushing Kate to avoid public life altogether. And honestly, who can blame her if she chooses to go underground?

After being so viciously attacked, there is every possibility that a ‘shell-shocked’ Kate could choose to back out of her future royal duties once she recovers from her surgery. If people keep treating her so badly, why on earth would she want to appear on call for them?

Let us not forget that it is entirely within its power, except when it comes to certain formal obligations such as state affairs, to do just that. She is the mistress of her diary and her attendance at many events is entirely at her discretion.

Imagine where our already exhausted and painfully bleak monarchy would be left without its shining star. An ailing king, an elderly queen, William, Princess Anne and the Edinburghs.

We only have to remember how disappointingly boring Prince William looked on the red carpet at the Baftas last month without Kate glittering by his side. Without her constant presence, the light would go out of the royal family.

And why would she be so hounded if she was just doing what millions of mothers have done: Photoshopping family snaps to keep everyone happy?

Insiders say she “just wanted to publish a nice photo of her family.” Who not?

As we hadn’t seen her since Christmas Day at Sandringham, she also tried to reassure us that she and her young children were doing just fine and that the ugly rumors on social media about her health were nonsense.

Kate was watching us and all she got was mud in her eye.

It doesn’t take a doctor to conclude that the past week would have caused her immeasurable pain, adding to her stress and, it is feared, prolonging her recovery.

She is one of the most famous and photographed women in the world, with all the pressure that entails. Surely we shouldn’t be saying, “Where the hell are you?” but she sent her wishes for a speedy recovery.

She sacrificed so much of her own privacy to become William’s wife, to carry the heavy burden of becoming the future queen and to raise an heir and spares, George, Charlotte and Louis – and to give them all a little to make it look like the normal, happy family life William never had – the least we can do is respect her privacy while she recovers.

Since her engagement to Prince William in 2010, Kate hasn’t put a foot wrong. For more than a decade, she has only improved the image of the royal family, with her decency, integrity and, yes, glamour.

And all with a natural grace, like Diana’s, and the ability to seem as at home with ordinary people as with kings and queens.

The work she has done in early learning, addiction and with homeless charities is not only tireless but also highly respected. She is also an advocate for mental health issues, which is ironic considering that those who attack her now pay so little attention to her own mental health.

Honestly, I don’t know how she does it. And more and more often I wonder why it bothers her.

She has already had to put up with the Sussexes’ departure to California, which has made life so much harder for her and William, with double the workload and double the worry of keeping the shaky old Firm afloat.

She has suffered in dignified silence through the terrible things her once-beloved brother-in-law Harry said about her in his book Spare, and Meghan’s sly comments in her 2021 Oprah interview.

And more recently, she was named by Meghan’s mouthpiece Omid Scobie in his book as one of the so-called ‘racist’ royals who questioned the skin color of her unborn son Archie.

She has never complained, never explained, because she respects the dictum of the Queen’s royal dignity. While we’ve heard some of how the Sussexes’ slings and arrows have enraged William, especially the attacks on his beloved wife, there have been no whispers from Kate. There is no ugly ‘Kate Camp’ leaking beastly stories. But how they must have hurt her.

Because no story about Kate and William goes by without a nasty story being leaked by friends of Harry and Meghan. An unnamed member of ‘the Sussex camp’ reportedly blasted the photoshopped photo, claiming: ‘This is not a mistake Meghan would ever make.’

A day later, the Sussexes issued an official statement through a spokesperson denying that a source close to the couple had made the comment.

Very good, but the damage had already been done. And let’s not forget that, when it comes to touching up photos, There are those air-brushed images of Harry and Meghan in glossy American magazines – one of which ridiculously gave Harry a full head of red hair. The couple’s 2021 Time Magazine cover was even ridiculed by one US expert for being ‘the most airbrushed photo I’ve ever seen’.

Does anyone seriously think that a recovering Kate has plotted to deceive the public into having William take a photo of the family in the backyard so that she can spend hours adding a skinny tree to it herself, misalign the window sill and adjust the cuff? on Charlotte’s vest?

It was a photo for Mother’s Day, for crying out loud, a day when we should all be celebrating mothers, instead of pouring bile on them because they may have made mistakes in their attempts to do the right thing.

Let’s all give Kate a break. Because if we don’t, she could very well take a break from us.

A new picture of the Princess of Wales showing her looking happy and healthy may be a hint she’ll be back in the royal fold soon.

Kate Middleton, 42, has stepped back from royal duties since she was admitted to The London Clinic for ‘planned abdominal surgery’ on January 16.

Today, she shared a photo alongside her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, with fans commenting on how the royal looks like she is recovering well.

It may be a hint that Kate will return to action around Easter, and not as late as Trooping of the Colour in June.

Earlier this week, the Army backtracked on claims the Princess of Wales will attend June’s Trooping the Colour after accusations officials ‘jumped the gun’ without consulting the Palace.

Tickets had gone on sale via the army website advertising Kate, 42, reviewing a ‘practice’ parade for the first time on June 8 in her role as honorary colonel of the Irish Guards.

It also announced that Charles, 75, would be reviewing his own official birthday parade on June 15 at Horse Guards.

But within minutes of the tickets going on sale, there were warnings that the MoD may have ‘jumped the gun’.

Kensington Palace sources made clear that they were ‘not consulted’ on the MoD announcement and said that any confirmed attendance by the princess would be made ‘only’ by themselves.

Buckingham Palace confirmed that planning for future engagements was continuing despite the King’s ongoing cancer treatment yet stressed that changes could be made nearer the time depending on his health. 

Kensington Palaces broken their silence on Kate Middleton conspiracy theories earlier in the week.

A palace spokesman said the Prince of Wales is focusing ‘on his work and not on social media’.

Although officials have refused to give any further updates on Kate Middleton’s health due to medical privacy, royal aids have insisted she is ‘doing well’. 

The photo of  the Princess of Wales has been branded ‘playful’ and shows her as ‘protective’ of her children, a body language expert has claimed.

Speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, Judi James said that Kate Middleton, 42, looked ‘authentic’ while her clothes showed a ‘relaxed happiness’.

The photos appear to show that the Princess is recovering well after undergoing surgery in January. 

Kensington Palace released the first official photo of the Princess of Wales since her surgery as she thanked the public for their support in a Mother’s Day message on Sunday morning. 

The royal is seen beaming with her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in a picture taken by her husband, Prince William, at their home in Windsor.

‘Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day,’ the Princess of Wales said, signing off the message with a ‘C’ for Catherine. 

Speaking today, Judi said the picture shows how the royal is one the mend. 

‘There are so many reassuring non-verbal messages of continuity, relaxed happiness and even increasingly-restored good health here, as well as some even more telling ones of shared emotion,’ Judi said.

‘The pose itself, the styling and the colours chosen, look deliberately traditional and even signature for the family. 

‘This is the type of photograph the Wales’s have posed for before, with heather-mix blues, greens and purple Fairisle knits and checks seeming to announce very little has changed and order and continuity has thankfully been restored,’ she added.

Opting for £250 Chloe Combat boots, which she’s worn several times before, Kate looked natural in jeans, a black polo neck and bottle green jacket.

Meanwhile, both Prince George and Princess Charlotte wore jumpers from French brand Cyrillus official.

Charlotte wore and adorable red Cotton and Cashmere Cardigan with a checked skirt and cotton tights while George wore a Lambswool Jumper in Kaki and jeans.

Kate went entirely without jewellery in the photo, in an unusual move for the royal, but Judi suggested that this could hint at her getting better.    

‘Kate’s choice of casual clothing seems to hint at restored levels of health. Her lace-up boots, jeans and zip-up jacket all imply she’s off for a long Mother’s Day walk after the session. 

‘Even the way she crosses her legs at the ankle suggests energy rather than a desire to sit still,’ she added.

Wearing her hair long and loose, Kate beamed as she sat with her three children at home in Windsor.

She opted for a natural make-up look with a creamy foundation and subtle lip gloss.

‘In terms of the body language it’s a relief for the fans (and the country) to see the joy and the sense of playful family fun are still firmly in place,’ Judi added.

‘Kate might be sitting but she’s the one with her protective arms around her two younger children and Kate’s smile is far more telling than her normal signature, pitch-perfect ‘”royal” smile. 

‘This is an authentic, dimpled version with no signs of forcing or rigidity.

‘Her sparkling eye expression, which is aimed at her husband William behind the camera, suggests their usual levels of shared humour are still very much a thing.

‘George has his arms looped around his mother’s neck as though keen to protect her but this is also a pose he’s used frequently on his father and the children look relaxed enough to imply nobody is feeling any wariness or need to treat Kate as overly-fragile. 

‘Their open-mouthed laughs look congruent enough to imply genuine playfulness that appears prompted by William from behind the lens,’.

The princess’ absence from royal engagements since the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham has led to huge speculation on social media – but the positive Mother’s Day update has been warmly welcomed by royal fans.

Buckingham Palace also shared a photo of the King with his late mother Queen Elizabeth II to mark Mother’s Day. Charles is seen kissing his mother’s hand after a polo match in 1985.

‘Wishing all Mothers, and those who are missing their Mums today, a peaceful Mothering Sunday,’ a message alongside the photo said. 

Kensington Palace confirmed Kate’s surgery was successful and on January 29, she returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be reunited with her children almost two weeks after having the surgery.

Last Monday, she was photographed for the first time since the medical procedure after US gossip website TMZ published pictures of her being driven around Windsor with her mother, Carole Middleton.

In the photo, Kate was wearing dark sunglasses and sat in the passenger seat of a black 4×4 Audi. 

The pictures were not published in the UK after Kensington Palace appealed for her to be able to recuperate in private. 

Days later, Carole’s brother – and Kate’s uncle – Gary Goldsmith revealed on Celebrity Big Brother that her niece was getting the ‘best care in the world’.

Love Island winner Ekin-Su Culculoglu asked Goldsmith on Wednesday’s episode: ‘Where’s Kate?’

He replied: ‘Because she doesn’t want to talk about… The last thing I’m going to do is… there’s a kind of code of etiquette. If it’s announced, I’ll give you an opinion.’ 

Kate’s ‘black sheep’ uncle added: ‘I spoke to her mum, my sister, she’s getting the best care in the world.

‘And all the family’s done is put the wagons round and look after family first before anything else. They put a statement out and just said ‘she’s taking some time to recoup and will see you in Easter’.’

After Kate was photographed in paparazzi pictured on Monday, the Ministry of Defence was then forced to delete a claim on its website that the Princess of Wales would be attending the Trooping the Colour. 

Tickets had gone on sale via the army website advertising Kate reviewing a ‘practice’ parade for the first time on June 8 in her role as honorary colonel of the Irish Guards.

It also announced that King Charles, 75, would be reviewing his own official birthday parade on June 15 at Horse Guards.

But within minutes of the tickets going on sale, there were warnings that the MoD may have ‘jumped the gun’.

Kensington Palace sources made clear that they were ‘not consulted’ on the MoD announcement and said that any confirmed attendance by the princess would be made ‘only’ by themselves.

Buckingham Palace confirmed that planning for future engagements was continuing despite the King’s ongoing cancer treatment yet stressed that changes could be made nearer the time depending on his health.

He is undertaking a very limited number of in-person engagements and certainly not anything with large crowds, on doctors’ advice.

The confusion has added to the sense of unease around the Royal Family, given that two of its most senior members are largely out of action for substantial periods.

Insiders have said, given the profile of the occasions, that it is likely that both the monarch and his daughter-in-law would do everything within their power to attend.

On Friday, the Prince of Wales visited the Oval cricket ground as he continues to carry out engagements while his wife and his father recover.

But his absence from his godfather’s memorial at Windsor Castle last month for a ‘personal matter’  led to increased speculation about his wife’s health.

The Palace has said that based on the current medical advice Kate was unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.

A spokesman stated that it was Kate’s personal wish to keep her personal medical information private and said it would only provide an update if there were ‘significant new information to share’.

William has been juggling royal duties with supporting Kate and helping care for George, Charlotte, and Louis.

Queen Camilla has led the royals at other events amid a slimmed-down monarchy – with Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Sophie also helping out. 

Tomorrow, William will attend an event at immersive art venue Frameless in the Marble Arch area of London’s West End, celebrating The Earthshot Prize ‘Launchpad’ project. 

This is a new online matchmaking platform for Earthshot projects which can be accessed by investors and philanthropists looking to co-invest and collaborate on environmental ideas.

Kensington Palace said that since 2021, the Earthshot Prize has awarded £15million of prize money and the network has helped unlock £50million of support via its network, for the 45 winners and finalists.

Also on Monday, Camilla and William are to attend the annual Commonwealth Day service, joined by remaining members of the slimmed-down monarchy.

With the King and Kate away from public-facing duties, the rest of the institution’s working royals will gather in force at Westminster Abbey.

Camilla and William will be accompanied by Edward, Sophie and Anne along with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.

A pre-recorded video message from Head of the Commonwealth, Charles, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, will be played during the service this year, Buckingham Palace said.

The annual celebration will draw on the theme of resilience – at a time when the royal family has faced a barrage of health troubles.

But the service will focus on stories of environmental resilience and marine sustainability, through performances representing the five regions of the Commonwealth.

William’s appearance at the televised event – a key part of the royal calendar – alongside Camilla comes after he pulled out of attending his godfather King Constantine of Greece’s memorial service last week at the last minute due to an undisclosed personal matter. 

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By Leocciano Callao

Published: 3:18 PM EST, March 7, 2024 | Updated: 04:04 EST, March 8, 2024

OCTOPUS Energy has released a major update for Shell Energy customers whose accounts are about to be switched to the supplier.

The energy supplier, which is part of the ‘Big Six’, has announced exactly when the accounts of tens of thousands of Shell Energy customers will be transferred.

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The supplier says that 750,000 ex-Shell Energy customers have already switched their accounts.

The migration process began before Christmas, but a spokesperson told The Sun that all 550,000 remaining customers will have been moved to the parent brand by the end of April.

So far, Octopus Energy had not provided a timetable for when it expects all Shell Energy customers to switch.

Once this process is complete, the domestic energy brand Shell Energy will cease to exist and all customers will have their gas and electricity managed directly by the Octopus brand.

The transfers will not interrupt a customer’s delivery, bills or meters.

Shell Energy’s remaining customers will be notified of the account move via letter, email or on one of their upcoming bills.

The update contains all the important details about what to expect from the move.

You may have already received this. But if you haven’t, you don’t need to do anything or contact Octopus Energy.

It comes just months after Shell agreed to sell its domestic energy and broadband business to the utility last September.

At the time, Shell Energy provided domestic gas, power and broadband services to approximately two million customers.

The suppliers completed the sale in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Octopus Energy said there will be a smooth transition to the business and there will be no disruption to customer energy supplies.

However, industry experts expected Octopus Energy to divest its telecom base to another telecom provider at the time of the sale of Shell Energy.

And on February 7, Octopus Energy sold Shell Energy’s broadband business to TalkTalk.

About 480,000 Shell broadband customers will switch to TalkTalk in the coming months.

By acquiring Shell Energy’s customer base, Octopus Energy has now become Britain’s second largest energy supplier with 6.8 million customers.

The last major supplier that are domestic arm for sale was SSE in 2019.

SSE Energy Services, which supplied gas and electricity to 3.5 million households, was acquired by Ovo Energy in January 2020.

What energy bill help is available?

ENERGY debt rose to a new record of £2.9 billion in the final quarter of 2023, Ofgem figures show.

If you are having difficulty paying your bill, please contact your supplier.

They can set up a payment holiday or debt repayment plan to help you better manage your cash.

Most suppliers, including British Gas, E.ON and Ovo Energy, are also offering grants of up to £1,500 to help needy families pay off their debts.

Ask your supplier what the offer is and how you can register.

For other support, use the benefits calculator on the turn2us.org.uk website to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Also ask your municipality about local schemes such as fuel vouchers and the Household Support Fund.

Octopus Energy said in October 2022 it would take over all 1.5 million Bulb customers after the struggling energy supplier fell into administration in November 2021.

At its peak, Bulb was the nation’s seventh largest energy company, providing gas and electricity rates to 1.7 million homes.

But it was the largest provider that collapsed after several other smaller companies failed to stay afloat.

Unlike the smaller suppliers who went bankrupt with hundreds of thousands of customers, Bulb had more than a million.

This meant Ofgem couldn’t simply get another supplier to take over all its customers, as it has done with the 28 other companies that went bust in 2021.

Instead, Bulb was placed under special management, meaning it could continue to operate as normal and customers didn’t have to do anything.

In this format, the company was kept afloat thanks to the infusion of £4 billion of taxpayers’ money.

But in October 2022, Octopus announced a deal with the government to buy Bulb and take on its 1.5 million customers, backed by the government.

Jennifer Aniston has sparked engagement rumors after she posed at the SAG Awards wearing a giant diamond ring on her left hand.

The actress, 55, was nominated for her role on The Morning Show but lost to The Crown’s Elizabeth Debicki.

She also took the stage with Bradley Cooper to present the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award to Barbra Streisand.

Jennifer dazzled at the ceremony in a figure-hugging silver dress with a plunging neckline and a thigh-high slit.

But the most eye-catching part of her ensemble was her jewelry, with the Friends star wearing a huge sparkler on her ring finger.

Jennifer is not known to be dating anyone currently, and she has not been romantically linked to anyone in the past five years.

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Jennifer Aniston for comment.

Jennifer has been married twice before, first to Brad Pitt in 2000, before their divorce in 2005, which became one of the most high-profile divorces in Hollywood.

She then got engaged to Justin Theroux in 2012 and they married three years later, but also split in 2018.

She has also previously dated other famous faces, Paul Rudd, Tate Donovan, Vince Vaughn and John Mayer.

Despite a rocky relationship history, Jennifer is reportedly optimistic that she will find love again in her 50s.

Last summer, a source said UsWeekly: ‘In her gut, Jen believes she will eventually meet the right person.’

But the insider also added that if she never found love again, she would be fine, saying, “She’s not going to beat herself up if it doesn’t happen.” She’s fine on her own.

‘[Jennifer] is in a great spot. She is happy, healthy and fulfilled by her career, family and friends. [She’s] has been through a lot, but she feels blessed to be thriving both personally and professionally.”

Jennifer herself admitted that she would “like to be in a relationship” in November 2022, but also said that she was not “interested” in getting married again.

When asked if she planned to walk down the aisle again in the future, she said To tempt: ‘Never say never, but I’m not interested in it.’

However, she confessed that she would still be open to love because being single can be overwhelming at times.

Jennifer said: ‘I would love a relationship. Who knows? There are times when I just want to curl up in a ball and say, “I need support.”

‘It would be great to come home and fall into someone’s arms and say, ‘That was a hard day’.’

But the Morning Show star made it clear she didn’t want to start a new relationship until she had time to work on herself and address her early traumas.

She explained: ‘It wouldn’t be fair. I don’t want to live in a house if there are no walls.’

Last year, Jennifer opened up further about the impact her childhood had on her love life, admitting that her romantic relationships have been negatively affected by her parents’ bitter split.

She admitted that her “difficult” childhood experiences didn’t make her desperate to say “yes.”

“It was always a little bit difficult for me in relationships, I think, because I was kind of alone,” she explained in an interview with WJ. Magazine.

‘Don’t know. My parents, who monitored my family’s relationship, didn’t let me say, “Oh, I can’t wait to do that,” she said, referring to her father John Aniston and her mother Nancy Dow.

John, who sadly passed away in November 2022, married Nancy in 1965, but the couple’s relationship ended when Jennifer was just nine years old, and they divorced in 1980.

Speaking about the long-term effects their tumultuous divorce had on her, Jennifer admitted that it felt “easier” to just be alone.

She said, “I didn’t like the idea of ​​sacrificing who you were or what you needed, so I didn’t really know how to do that.

“So it was almost easier to just kind of be solo.” So I haven’t had any real training in that give and take.’

The Around Came Polly star said she is now focused on making sure she doesn’t sacrifice her own desires to please someone else.

Jennifer explained, “It’s about not being afraid to say what you need and what you want. And it’s still a challenge for me in a relationship.’

“I’m really good at every other job I have, and that’s about the only area that’s a bit…” she added before walking away and joking that her dog is who she “sleeps with.”

OIL giant BP followed rival Shell in seeing profits halve last year – but they still totaled a huge £11 billion, it emerged yesterday.

Lower prices meant the figure was well below 2022's record £22.1 billion, but it was higher than in any of the previous ten years.

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Shell reported a similar slump last week, but is still suffering more than ever before in its history.

BP also surprised the market with better-than-expected figures for the final quarter of last year, with shares rising 5.46 percent.

Boss Murray Auchincloss, who replaced Bernard Looney last year, called 2023 a strong year and BP increased its dividend by 10 percent to 7.27 cents.

But critics struck.

Campaign group Global Witness said BP's “reckless shareholder payouts” of £10 billion last year could cover the expected costs of natural disasters in Britain over the next seven years.

Think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research accused BP of prioritizing shareholders “over investments in the green transition”.

Mr Auchincloss responded: “We are very happy with the direction we are heading, and the shareholders at the highest level are happy too.”

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said the latest profits exceeded expectations, giving the new boss “a solid start”.

Mr Mold added: “A large share buyback also helps get investors on side as it demonstrates his commitment to returning cash to shareholders.”

Home coverage bills are rising

The cost of home insurance has risen by a fifth (£59) by the end of 2023.

The average price paid for combined home and buildings insurance was £364 in the last three months of the year.

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That was up from £305 in 2022, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) said.

It says £352 million will be paid to people whose homes were damaged by storms Babet, Ciaran and Debi.

At the beginning of this year there was also a sharp increase in the number of claims for burst pipes.

Insurers attributed the higher premiums to rising costs of raw materials, building materials and labor.

The ABI said: “Insurers are committed to offering competitively priced home insurance.”

Women in 19 years of slog

WOMEN will have to work an extra 19 years to save for the same pension as men, shocking new figures have revealed.

According to a report, on average, women retire with pension savings of £69,000, compared to £205,000 for men.

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This leaves women with £136,000 less, even though they are likely to need more because they are likely to live longer.

Women are affected by career differences, care responsibilities, childcare costs and lower incomes.

The report, produced by the Pensions Policy Institute and Now: Pensions, calls for changes to enable women in multiple jobs or who work part-time to be offered a workplace pension.

It also requires that women who take time to care for children or other family members have the opportunity to supplement their pensions when they can.

Jackie Leiper of Scottish Widows said: “Much more needs to be done to tackle the gender pension gap.”

Virgo no more

HIGH street bank Virgin Money UK has closed 39 branches in the past three months as it seeks £200 million in savings.

Provisions for bad debts were also increased to almost £640 million as more and more customers fell behind on their credit card payments.

Further problems saw mortgage lending fall 2.2 per cent to £57.1 billion in the three months to December.

But boss David Duffy remained positive, saying: “We are encouraged by the resilience of customers and the improving sentiment in the mortgage market as interest rates have peaked.”

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THE sale of NatWest to the public could happen as early as June.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the offer as his fall statement.

The Treasury now owns less than 35% of the bank, worth around £7 billion, after a 2008 bailout.

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UBS wields an axe

SWISS banking giant UBS plans to increase its cost cuts by at least 25 percent after mounting losses.

An £8bn savings target has been increased to £10.4bn after problems caused by last year's mega-merger with crisis-hit rival Credit Suisse.

Three thousand jobs are being cut and in the quarter to December losses amounted to £598m, compared with profits of £1.5bn the year before.

Boss Sergio Ermotti said: “We will focus on restructuring and optimizing the combined businesses.”

Big deals aren't that big of a deal

The number of major corporate deals fell dramatically last year, with the number of mergers and acquisitions down almost a fifth compared to 12 months earlier.

A PwC analysis shows that 3,628 deals were completed in 2023, compared to 4,362 the year before.

Activity volume in the second half was the second lowest in the past five years, with only the first half of 2020 lower, when dealmaking was hit hard by the pandemic.

One of the biggest deals of last year was the acquisition of Hotel Chocolat by confectionery giant Mars, which was announced in November.

The total value of deals closed last year was £88 billion, down 41 percent from almost £150 billion in 2022.

But cautious optimism is starting to grow as economic conditions stabilize.

Lucy Stapleton, head of deals at PwC UK, said: “There is still an appetite for deals.”

The pain of the Red Sea

Britain's construction sector remains under pressure as shipping prices rise due to Red Sea disruption.

Higher fees on imported items have contributed to a rise in companies' overall cost burden, according to the latest S&P Global/CIPS Construction Purchase Managers' Index.

“Housing is the weakest performing category,” said Tim Moore of S&P.

But business optimism is at its highest level in two years, amid hopes that the worst is over for them.

British energy giant Shell saw profits plummet 29 percent last year after oil and gas prices fell.

However, profits of £22.4 billion were still higher than any year since 2011, sending shares up almost 3 percent.

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Shell announced a 4 percent increase in dividend payments to shareholders, and also unveiled a £2.8 billion share buyback program, which delighted markets.

Its all-time record profits of £32.2 billion came in 2022 on the back of rising oil and gas prices in the wake of the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Shell has come under fire from climate activists in the past year over accusations that it is prioritizing shareholder returns over net-zero targets.

Greenpeace activists made their feelings known today by dressing up as executives and holding a fake 'profit party' outside Shell's London headquarters.

They drank champagne and danced around a burning sign that read “Your Future.”

They were angry about the oil company's decision last summer to abandon a pledge to cut oil production every year for the rest of the decade.

Shell boss Wael Sawan said Shell has reduced greenhouse gas emissions from its own operations by as much as 60 percent.

He added: “We are working hard to deliver the energy the world needs today and help build the energy system of the future.”

Sawan said Shell is “making progress towards its target of net zero emissions by 2050”.

Russ Mold of AJ Bell said: “Sawan has clearly signaled his willingness to prioritize returns over net-zero liabilities.”

He said Shell's greatest strength is “its leading position in the entire gas market.”

He said experts see gas as crucial as the world turns away from oil and coal and towards greener alternatives.

BT PRAISES THE REWARD OF WALKS

TELECOMS giant BT said it is “on track” to meet targets after being boosted by price rises in the last quarter.

Over the period it hit millions of broadband and mobile customers with price increases of 14 per cent, boosting sales by 3 per cent to £15.8 billion in the three months to December 31.

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BT also benefited from additional sales of fiber products in its Openreach business and from higher roaming charges and price increases in its corporate division.

Today, new boss Allison Kirkby took over from Philip Jansen to become the company's first female chief.

She said she looks forward to leading it through its “next phase of development.”

BT has committed to spending £15 billion on the rollout of full fiber broadband in Britain.

However, it warned it would continue to lose broadband customers this year due to “continued weak” market conditions.

CARING FOR THE RED SEA

Supply chain disruption caused by problems in the Red Sea has further hit the UK manufacturing sector.

Industrial production fell for the eleventh straight month in January, according to the S&P Global/CIPS UK Manufacturing PMI survey.

Rob Dobson of S&P Global Market Intelligence said: “Continued weakness is leading to an increasingly cost-conscious approach among manufacturers.”

JOB REDUCTION AT TSB

TSB's Spanish owner, Banco Sabadell, has warned of job losses and branch closures at the British bank this year.

The company has set aside £29 million for restructuring costs in 2024.

Boss Cesar Gonzalez-Bueno confirmed that staff cuts would take place, but did not confirm the figures.

TSB currently has 5,426 employees and 211 branches in Great Britain.

When asked for details of the planned cuts, TSB said: “As with all announcements about changing the way we work, we always consult with our colleagues first.”

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DEUTSCHE Bank will cut 3,500 jobs by the end of 2025 to reduce costs.

The German bank employs 7,000 British workers but will not say how many of them will be affected.

It says the move is part of efforts to cut £2.1 billion in costs and improve profits.

TAX UP TO THE MAX

A RECORD 11.5 million people have filed their tax returns for the period 2022 to 2023 by midnight on Wednesday, January 31, HM Revenue and Customs said.

About 32,958 people waited until the last minute to file between 11 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.

Those who missed the deadline and pay late can appeal the fines if they have a reasonable excuse.

Myrtle Lloyd from HMRC said: “Anyone who is concerned that they will not be able to pay in full may be able to spread the cost of what they owe.”

RANK'S ENTIRE HOUSE

RETURNING gamblers have helped casino and bingo hall firm Rank Group return to profit over the past six months.

The owner of Mecca bingo and Grosvenor Casino said “busy trading” over Christmas and New Year helped it make a profit of £10.4 million in the six months to the end of December.

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It was a big rebound from a £109.1m loss in the same period a year earlier.

CEO John O'Reilly said: “After a very challenging few years for Rank due to a wide range of external macro factors, we are improving our profitability.”

He said Rank is eagerly awaiting government gambling reforms, including an increase in the number of machines allowed on casino floors and the introduction of cashless payments.

It turns out that shucking oysters is an art form.

Of course, the main goal in this high-stakes operation is to prevent gruesome, self-inflicted injuries – and for absolute beginners like me, that starts with scouring YouTube for tutorials from sensible-looking chefs.

Luckily, at the beautifully renovated farmhouse La Reverie, near the village of Gouville-sur-Mer in Normandy's Manche department, you'll find everything you need for a safe introduction to this risky but rewarding activity – including a medieval-looking chainmail glove. and paring knife and, if you need it, some safety instructions from the owner, James, on how to pry open these luscious local delicacies.

Fortunately, there are also plenty of restaurant and market experts who will do the work for you in this seafood-heavy corner of France: the ideal place for a family beach holiday.

One of the great advantages of La Reverie is that it is easily accessible from the ports of Caen and Cherbourg. Our party of four adults and two children crossed on the Brittany Ferries service from Portsmouth early on Saturday morning.

From La Reverie and its sister hotel opposite it is a gentle 10-minute cycle past orchards, fields and charming hamlets to Gouville-sur-Mer with its weekly market and bakeries.

And from there it's just a short distance to expansive, west-facing beaches with endless sand and rock pools – and a coastline dotted with pop-up restaurants and beach bars.

A must visit is La Cale, a rustic wooden hut where – in a somewhat chaotic manner – oysters, huge piles of moules frites and pieces of lamb or sausage are prepared, cooked over a roaring wood fire.

It's the perfect place to watch the sun set with a fresh Muscadet or local cider, while tractors bring in huge loads of freshly harvested shellfish.

Back at La Reverie there is everything you need to cook up a storm in a fantastic kitchen.

The property, carefully renovated by the owner himself and awarded five stars by the French Tourist Board, is located on a quiet country lane with a swimming pool, hot tub, barbecue and outdoor furniture in a charming landscaped garden.

Inside there are modern appliances throughout, luxurious bedrooms and bathrooms and plenty of bicycles, games, books and guides to keep you busy.

The interior is also filled with works of art and quirky antiques.

If the weather doesn't cooperate or for out-of-season visits, there's even a projector to watch films – or just head out for trips to even more markets in nearby Blainville and Coutainville, the old town of Granville, the beautiful Maison du Biscuit (a big hit with the kids because of the tasty free samples) and the local antique center La Clé des Temps.

In our case we enjoyed beautiful weather with trips to the beach, lazy days by the pool, horseback riding in the sand dunes and of course enjoying the region's heavenly gastronomic delights.

The La Manche Tourism Office proudly declares on its website: 'for a stay or forever'.

As our week came to an end, we wished it was the last.

By Ashleigh Gray for Dailymail.Com

Published: 10:04 PM EST, January 18, 2024 | Updated: 10:04 PM EST, January 18, 2024