PRESS REVIEW – Friday, 20 February 2026: British newspapers tear into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor following his arrest yesterday. Beyond the front pages, opinion pieces examine the impact of the crisis on the royal family. Elsewhere, an Austrian man has been found guilty after abandoning his girlfriend on the side of a mountain. Finally, The Guardian features a touching story about Kyiv’s zoo and its efforts to care for animals during the war in Ukraine.
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's arrest yesterday is all over the British front pages this morning. The Daily Star headlines with “Taxi for Andy”. The Sun references his infamous interview with Emily Maitlis. The Daily Mail has a historical edition today and discusses Andrew's downfall. The Daily Telegraph says Andrew is the first senior member of the Royal family to be taken into custody in modern history. The Guardian quotes King Charles, who said: “the law must take its course”. The Daily Express points out that it happened to be Andrew’s 66th Birthday.
Beyond the headlines, a number of analysis pieces react to the arrest. The Times calls it the worst constitutional crisis in a century. An opinion piece in the Guardian says that "Andrew is entering a new era, and so is Britain". The Daily Express meanwhile says that this is an opportunity for the royals to come out stronger. Alongside the commentary, several papers – including The Independent, The Guardian and The Times – feature striking political cartoons.
Elsewhere in the press, the world of mountaineering has been rocked by a legal case in Austria. The New York Times reports that an Austrian man has been found guilty in the death of his girlfriend after abandoning her on Austria’s highest mountain. He has now been found guilty for “gross negligent manslaughter” and given a suspended sentence of five months in prison.
Finally, the Guardian features a moving report from Kyiv’s zoo, highlighting how staff continue to care for the animals despite the war in Ukraine.
You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.
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