'Iran's missiles can now reach London' and 'Tell us what you know, Fergie'

22 Mar 2026, 07:42

Several papers are leading on the Israeli claim that Iran has developed ballistic missiles that could be capable of striking London. The Sunday edition of the Telegraph quoted the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) saying the "Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat" and pointed to Iran's attempted attack on a US-UK military base in Diego Garcia earlier this week as evidence that it could now hit London, Paris and Berlin. The paper notes that the British public were not immediately informed of the attempted strike "despite the significance".BBC

The Sunday Times makes a similar observation, and it has been told by military and intelligence sources that the two missiles launched at Diego Garcia from some 4,000km away were a "warning message to Europe". The paper notes that it is unclear whether Iran possesses a missile capable to travelling the full distance to Diego Garcia.

"Dithering UK shunned over defence deals" reads the Sunday Express, after sources from British and European drone manufacturers told the paper that they have diverted resources to other markets due to a "lack of demand and urgency" at the UK's Ministry of Defence.

Pressure is mounting on Sarah Ferguson to give sworn evidence about Jeffrey Epstein, according to the Mirror. It reports that US lawmakers are urging the former duchess to testify following the arrest of her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in February over his association with the late financier. There is no legal mechanism to compel Ferguson to testify in the US.

Sarah Ferguson also leads the Mail on Sunday, which declares that she was "involved in talks" to clone Queen Elizabeth II's corgis for a reality television programme.

A pixellated photograph of television personalities Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks sharing a kiss is splashed across the front page of the Sun.

The Star claims British nightlife could be saved by an unlikely candidate: OAPs. Research has found that over-65s are more likely to go out to pubs and venues than Gen Z, the paper says.

The Sunday Telegraph leads with the claim from Israel that Iranian missiles could now "reach London" after missiles were fired at the British base on Diego Garcia. It questions why details of that attack weren't released sooner – with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accusing ministers of a "cover up". Meanwhile, the Reform UK leader Nigel Farage tells the paper that the government's deal to hand the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is "finito, gone, done".

The Observer looks ahead to a speech from the Attorney General Lord Hermer in which it expects him to defend the "rules-based world order". It says he'll also reiterate the UK's support for Nato, despite US President Trump branding the military alliance's members as "cowards" for not helping reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The UK is being shunned by defence firms due to the government's "dithering" over investing in the armed forces, claims the Sunday Express. It says companies are now looking to other markets because of a lack of "urgency" from the Ministry of Defence.

The Sunday Times reports that Reform UK's treasurer, Nick Candy, met several people who are subject to international sanctions while on a trip to Nicaragua last week. They include the son of the country's co-presidents, who is sanctioned by the US and EU. Candy's chief of staff told the paper that he'd attended the meetings in his capacity as a "businessman" and not relation to any political activity.

The front page of the Mail on Sunday says Sarah Ferguson was considering cloning the late Queen's corgis in 2023 for a US reality TV programme. The replicas of the two dogs, Muick and Sandy, would then have been sold to other "dog lovers", says the Mail, which describes it as a "tasteless" attempt by the former Duchess of York to cash in on her royal status. A spokesman for Ferguson said she never had any intention of monetising the corgis.

Pubs and clubs have the over-65s to thank for their success, according to the Daily Star on Sunday. The paper says a study has found that age group is now more likely to go on a night out than young adults. It's almost as if OAPs have "one foot in the rave" claims the paper.