A blind art student from Dagenham has won the People's Choice Award at the first ever Cass Art Prize.
Ruqaiya Asim's winning piece Communication With My Guide Dog is inspired by the trust she and her working dog Bertie share together.
She spoke to Carys about her art.
Queen Mother and Red Arrows feature on new Royal Mint coin designs for 2025.
Two 50p coins have been created to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first Red Arrows display, and to commemorate those who played a pivotal role in the Second World War.
And two £2 new coin designs will celebrate 200 years of the modern railway and the founding of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.
Carys Ladd takes a look back at the most promising healthcare research to come out of 2024, with London being a hub for these developments.
From a vaccine to treat ovarian cancer to the first person in the UK to receive new, ground-breaking therapy to treat Lupus in London.
Find out more on London Live at 6pm tonight.
Brydie Monaghan looks at the London filmmakers who made a mark in 2024 and how their films were received on the British and International stage.
From the talent nominated at the BFI London film festival to the Londoners that made this years BAFTA Breakthrough list.
Make sure to tune in at 6pm tonight on London Live.
The King has used his #Christmas address to pay tribute to the “selfless” doctors and nurses who provided “strength, care and comfort” during cancer treatment for himself and the #PrincessofWales
In his annual message to the nation and Commonwealth, #KingCharles offered his “heartfelt thanks” to the medical teams who supported him and his family “through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness”.
The broadcast, produced this year by Sky News, ended with the choir Inner Voices singing the carol Once In Royal David’s City.
Royals depart the #ChristmasDay morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk.
Members of the royal family who walked to the service were greeted at the foot of the steps to the church by the Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams.
They then headed inside and the national anthem was sung before the first hymn, O Come, All Ye Faithful.
#Royals #KingCharles #QueenCamilla #PrinceWilliam #PrincessKate #PrincessAnne #PrinceEdward
Shoppers cheered retailers with a last-minute spree on #ChristmasEve after a lacklustre festive season.
Footfall was up by 31.1% across all UK retail destinations up until noon on Tuesday compared with Christmas Eve last year, MRI Software said, although that was a Sunday with shorter shopping hours.
Shopping centres were particularly busy, with visitor levels up 42.2% to noon on last December 24, while high streets saw a 29.1% increase and visits to retail parks were up 23.7%.
Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, said: “While many have taken to the shops this morning, this may well be the last splurge before a big spending freeze sets in in the new year for consumers, meaning that retailers should be taking heed of these trends to plan accordingly for a challenging start to 2025.”
Earlier, MRI reported that high street footfall was 5.3% lower on 23 December than the same day last year.
Retailers had hoped for a long-awaited sales bonanza on Monday – expected to be this year’s peak Christmas shopping day – and footfall surged by 28.5% across all UK retail destinations compared with the week before.
Visits to shopping centres were up 45.5% on last week and retail parks saw a 31.1% increase as consumers sought last-minute gifts and entertained children.
High streets also saw an 1.8% week-on-week increase in visitors.
However, MRI said the year-on-year 5.3% drop in footfall on the high street suggested the cost of living was still affecting many families.
This was also reflected in “modest” year-on-year rises in shopping centres and retail parks of 1.4% and 4.9% respectively.
MRI Software’s recent Consumer Pulse report found 51% of consumers were concerned about the rising cost of living over the next six months, driven by higher energy and housing costs during the winter.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned of a January spending squeeze.
BRC-Opinium figures suggest public confidence in the economy fell
Merry Christmas!
We opened the last box of our advent calendars today.
Have you opened yours?
Advent calendars: Fortnum & Mason Grind Charlotte Tilbury
Joe Wicks spoke while volunteering at a central London hotel yesterday to help open Crisis' #Christmas services in central.
The charity's CEO Matt Downie revealed that this year's Christmas appeal involves over 4000 volunteers and along with Crisis' staff, they will help around 6000 people across the country over the next few weeks.
#JoeWicks #Crisis #ChristmasEve
Ellie Goulding volunteered at a central London hotel yesterday to help open Crisis' Christmas services, as the charity sees unprecedented demand to support people rough sleeping.
The charity's CEO Matt Downie revealed that this year's #Christmas appeal involves over 4000 volunteers and along with Crisis' staff, they will help around 6000 people across the country over the next few weeks.
#Crisis #EllieGoulding #ChristmasEve
Simon Anderson looks at some of the key headlines and events that affected Londoners over the past 12 months.
From Sadiq Khan's historic win as Mayor of London for the third time, to how Londoners reacted to a landslide Labour victory and a change of government.
A lookback at the highs and lows that sum up 2024 in London.
Watch at 6pm tonight on London Live.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said #Christmas was a time to reflect on “all that’s happened in the year” and “support all of those people who need our assistance” during her Christmas message.
#ChristmasEve
