5 important things happening in the UK today (5 June 2026)

Here are five important things happening in the UK on Friday (5 June 2026):

Andrew sublet cottages

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received private income from subletting three cottages on his Windsor Royal Lodge estate while paying a “peppercorn rent” to the crown estate, a report into royal property arrangements has revealed. The National Audit Office (NAO) review also shows that King Charles pays an “adjusted” rent from his private Duchy of Lancaster income, below open market value, for his disgraced brother’s non-working royal daughters, princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to live in royal palaces. [Guardian]

Bunq eyes UK banking licence

Europe’s second-largest digital bank is gearing up for a bid for a UK banking licence, City AM can reveal, as the firm puts its hat in the ring in the fight to claw market share from fintech leader Revolut. Bunq – which reached 20 million users in just a decade – is understood to be eyeing deeper penetration of the UK market with a full-fat permit, in a move that could end a year-long drought in applications for the licence in Britain. [CityAM]

UK in most dangerous period I’ve known, military chief says

The risks and threats to the UK are greater now than at any time since the Cold War, the head of the military has said. “This is the most dangerous period that I have known,” Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. There have been as many incursions by Russian strategic aircraft into UK airspace in the first five months of this year as in the whole of 2025, he said, warning Russia risks “crossing a line”. [BBC]

Starmer meets with the family of Henry Nowak

Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with the family of Henry Nowak on Thursday afternoon at 10 Downing Street. “There are difficult questions that need to be answered about the way the police handled Henry’s murder. The Independent Office for Police Conduct are investigating. We will be unflinching in taking whatever action is required to right the wrongs in this case,” he said.

Financial news

Brent crude futures traded near $95 per barrel on Friday after losing nearly 3% in the previous session, weighed down by hopes that the US and Iran could still find a diplomatic solution to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. On Friday, Oil was trading lower at $93.14 The pound is trading at $1.34, €1.16, and ¥9.10.