Winston Churchill News

Edward VIII was bugged by the government during his final days as King, according to official files made public.

Home Secretary Sir John Simon instructed the General Post Office to secretly record the King's telephone calls during the 1936 abdication crisis, papers held in the Cabinet Office for more than seven decades showed.

Wallis Simpson, the King's divorced American mistress, was in France while calls between royal residences and "the continent of Europe" were recorded.

In November 1936, Edward, who had yet to be crowned, told Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin he intended to marry Mrs Simpson. At that time the Church would not remarry a divorcee when their previous partner was still alive.

The King had hoped to survive the crisis but on December 10 1936 he signed the instruments of abdication ending a reign that lasted only 326 days.

Read: Secret papers reveal drunken wartime meeting between Churchill and Stalin

• Royal
• Edward VIII
• National Archives

Executive Director, Banking & Chief Cashier Chris Salmon discusses why the Bank chose Winston Churchill.

He said: “The Bank is privileged to be able to celebrate the significant and enduring contribution Sir Winston Churchill made to the United Kingdom, and beyond.”

• UK
• Winston Churchill
• Bank of England

Our banknotes acknowledge the life and work of great Britons. Sir Winston Churchill was a truly great British leader, orator and writer. Above that, he remains a hero of the entire free world. His energy, courage, eloquence, wit and public service are an inspiration to us all. I am proud to announce that he will appear on our next banknote.

• UK
• Winston Churchill
• Bank of England

The Bank of England has announced plans to put Sir Winston Churchill on the next bank note.

Sir Winston will appear on the reverse of the new £5 note which is expected to start printing in 2016.

The note is expected to feature a portrait of Winston Churchill from a photograph taken in Ottawa by Yousuf Karsh in 1941.

A view of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower from the South Bank looking across Westminster Bridge.

The image of the Elizabeth Tower with the hands of the Great Clock at 3 o’clock – the approximate time on 13 May 1940 when Sir Winston Churchill declared in a speech to the House of Commons: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” This declaration is quoted beneath the portrait.

A background image of the Nobel Prize medal which he was awarded in 1953 for literature, together with the wording of the prize citation.

• Money
• Money
• Winston Churchill

The Royal family have released a film clip from a home video made at Balmoral Castle during the summer of 1952.

The clip, released via their YouTube channel, shows Sir Winston and Lady Churchill with members of the Royal Family, including Queen Elizabeth, and Prince Charles.

The clip will be shown to The Queen's guests at a reception for the British Film Industry.

• Royal
• Winston Churchill
• Queen

A private buyer has paid £129,000 at auction to drive off with a Land Rover owned by Sir Winston Churchill, doubling the estimated price for the vintage vehicle.

ITV Anglia has more details.

• UK
• Winston Churchill
• Land Rover