In a year marked by both celebration and solemn reflection, a collection of ten powerful photographs curated by Daily Mirror photographers has come to define the story of 2025 in the United Kingdom. The images, selected exclusively for the Mirror, span the emotional spectrum from national triumph to profound historical remembrance and social tension.
A Year Captured in Frame: Joy and Reflection
The adage that a picture speaks a thousand words is vividly brought to life in this series. It showcases moments of pure elation, such as the England Lionesses' historic victory over Spain in the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 final in Basel, Switzerland, captured by photographer Andy Stenning. This joy stands in stark contrast to a deeply moving portrait of 94-year-old Mala Tribich, taken by Phil Coburn. Mala Tribich was the only British Holocaust survivor to attend the 80th anniversary commemorations of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, a poignant reminder of a past that must never be forgotten.
Patriotism soared in May, as Jonathan Buckmaster's lens captured the RAF Red Arrows painting the sky over The Mall during the flypast for the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Yet, a different side of the national conversation was revealed in Tim Merry's shot of protesters clashing with police outside the Bell Hotel in Epping in July, where migrants were being housed, illustrating ongoing social divisions.
National Treasures and Global Stories
Among the most warmly received images are those of beloved national figures captured in positive moments. A radiant Princess of Wales was photographed smiling in April at the Ardura Community Forest on the Isle of Mull by Ian Vogler. She was there with Prince William, joining children for an outdoor learning session to champion the importance of protecting the natural environment.
Similarly, former England football star Paul Gascoigne, who has faced well-documented personal struggles, was pictured by Rowan Griffiths looking healthy and happy ahead of the October release of his new autobiography. The collection also reaches beyond UK shores, featuring Humphrey Nemar's image of children in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, highlighting the work of the UK charity 'Malaria No More' in partnership with local scientists at the Ifakara Institute.
Drama, Crime, and the Power of Nature
The year's news was also shaped by moments of sudden drama and ongoing criminal investigations. A shocking photograph by Andy Commins shows the aftermath of a major multi-vehicle police crash near Denton, Newcastle, which sent five people to hospital. In Germany, Phil Harris captured the moment Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner was escorted by police from a hideout in Neumunster after his address was leaked online, sparking protests from neighbours.
Finally, the raw power of the British weather was immortalised by Adam Gerrard in a dramatic January shot of waves battering Newhaven Harbour in East Sussex, crashing higher than the lighthouse itself. Together, these ten frames from Mirror photographers compose a nuanced and unforgettable visual narrative of a year that touched every corner of British life and beyond.
