The case of the fake aristocrat
The week's news at a glance.
London
A man who assumed the identity of a dead baby 23 years ago was sentenced this week to nearly two years in jail for identity theft. The man, who had been living in Switzerland, was arrested in Britain earlier this year for traveling on a false passport. He claimed his name was Christopher Buckingham and often referred to himself as Lord Buckingham—a title that the Royal College of Arms said is currently not in use. Police determined that the real Christopher Buckingham died as an infant in 1963. They still don’t know who the jailed man really is. Detectives said they believe he is “hiding some dark secret.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
What's the best time of year to buy a house?
The Explainer There are pros and cons to each season
-
Africa's largest dam is making diplomatic waves
Under the Radar Ethiopians view using the Nile as a 'sovereign right' but the vast hydroelectric project has 'fuelled nationalist fervour' in Egypt and Sudan
-
Jessica Francis Kane's 6 favorite books that prove less is more
Feature The author recommends works by Penelope Fitzgerald, Marie-Helene Bertino, and more