We've stood with you through war, revolutions and recessions - and we always will

Today marks a remarkable milestone in British journalism: For more than a century, through wars, recessions, political revolutions and massive cultural shifts, the Express has remained a steady presence: helping inform and shape the nation it was founded to serve. It has campaigned, exposed, entertained and, above all, championed the people of Britain, whether they read it or not.

The paper was founded in 1900 by - an extraordinary man of vision who had already launched the blockbuster Pearson's Weekly by the age of 33. Determined to break from the stale traditions of the time, he created a patriotic daily that became the first to put real news - urgent, important, and relevant - on the front page of a British newspaper, replacing the usual wall of advertisements. He also pioneered coverage and features aimed at women, setting a new standard for what a popular paper could be.

Pearson's own story is one of courage and resolve. As he began to lose his sight due to glaucoma, he was forced to step back but turned his efforts instead to philanthropy, founding the St Dunstan's Trust (now Blind Veterans UK) to support servicemen blinded by war. His commitment to remains one of the founding values of the Express.

In 1916, took the reins and turned the Express into a national powerhouse. Mercurial, ambitious, and brilliantly combative, Beaverbrook revolutionised the paper. He expanded its reach, brought in literary titans like H.G. Wells and Barbara Cartland, and created one of Fleet Street's most iconic symbols: the crusader in chainmail, sword aloft - a visual statement of our mission to fight for truth and justice.

But he didn't just change headlines - he changed the way the paper thought. In 1918, he launched the , and in the years that followed came a flurry of firsts: Rupert Bear in 1920, the UK's first crossword puzzle in 1924, and the first horoscopes in a national paper by 1930. Readers didn't just turn to us for news, they came for perspective, personality and heart.

The Express has always been there for the big moments. In 1931, Berlin correspondent Sefton Delmer secured the first British interview with . In 1944, reporter Alan Wood parachuted into Arnhem to cover Operation Market Garden. But we haven't just covered history - we've helped make it.

From campaigning for Empire Free Trade in the 1930s to backing Brexit long before it became fashionable, the Express has always stood firmly for British sovereignty. We were the only national paper to back a 'No' vote in the 1975 EEC referendum, and we stood strong against the Maastricht Treaty in 1992. In 2016, we led the charge for Leave, never once wavering in our belief in the British people.

And we're still leading the fight today. Our campaign to make cystic fibrosis drugs available on the NHS has already contributed to an eight-year rise in life expectancy for those with the condition. We've stood up for pensioners by defending the Triple Lock and Winter Fuel Allowance. We've campaigned for British farmers, championed our Buy British initiative, and led the national debate on assisted dying - leading to a historic vote in Parliament.

We've also never been afraid to show the lighter side of power. From Boris Johnson getting stuck on a zipwire to Liz Truss's brief stint as Prime Minister, the Express has had a front-row seat to the theatre of British politics. And we've always known how to report it - with clarity, colour and a knowing wink.

At its core, the Express remains grounded in serious, high-quality journalism. From Chapman Pincher's Cold War scoops to Jean Rook's fearless columns, from Ross Benson's sharp foreign reporting to unmatched interviews, this paper has launched and nurtured some of Britain's finest writers.

And on a personal note, it's where I found my voice. The Express gave me my first real opportunity to spread my wings. Becoming a columnist for a national newspaper at the age of 27 remains the greatest honour of my life.

It has allowed me to question, to campaign, and to stand up for the values I - and so many of our readers - hold dear: hard work, decency, tradition, and freedom. In an age of fast-moving, fragmented journalism and falling attention spans, the Daily Express continues to stand as a beacon of purpose.

Our digital reach is growing year on year, but our mission hasn't changed. We campaign. We champion. We hold power to account. And we back Britain.

Here's to the next 125 years of the Daily Express. And the best, without doubt, is yet to come.