The Guardian’s picture editors have released their daily selection of photographs for Thursday, 23 July 2026, featuring a Byzantine shipwreck that has yielded gold artefacts and an unusual image of the Prime Minister working behind a pub counter. The collection, drawn from news wires and freelance contributors, provides a visual narrative of events across the UK and abroad.
One of the standout images shows marine archaeologists examining gold coins and jewellery recovered from a Byzantine-era shipwreck discovered off the coast of southern Europe. The find, described by experts as significant for understanding late antique trade routes, has drawn interest from historians and cultural heritage bodies. No official valuation or planned museum display has been announced yet.
In a lighter vein, a photograph captures the Prime Minister pulling pints and serving customers at a traditional pub in a constituency visit. The image, taken during an unannounced stop, has been widely shared on social media, with commentators noting the contrast between high office and hands-on hospitality. Downing Street has not commented on whether the visit was part of a wider engagement strategy.
Other photographs in the selection include scenes from international summits, sporting events, and everyday life across the UK. The Guardian’s picture editors curate the gallery daily, drawing on contributions from agencies such as Reuters, Associated Press, and Getty Images, as well as independent photographers.
For UK readers, the images offer a curated glimpse into global and domestic stories that may not always make the front pages. The Byzantine shipwreck discovery, for instance, underscores the ongoing importance of maritime archaeology in understanding the ancient world, while the pub-serving PM photograph provides a humanising moment in political coverage.