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He's been really classy throughout this. Making his address in English for a rare change was nice (and probably a show of appreciation for how often she spoke French in their presence) and I thought his sign off of "To you, she was your Queen, to us she was The Queen" was beautiful. Makes Truss's "jury's out" comment seem even more tone deaf than it already was. Special mention too for Justin Trudeau, who looked genuinely distraught announcing her death. "She was one of my favourite people in the world."

Partial mobilization and nuclear threats now. I've been pretty sure from the start of this, meaning the 2022 war, not the whole crisis since 2014, that the Russian efforts to absorb Ukraine will fail, but it's going to take 2-3 years and will lead to a lot of sacrifice (the things that count as sacrifice in the civilized West). I mean I didn't know that Zelensky wouldn't flee and survive, but I was at least sure that the West would support partisan uprisings, that there would be a sort of frontline at the Dnjepr River, that slowly but surely Russia would have to retreat. Now, Russia never got as far and it's looking a little easier than I expected (typing as my now somewhat more expensive gas heating is keeping me warm). But now, we reach a new phase. The question is not whether Russia will lose (they eventually will), but how far they will go to prevent the loss. The shortcut would be to only "lose" Putin. But right now, I do feel somewhat uneasy.

American musician and singer, best known as a founding member, vocalist, and lead guitarist of rock band the Four Seasons Tommy DeVito died on this day 2 years ago, aged 92.

Raju Srivastava finally dead.

Holly Willoughby and Phil Schofield are battling to keep their jobs. For Queue Jumping. The queue STRIKES BACK.

On this day in 1974 american novelist Jacqueline Susann died aged 56 from breast cancer. Her most well known novel was the iconic bestseller Valley of the dolls (1966) which was made into a Hollywood Blockbuster the next year starring amongst others Patty Duke, Susan Hayward and Sharon Tate. A story of three women wishing to make it big in the entertainment industry but being propped up and addicted to barbiturates in the process. Other successful novels included The Love Machine (1969) and Once is not enough (1973). Jacqueline was first diagnosed with cancer in 1962 - this time breast cancer. After a full mastectomy she revealed she made a pact with God that if he allowed her to live at least ten years, she would use her time left to show she had the talent, gifts and ability to become a best selling author. Her illness also gave her a sense of urgency to make as much money as possible from her books to secure a good future for her then 16 year old son. Cancer did return in the early 1970s, this time lung cancer, although according to Jacquelines husband there was at the time a big disagreement between doctors if it was a new primary cancer or a secondary one. Sadly this encounter with cancer She was not to survive and Jacqueline died 48 years ago in 1974 aged 56.

Jerry Bruckheimer, the successful American film and television producer behind blockbusters such as "Armageddon", "Beverly Hills Cop", "Con Air", "Pirates of the Caribbean", "The Rock" and "Top Gun", is 79 today. He began a partnership with Don Simpson and the two were named Producers of the Year in 1985 and 1988. Simpson died from an overdose of 21 drugs in 1996. He was only 52 years old. Jerry Bruckheimer continued to produce films alone. Some of his best known television series are "Cold Case", "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Without a Trace". Christian Serratos, American film and television actress of Italian and Mexican descent, who gained great popularity for portraying the character of Rosita Espinosa in AMC's "The Walking Dead" television series, is 32 today. She first appeared in season 4 and Rosita was upped to series regular in season 5.

Legendary American author Stephen King celebrates his 75th birthday today.

Could be a shock end to the game if Nick Clegg is the winning hit!!!

Interesting point. I think this is something generally which led to the Queen’s death. Many of her closest friends (and of course her husband) went on and on for years and years. Over the last 5 years or so the old team started dying off until there were less and less. Being old really is a cunt. Reminds me of my Granda and his drinking buddies. He survived most of them and spent his last couple of years just kicking about the house waiting for the inevitable. Anyway, I think the Queen and the Duke of Kent must have been relatively close as she chose for him to accompany her at he birthday parade at Windsor.

American folk and rock singer-songwriter Jim Croce died on this day 49 years ago, aged 30. Jewish Austrian Holocaust survivor, Nazi hunter, and writer Simon Wiesenthal died on this day 17 years ago, aged 96.

I'm not getting all the arguments about this. They were given priority access. No amount of attempted justification changes that.

One of the greats in all he did. RIP

I think there’s an obit here for Marilyn P. Johnson (wiki), U.S. diplomat, who has died aged 100. Can’t see it cos it’s Euro blocked. Maybe one of our U.S. members can help.

Haakon VII of Norway died on this day 65 years ago, aged 85. Haakon was born as prince Carl of Denmark to the future Frederick VIII. In 1905, after Sweden and Norway broke away from each other, Carl was offered the Norwegian throne- his great-uncle was Oscar II, the king at the time, who decided to rule Sweden. Carl accepted and took the regnal name Haakon VII, and was the first monarch of an independent Norway since 1387. During his reign, Haakon was known for not interfering in parliamentary affairs. In 1940, Nazi Germany invaded, and Haakon denied their attempt to make sympathizer Vidkun Quisling the prime minister. Haakon and his family fled to the UK- attempts by the puppet government to depose Haakon were vetoed by parliament, and Haakon became a symbol of Norwegian resistance by broadcasting speeches to Norway. Haakon returned to Norway after the war's end in 1945. For his efforts, he was gifted a royal yacht in 1947. Haakon suffered a fall that fractured his femur in 1955, and it left him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Haakon grew depressed due to the fact that he was no longer able to do some of the things he was once able to, and his health started to fail. By 1957, crown prince Olav (soon to be king Olav V) began to partake in ceremonial and state affairs- Haakon died a few months later.

On this day in 1999 Raisa Gorbachev, wife of the former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev, died aged 67 from cancer She had suffered health issues since 1991, actually suffering a stroke on her husbands last day in office after a coup attempt forced him from office Gossip had it that she struggled to connect with american first lady Nancy Reagan and their meetings were frosty to put it mildly. They were opposites in so many ways like chalk and cheese. The speculation about their poor relationship gained credibility when it was revealed in a magazine article that a group of US female journalists once took an extended lunch with Nancy Reagan a while before . They felt a bit cheap morally afterwards because they indulged Nancy whilst she sat around for hours slagging of and gossiping about Raisa Gorbachev and being incredibly bitchy about her- this was either when it was known that Raisa was very ill or just after she had died. The female journalists enjoyed hearing the gossip but believed Nancys timing and full on bitchiness was too much, heartless and they felt unease afterwards for partaking in it.

She will die as a queen like Elizabeth. Can't see her give up the throne.

We still have the deaths of two remaining corgis and a pony to keep this thread going…

Shabsa Mashkautsan, WWII Hero of the Soviet Union dead at 98 according to Russian sites. His award description: On April 29, 1945, near Meningsee (near Kummersdorf) in a Berlin suburb, a young sergeant with the 530th Tank Destroyer Regiment carried on a battle with 200 Germans and two self-propelled guns... Twice he changed positions under enemy fire, set fire to one self-propelled gun, then the second, which had come right up to his position. After putting the guns out of commission, Sergeant Mashkautsan began firing at the infantry. As a result he killed 50 soldiers and officers by gunfire and 4 by pistol fire. The enemy hurled its tanks and armored carriers with infantry against this section. Again he opened fire; with two shells Mashkautsan hit a tank and right after that one of the armored carriers. The second armored carrier rolled toward the gun, and when it was 2 meters from it, Mashkautsan hurled a grenade and then, in spite of a contusion, again opened fire on the enemy. More than 200 dead Germans were left in the field."

Finnish composer Jean Sibelius died on this day 65 years ago, aged 91.

My latest avatar

On this day exactly 10 years ago in 2012 , British tabloid journalist and broadcaster Derek Jameson died aged 82.

Novelist Jaswant singh kanwal dead at 100 year: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/punjabi-novelist-and-writer-of-movements-jaswant-singh-kanwal-passes-away/story-aMvpw46KI8X9QERLnKML7M_.html