Normally I manage to more or less ignore the fact that I live in a monarchy, and that the royal family aren't just another set of celebrities who I couldn't care less about but who get a lot of press coverage. Unfortunately, royal deaths are guaranteed to shatter that illusion, as the BBC suddenly drops all of its normal programming in favour of solemn music and tribute programmes to reflect a non-existent mood of national mourning. I'm sure it's sad for his family, but personally I find it hard to feel much emotion at all about the death of a 99-year-old man who I had no connection to or interest in in life. I was sadder about the death, announced yesterday, of a former Big Brother contestant at 38, from anorexia; I may not have had any idea of who she was before that, but 38 is far too young.

It also appears that the government is supposed to shut down until after the funeral, as a mark of respect, which is really annoying when we're waiting for an announcement about when (or if) students on non-practical courses can return to university...