Today’s birthdays

Mr Pranab Mukherjee, former President of India, is 82; Lord Fellowes, Private Secretary to the Queen, 1990-99, 76; Dame Betty Kershaw, Professor and Dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield, 1999-2006, now Dean Emeritus, 74; the Rev Dr Ralph Waller, Principal of Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, 72; Lord Lansley, former Coalition Government Cabinet Minister, 61; Miss Leslie Evans, Permanent Secretary of the Socttish Government, 59; the Duke of Manchester 55; and Mr Vishy Anand, chess grandmaster, 48.

Today is the anniversary of the passing of the Statute of Westminster in 1931 and the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936.