THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
APRIL 26, 1957: The BBC TV series The Sky At Night, presented by Patrick Moore, was first screened.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: A life-sized bust of the King made from more than 17 litres of melted Celebrations chocolates amid the build-up to the coronation, by chocolatier Jennifer Lindsey-Clarke, was unveiled.
APRIL 27, 1828: The London Zoological Gardens in Regent’s Park were opened. APRIL 28, 1945: Benito Mussolini and his mistress Claretta Petacci were executed by Italian partisans and their bodies hung in a square in Milan.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: The King and Queen Consort would use two coaches on their coronation day – the modern Diamond Jubilee State Coach and the 260-year-old Gold State Coach – it was announced.
APRIL 29, 1980: Film director Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense, died aged 80.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Official documents about a £1.3 billion Royal Navy “hunter killer” submarine were reportedly found in the toilets of a Wetherspoons pub in Cumbria.
APRIL 30, 1975: The Vietnam War ended when the South Vietnam Government surrendered to North Vietnam. Fighting had continued despite the signing of peace treaties in 1973.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Royal fans had set up a camp outside Buckingham Palace, a week before the King’s coronation.