The Banqueting House

At a reception this evening at the Banqueting House in Whitehall. As someone described it: the height of modernity in 1620. It has a wonderful ceiling by Rubens.

London is battening down against the risk of protests at the G8 meetings in the coming days. There are police and police horses everywhere.

Sad to hear today of the deaths of champion racehorse trainer Henry Cecil and BBC Radio announcer Rory Morrison; both stars of their respective professions.