It is with a massive amount of sadness that I say goodbye to my “baby beak”: Cheekers the cockatiel.

Many of you have seen her picture on the Help page of my website. She is listed as my ‘secretary’ who helps me with all of my email. Cheekers could also be heard inserting her opinion in the background of many of my podcasts at RoyaltyNow!.

She was a good little friend who is sorely missed. My other two buddies, Percy and Feathers, will miss her, too.

For anyone who has female birds: get them checked regularly to prevent the possibility of egg binding. Egg binding is the inability of a female bird (hen) to pass a developed or partially developed egg. The inability to pass the egg quickly could result in the death of the hen.

Even if your bird has been laying eggs just fine, keep in mind that egg-laying could pose just as many complications for a bird as any human pregnancy. It’s a big deal for one’s body to go through, so keep an eye on your little hen.

I offer my prayers to those in Appeldoorn today who were injured, and to the families of those who died.

This senseless destruction of human life is such a tragedy. Even “tragedy” doesn’t cover it. It’s something that can’t even be expressed by words.

The children of the crowds were so happy and excited to see the Dutch royal family pass by, and the weather was incredibly beautiful. People were just hanging out enjoying themselves, and then this happened.

Sad, sad day.

Queen Beatrix offers her condolences: http://tinyurl.com/c7qxz8

I wanted to take a moment to express my sympathies with the people of Australia.

The fires were out of control. No one knew how they started or where it would all end.

Now the fire is out, and the news is that they were started on purpose. The arsonist is now in custody, and for his protection he will not be named.

You know what I think? I think the Queen’s Commonwealth should release his name. Someone who has purposefully put lives in danger – both human and animal – does not deserve protection. Like pedophiles.

Then come to find out that this arsonist had child pornography. Dual disgust! Now I really feel that it is absolutely vital that he be named. People who are a threat to normal, peaceful society should be known. If they don’t want the consequences, they shouldn’t act like vile scum.

Simple.

That, and I want to see the Queen bean someone with her sceptre. That’s how justice should be meted out in Her Majesty’s realms.

Lady Katharine Brandram, daughter of Queen Sophie of Greece and the last great-grand- daughter of Queen Victoria, has died.

Lady Katherine Brandram, born Princess Katherine of Greece and Denmark, was born on May 4, 1913. She died on October 2, 2007, aged 94. Lady Katherine is survived by her son, Paul, born in 1948, and her three grandchildren.

Those poor Princes.

Things must be so difficult right now as photos of their mother’s final moments have been released to the public. William and Harry won’t be able to make a move without seeing them on the front of newspapers everywhere, having to be constantly reminded of such a sad event.

The photo shot from the front of the car is very chilling. Trevor Rees-Jones looks hunted, Henri Paul looks shocked, and Diana is turned away, looking out of the back window and wondering when the pursuit will end.

You know that five minutes later they, along with Dodi Fayed, will be no more. Rees-Jones will be the only one to survive but with a face smashed beyond recognition; the sleek car in which they comfortably travel will soon become a twisted mangle of metal; families shattered, and a country plunged into turmoil.

Even Mohammed Fayed has to know in his heart that the Royal Family could not have orchestrated such a catastrophe. I do not believe his accusations for one moment, but I do feel sorry for him in the loss of his son. I sympathize with his grief.

The Queen and Prince Philip, who did not understand Diana, still tried to help her and love their grandsons without question. Why would they want such harm to befall her that would undoubtably affect their grandchildren’s lives?

As I have said before, Fayed is just angry that he was caught bribing MPs and is not allowed British citizenship. He is taking it out on an easy target, simply because the Duke is well-known for his comical colonial remarks. Fayed’s unfounded accusations are also dangerous for Arab-Western relations and completely unfair. If it did turn out that future King William had an Egyptian half-sibling through his mother’s relationship with Dodi Fayed, what’s the problem? That child would not be sovereign, William would. May I note, also, that King Abdullah II of Jordan, who is a monarch, is half Jordanian and half English, and he is a remarkable man who has helped bridge a lot of differences.

People need to look at the whole picture. I hope that this inquest will end things sooner rather than later.

I always remember how absolutely soaked Diana and Charles were after an open-air concert when they met Pavarotti. You could tell nothing could dampen Charles’ spirits as he met the world’s greatest tenor. Pavarotti was a true gem.

He will be missed. A huge loss to the opera world.

I am so sad and distressed over the bridge collapse in Minnesota. This is such a terrible thing to happen, and I pray for the people and their families.