We have put together a round-up of all the latest news, weather, and travel information for Thursday, April 21, that will get you caught up and ready for the day as the Queen marks her 96th birthday. The nonagenarian mother-of-four, grandmother-of-eight and great-grandmother-of-12 has been active in public life for more than seven decades and will also be marking her Platinum Jubliee later this year.
It is understood that the Queen has returned to Sandringham for a "mini-break" that will allow her to be "as close as possible" to her late husband Prince Philip on her birthday. While experiencing some ill-health during more recent years, the Queen has only missed official engagements following doctors' orders.
Earlier this year the Queen tested positive for Covid and her spokesperson said she was experiencing mild cold-like symptoms. The Queen later said it left her “very tired and exhausted”, as she sympathised with a former virus patient who lost his brother and father to the illness.
Despite this, following a recent visit with Her Majesty, her grandson Prince Harry said she was "on great form". The Duke of Sussex told NBC's Today show: "Being with her it was great, it was just so nice to see her, she's on great form. She's always got a great sense of humour with me and I'm just making sure that she's protected and got the right people around her. Both Meghan and I had tea with her, so it was really nice to catch up with her."
Several birthday tributes have already been shared this morning, including a limited edition Queen doll. The Queen Elizabeth II Barbie, to mark her Platinum Jubilee, will be released today and promises to be "instantly recognisable", fitted with an elegant ivory gown and blue ribbon adorned with decorations of order.
It will also feature a tiara modelled on Queen Mary's fringe tiara, which the Queen wore on her own wedding day. The pink ribbon on the doll imitates one given to the Queen by her father George VI, and the pale blue imitates one from her grandfather George V.
The doll will be part of Barbie's Tribute Collection, which was launched last year in celebration of "visionary individuals with an outstanding impact and legacy within society". The Queen will mark her birthday twice this year, as per a tradition set by her father, the late King George. He started the second celebration due to his November birthday, wishing to celebrate it in the summer months and therefore combining it with the Trooping of the Colour.
Wales news headlines
Man dies after emergency services incident at Brecon Beacons
A man in his seventies has died at Brecon Beacons this afternoon after he is understood to have collapsed.
Wales Air Ambulance landed near Corn Du this afternoon - which is a summit of the twin topped Pen y Fan and the second highest peak in south Wales - to treat the pensioner. The police, Welsh Ambulance Service and a mountain rescue team also attended the incident.
Police said despite the efforts of the public and paramedics, the man tragically passed away. A statement from Dyfed-Powys Police read: “We were called to a medical emergency on the Corn Du path, near the Tommy Jones memorial, in Storey Arms at around 2.30pm today (April 20). Unfortunately, despite the efforts of members of the public and medics, a man in his 70s died at the scene.”
A Welsh Ambulance spokeswoman added: “We were called today at 2.21pm to an incident in the Brecon Beacons. We sent one emergency ambulance, one rapid response vehicle and we were supported by the Wales Air Ambulance.”
Brothers kicked mans head and body during fight at pub
Two "blind drunk" brothers kicked a man's head and body as he lay on the ground following a row in a pub.
CCTV footage showed Lloyd Williams was knocked unconscious in Newport city centre in the early hours of May 25 last year as Ryan and Nicholas Widdows beat him up with the help of another man. The brothers appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday after admitting causing actual bodily harm to Mr Williams, whose nose was broken and face left with a footprint mark.
Judge Daniel Williams said there had been "some sort of incident" in the Cross Keys pub on Market Street which then "spilled outside". Lloyd Williams emerged from the pub and was walking nearby at 12.22am with his sister when they approached Nicholas Widdows, 30, and Ryan, 26.
Judge Williams said: "Lloyd Williams punched you twice, Nicholas, causing you to fall backwards. You, Ryan, reacted by lunging at Lloyd but you in turn were floored by him. It was a cowardly punch by a man named Cory, who for reasons not explained to the court has not been charged, that put Lloyd to the ground.
"The three of you set about assaulting him while he was on the ground. One of the kicks resulted in Lloyd being knocked unconscious. Too many times I have seen videos like that which have resulted in death."
Ryan Widdows, of Stanford Road, admitted the assault when arrested. His brother, of Bishton Street, initially denied it but accepted his role once he saw the CCTV. Nicholas Widdows has no previous convictions while Ryan has two for driving offences.
Judge Daniel Williams said he hoped the defendants appreciated that similar attacks have caused people to die. He said they had been "blind drunk" and attacked a man who was "completely defenceless" on the ground. The judge told them: "I'm not sending either of you straight into prison but you got close to it."
Each defendant received a six-month prison term suspended for 12 months, 150 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity days. They must each pay £210 in prosecution costs and a £128 victim services surcharge. Read the full story here.
Today's forecast
Some warm sunshine today, but cooler and cloudier tomorrow. The report from the Met Office says: "A chilly start to the day, but any patchy mist soon dispersing leaving another fine day with some sunshine. Possibly turning somewhat cloudier at times during the afternoon but feeling pleasantly warm despite a slightly stronger breeze than yesterday. Maximum temperature 19°C.
"Remaining fine through this evening and into the overnight period. Patchy low cloud may develop through the early hours, but staying largely dry. Becoming chilly, with patchy grass frost possible. Minimum temperature 1°C."
Here is how the roads and rail are affected at 7am
A483, Carmarthenshire - Traffic problem on the A483 eastbound at M4, Pont Abraham Roundabout.
National news headlines
Government to try delaying vote on inquiry into whether Prime Minister lied to Parliament
The Government will attempt to delay a vote on a probe into whether Boris Johnson misled Parliament over partygate, after the Prime Minister suggested the scandal matters little to voters. Mr Johnson will be on an official trip to India when a Labour-led motion calling for a parliamentary investigation into whether he lied to the Commons takes place on Thursday.
The PM tried to avoid discussing partygate on the flight to Gujarat, as he vowed to fight the next election no matter how many times he is fined for breaching Covid laws. The Government has tabled an amendment to defer the vote on the Commons inquiry until the Metropolitan Police's own probe into lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street and Whitehall has concluded, and the Sue Gray report has been published.
This will allow MPs "to have all the facts at their disposal" when they make a decision, it said. It is understood that all Tory MPs are being whipped to support the amendment.
But former Conservative minister Andrew Mitchell suggested on Wednesday evening that the PM could be referred to the Privileges Committee without a vote. He told ITV's Peston programme: "I don't think there will be a vote tomorrow. I think the House of Commons will agree to refer it to the Privileges Committee.
"I shan't be there - quite a lot of my colleagues are heading off either tonight or tomorrow morning to their constituency. We expect this matter to be referred to the Privileges Committee, and I think the Government will go along with it.
"After all, if you look down the years, references to the Privileges Committee have normally gone through on the nod." A Labour source claimed that any Conservative supporting the amendment would be "voting for a cover up".
United Nations name David Attenborough Champion of the Earth
The UN's Environment Programme (UNEP) has named Sir David Attenborough a Champion of the Earth. The award is in recognition of the environmentalist's commitment to sharing stories about the natural world and climate change, according to the BBC.
In comments carried by the broadcaster, Sir David urged action to prevent further destruction of the planet. "Fifty years ago, whales were on the very edge of extinction worldwide. Then people got together and now there are more whales in the sea than any living human being has ever seen," the 95-year-old said.
"We know what the problems are and we know how to solve them. All we lack is unified action." UNEP executive director Inger Anderson paid tribute to Sir David, saying: "If we stand a chance of averting climate and biodiversity breakdowns and cleaning up polluted ecosystems, it's because millions of us fell in love with the planet that he captured on film and writing, in his voice."
Previous recipients of the award include Barbados prime minister Mia Mottley and charity SeaWomen of Melanesia. Ahead of last year's Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow, Sir David called for "bold action" and support for local communities and landowners so they can create connected wild places on land and at sea to protect humanity.
Sport headlines
Cost of Wales' Six Nations tickets soar again
Wales rugby fans wanting to watch Wayne Pivac's men in action at the 2023 Six Nations face forking out up to £130 each, marking the most expensive Wales tickets in history.
Fixtures and ticket details for next year's tournament have been announced, with Pivac's men hosting Ireland on February 4 and England on February 25 in Cardiff and playing all their matches in Saturday afternoon slots. The controversial Friday night slot has been ditched for 2023.
The Welsh Rugby Union has decreased prices for the Principality Stadium's alcohol-free zone (£80 for Ireland and £90 for England) while entry-level tickets remain frozen at £40, but prices have risen in some categories and go as high as £130 for the top-priced tickets to watch Wales v England.
The full range of prices for the first round meeting with Ireland is £40, £80, £105, £110 and £120, and for the third-round meeting with England, prices start at £40 and move through to £90, £115, £120 and £130. It comes after tickets for Wales' home Six Nations games in 2022 became the most expensive, priced at £115 for the top tickets after an increase of £10 across three ticket categories as a direct reflection of financial pressure caused by the Covid pandemic.
Before that, the most expensive Wales Six Nations tickets had been the £110 tickets to watch Wales' bouts with England and Ireland during a Grand Slam-winning campaign in 2019. WRU chief executive Steve Phillips has pointed to Wales' whole fixture list next season and the varying price tags which would allow fans to watch Wales without having to pay for top-priced tickets.
He said: "It is vitally important to note that all proceeds from Welsh international tickets are fed directly back into the game in Wales. Whilst price increases have been necessary for some of our highest demand fixtures, we have also taken care to ensure Wales matches are as generally accessible as ever, with a price point and customer offering to cater for as wide an audience as possible across our full 2022/23 fixture list. A family of four will be able to watch our autumn match with Georgia for just £30 or all four family members could see Wales take on the All Blacks for a total of £120."
Cardiff City to sign up to 15 new players in transfer window amid meetings with Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea
Cardiff City's summer promises to be an exciting ride, from an onlooker's perspective. The door will be revolving in and out so much that next season's starting XI will bear little to no resemblance to the one which started this campaign.
Given how this season began, many will view that as a positive. Things need freshening up and the upcoming window presents Cardiff with the biggest opportunity they have had in quite some time to do just that.
As a minimum, it is understood the club is looking to bring in 10 players. Should more players leave, it could be as many as 15. That is the size of the task at hand, but it is one that the club view as an opportunity to change their future for the better.
Cardiff have been hamstrung by exorbitant wages, lengthy contracts and dwindling player values for too long and the next few months will go some way to trying to alter that and drag up both the club's value and their positioning in the Championship table.
There are 10 first-team players out of contract in June. The club are keen to keep hold of Joe Ralls, while talks are still ongoing regarding Sean Morrison's future. As for the other eight, well, it could be that they all leave for pastures new.
There has been talk in some circles of a wage cap being implemented at Cardiff from next season onwards, but it is understood they are working on an average wage structure. There is a figure Cardiff want all their first-team players' contracts to average out at, meaning if one player is offered a particularly high wage then it would affect the players on the lower end of the scale, with less scope to offer them more money.
That is the sort of predicament Cardiff find themselves in at the minute as they look to slash outgoings on wages. It looks likely that the wages of Ciaron Brown, Isaac Vassell, Alex Smithies, Aden Flint, Will Vaulks, Josh Murphy, Leandro Bacuna and Marlon Pack - all of whom were signed by Neil Warnock on largely favourable terms - will be off the bill come the end of the season.
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