The first British deaths of Vladimir Putin’s murderous assault on Ukraine is another dangerous twist in this escalating war.
Families and friends will mourn the three ex-special forces troops feared killed in a missile bombardment near the Polish border.
They travelled to Ukraine to join what many consider a noble international cause – Putin the aggressor, and defiant Volodymyr Zelensky the inspirational leader of the free world.
Yet it needs to be restated that any Briton going to Ukraine is not only risking their lives but breaking the law.
It is illegal, however legitimate the cause may be considered.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, a former Army officer, urges Britons not to go and quashed Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who foolishly declared she would encourage them to go before humiliatingly backtracking.
Those killed had military training but others heading for or in Ukraine do not.
War is not a video game or film. It is a deadly conflict.
Duty Queen
When the Commonwealth is so close to the heart of a Queen who is its head, missing yesterday’s annual service in Westminster Abbey will have hurt the monarch more than anybody.
She has served our country with distinction for 70 years and the general public understand that at 95 she must pace herself and permit other royals to take more of the strain.
We will become familiar over the next few years with the Queen being present in spirit rather than physically at events she attended for decades.
Let us all hope she is well enough to enjoy the pomp, ceremony and fun of June’s Platinum Jubilee long weekend because she deserves it.
Sweet Waffle
Toy poodle Waffle stole the show at Crufts despite making a mess of the parade.
Mishaps are no barrier to success for our four-legged friends when it comes to winning the hearts of two-legged humans.
