One interesting thing that’s come to my attention as the emails fly back and forth across the Atlantic is that there was no suggestion as far as I can see that the England-Australia cricket match that went on today should be canceled. The contrast with the death of Princess Diana is striking: football matches were canceled up and down the country. Today, there has been no maudlin sentimentality displayed at all. Blair’s upper lip has been firm where when Diana died it was famously aquiver. It will be interesting to see if mounds of flowers and teddy bears spring up at the crime scenes or whether rather more respect is paid. If the flowers fail to mount up, then it could be the sign that the “Diana era” is over and Britain is returning to normal.

For the record, England beat Australia emphatically, by nine wickets.