At Christie's next week, 158 exquisite watercolours of Asian birds go on sale - the basis of a book that took 34 years to compile. Geraldine Norman on a unique scientific record

Crisis at Greenwich: Multi-million pound project could be scrapped without National Lottery Memorial Fund backing

Palace raises pounds 3m

Buckingham Palace heads a list of Britain's top heritage sites condemned for offering shoddy service and poor value for money in a Consumers' Association report published today.

Eton College now occupies an unassailable position in British education, but it was almost closed not long after it was opened. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI to provide free education for 70 King's Scholars but in 1461 Henry was deposed by Edward IV. Parliament annulled all land grants made by the previous regime and according to legend it was only through the intervention of Edward's mistress, Jane Shore, that some of the school's property was released and the school saved.

'The royal household has achieved substantial savings for the taxpayer'

CULTURE AND CONSENSUS: England, Art and Politics Since 1940 by Robert Hewison, Methuen pounds 20

FOR obvious reasons, the Captain has nothing against titles. Life would be dull indeed robbed of the prospect of Sir Cliff. Or, for that matter, Jamie Blandford as the Duke of Marlborough. Besides, Mr Moonlight sounds like some sort of band leader. But I do admit to reservations about these honorary knighthoods that the Queen seems to be dishing out with increasing frequency, the ones that go to foreigners. This week, for example, Henry Kissinger will be at Windsor Castle to get his. This will doubtless thrill any Cambodian who managed to survive the Doctor's clandestine and illegal bombing of Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge regime it facilitated. It is also less surprising when you remember previous recipients of the Queen's favour include that other uncompromising champion of freedom, Nicolae Ceausescu. How many holders are there of honorary knighthoods? About 150, according to the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood at Buckingham Palace. Who are they? There is no list, said the Chancery. Try the Foreign Office, it said. There is no list, said the Foreign Office. Try the Chancery. The Captain's researches, therefore, cannot claim comprehensiveness; but try this lot for size: Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Norman Schwarzkopf, Bob Geldof, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr; Richard Giordano, the British Gas man, and Akio Morita, the inventor of the Sony Walkman; Magnus Magnusson and Prince Khalid Bin Sultan, former Saudi defence minister and a man who maintains much interest in arms. Inspiring, I think you'll agree. Honi soit qui mal y pense, I say. Do have a nice time at Windsor, everyone.

The Uppark restoration is testimony to our yearning for historical comfort, says Jonathan Glancey

The total cost of repairing Windsor Castle after the 1992 fire is now estimated at about pounds 35m, the junior heritage minister, Iain Sproat, disclosed. Some forecasts shortly after the blaze had put the likely bill as high as pounds 60m. The fire gutted the Queen's Chapel and St George's Hall, as well as damaging the adjacent Crimson drawing room and the Chester and Brunswick towers. In a Commons written reply, Mr Sproat said pounds 24.5m of the cost would be met from the opening of Buckingham Palace to the public and entry fees to Windsor Castle.

From Dr L. M. Singhvi

Stewart Myles MacPherson, broadcaster: born Winnipeg, Canada 29 October 1908; married Emily Comfort (deceased; one son, one daughter); died Winnipeg 16 April 1995.

Faith and Reason v

Barbours, slacks, sensible shoes: the Ramblers used to be the last word in respectability. Not for much longer, finds Emma Cook