Buckingham Palace has confirmed that historian Anna Keay has been appointed to write the official biography of Queen Elizabeth II. The selection, announced in mid-April 2026, grants Keay access to the late monarch’s personal and official papers held in the Royal Archives and to interviews with members of the royal family, friends and household staff. Keay, a long-standing figure in British heritage circles, is director of the Landmark Trust, a trustee of the Royal Collection Trust and a former curator at Historic Royal Palaces. She is the author of several histories of the monarchy, including the award-winning The Restless Republic. The palace said the role was entrusted to Keay by King Charles III, who reportedly wanted a female historian for the job. Some commentators say the project could be published in multiple volumes, with early decades of Elizabeth’s 70-year reign likely to be addressed first; decisions on timing may avoid or delay treatment of more sensitive episodes involving other senior royals. Keay said she was “deeply grateful” for the responsibility and would seek to do justice to the Queen’s life and work.

Actor Mindy Cohn announced on April 19, 2026, that she has been undergoing cancer treatment and is now recovering after a recent hospital stay. In an Instagram post the 59-year-old, best known for her role as Natalie Green on The Facts of Life and more recently for Apple TV+’s Palm Royale, said she had been “off social media for awhile ‘cuz I had to go kick cancer’s ass.” Cohn thanked Providence Saint John’s Hospital staff in Santa Monica, naming nurses and oncology surgeon Dr. Anton Bilchik, and praised family and friends who supported her. She did not disclose the type of cancer or details of treatment, saying she will be “recouping for another couple of weeks” before returning to work. Cohn previously disclosed a years-long breast cancer battle that began with a 2012 diagnosis and culminated in remission by 2017 after surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. The post drew messages of support from fellow actors and public figures.

Indie rock band The Strokes closed their Coachella Weekend 2 set on April 18, 2026, by projecting a politically charged video montage on the festival’s main-stage LED screens as they performed “Oblivius.” The visuals accused the CIA and the U.S. government of historic interventions and assassinations — naming figures such as Iran’s Mohammad Mossadegh, Patrice Lumumba, Salvador Allende and others — and referenced a 1999 civil trial tied to Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. The montage concluded with wartime footage captioned “Over 30 universities destroyed in Iran” and images of Israeli strikes on Gaza that included a clip described as the “last university standing in Gaza.” Clips of the performance went viral on social media; one exceeded 3.7 million views overnight. The footage ran on Coachella’s official livestream; organisers had not immediately commented. The set marked a stark contrast with the band’s earlier weekend appearance and comes as The Strokes prepare to release a new album, Reality Awaits, and embark on a world tour this summer.

Ryan Reynolds publicly supported his wife Blake Lively in interviews aired April 19, 2026, saying he had “never in my life been more proud” of her as her legal battle with It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni heads to trial on May 18 in New York. Lively filed suit in December 2024 alleging sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign; she is seeking more than $160 million in damages. A judge earlier this month dismissed 10 of her 13 claims, leaving counts tied to alleged retaliation, breach of contract and aiding and abetting retaliation to proceed. Baldoni denies the allegations; he had filed a countersuit that was dismissed in 2025. Reynolds told Today’s Sunday Sitdown Live that the public has seen only “the illusion” of the case and reiterated family unity; reports say both Lively and Reynolds are expected to testify. The dispute has generated sustained media attention and online debate about workplace conduct, reputational harm and the intersection of celebrity, social media and legal process.

Taylor Frankie Paul has publicly reflected on her recovery after the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office announced it would not pursue new domestic violence charges related to alleged incidents with ex Dakota Mortensen. Prosecutors said on April 14 that some allegations fell outside the statute of limitations while others lacked sufficient evidence or specificity to meet the criminal standard of proof. Paul posted about the “ugly parts” of healing on Instagram, referenced prior PTSD diagnoses, and said she is focusing on eating, rest, movement and retraining her nervous system. The developments follow a 2023 arrest, a leaked video of an altercation, and paused production of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives as well as ABC pulling Paul’s Bachelorette season. Both Paul and Mortensen have filed temporary restraining orders against one another; a judge has granted Mortensen custody of their young son with Paul’s parenting time limited and supervised pending further court review. Production and network decisions, leaked footage and public scrutiny have intensified media coverage while legal processes remain ongoing.

A star-driven revival of Noël Coward’s 1925 comedy Fallen Angels opened at the Roundabout Theatre Company’s Todd Haimes Theatre in New York this week, earning broadly positive critical notices on April 19–20, 2026. The production, directed by Scott Ellis, reunites film and stage stars Kelli O’Hara and Rose Byrne as two upper-crust wives whose reawakened desires and liquid courage propel a riotous, champagne-fueled farce. Critics praised the pair’s comic chemistry and physical comedy, with Tracee Chimo singled out as an energetic standout and Mark Consuelos, Aasif Mandvi and Christopher Fitzgerald in supporting roles. Designers led by David Rockwell (sets) and Jeff Mahshie (costumes) earned particular notice for period glamour. Reviewers noted the play’s historical rarity on Broadway — mounted only twice before (1927, 1956) and seeing its first major Broadway revival in 70 years — and while many lauded the performances and staging, some observed that Fallen Angels is a lighter, less layered Coward piece that relies heavily on star turns and physical gags.