On the 460th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth, here are the final words of advice to diplomats from the last page of Satow’s Diplomatic Practice:

To thine own self be true
And it must follow, as the night the day
Thou canst not then be false to any man

(Hamlet, Act 1 Scene 3)

US House support for $60bn funding for Ukraine is a vital step forward.

If Putin ever doubted the West's resolve to back Ukraine, this shows our collective will is undimmed.

With support, Ukraine can and will win.
#StandWithUkraine

David Clay Carpaccio’s magnificent depiction of the arrival of the English ambassadors to the court of Brittany (Legend of St Ursula cycle - Accademia, Venice).

Art can challenge and shape society – so it's no surprise that the United Nations is full of art gifted from all over the world.

On #WorldArtDay , The Hepworth Wakefield reveals more about Barbara Hepworth's Single Form, a striking sculpture that stands in front of the iconic building in NYC.

UK's first blind overseas ambassador: My sight loss helps me connect with people bbc.in/3Q0XfOQ

Congratulations to Victoria Harrison FCDO. Sure you’ll do a terrific job in Slovenia.

(And best of luck to our very first ambassadorial guide dog Otto!)

A great read. Highly recommended for all my colleagues in Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and anyone else who’s interested in the history of women in diplomacy.

Sneak peek of tonight’s exhibition opening Institut français UK !

This is one of the original 1904 declarations which became known as the Entente cordiale. Beautifully handwritten and very moving : some words were even erased and rewritten, in all likelihood because the negotiations

So sad to hear that Daniel Kahneman has died.

‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ should be required reading for every diplomat - diplomacy is all about knowing what makes people tick and how to influence their decision-making. Hard to think of many better guides. Also great fun to read.