A flight attendant has explained the aeroplane exit row requirements and who is not allowed to sit there – and it’s about much more than extra legroom on a flight

Getting an exit-row seat with extra legroom for free can feel like a major win, but imagine paying for it and then being told you’re not actually allowed to sit there? It would feel like a real blow. But a TUI flight attendant has explained that there are quite a few people who aren’t allowed to sit in an exit row.

An exit row isn’t simply a nice upgrade offering additional legroom throughout your journey – it actually fulfils a far more critical function should your aircraft encounter any difficulties. In reality, passengers seated in an exit row may be required to assist the crew if necessary, and before departure is complete, the cabin crew will discuss this responsibility with you to ensure you’re comfortable with it.

Miva, a flight attendant, stated: “An emergency exit seat is not just a seat with extra legroom. In an evacuation, the passenger sitting there may need to assess the situation outside, open the exit, direct other passengers and help the crew.”

Fortunately, it’s extremely uncommon that a passenger would genuinely need to provide assistance, but you must be prepared to do so should the cabin crew require your help.

This explains why there’s a specific list of travellers who aren’t permitted to occupy exit row seats, as they wouldn’t be capable of providing support during a real emergency.

Who cannot sit in an exit row?

Children aren’t permitted to sit in the exit row. Each airline maintains different policies regarding the minimum age requirement for passengers allowed to occupy these seats.

Adults travelling with an infant or child in their care are also prohibited from sitting in the exit row.

Anyone with restricted mobility or with an injury cannot be seated there, nor can anyone unable to comprehend the instructions provided to them.

Passengers who are incapable of operating the exit mechanism cannot be seated there. Similarly, people who are uncomfortable with or incapable of assisting during an emergency situation are also excluded, as these seats serve a specific safety purpose.

Miva explained: “The reason is simple: every second counts during an evacuation. The person sitting at the emergency exit must be physically and mentally capable, willing to act immediately and able to help other passengers leave the aircraft safely.

“The cabin crew can move someone to another seat if they believe that person is unsuitable. Exact requirements may differ between airlines.”

In the comments section, some readers expressed confusion, questioning: “Then why charge extra to sit there for the extra leg room? Should be giving us money for being willing to help.”

Another contributor clarified: “Children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, elderly. Because in case of an emergency, you will have to help open/help passengers off, which is also why the floor must be clear at all times.”

A further commenter highlighted an additional restriction: “People who need a seatbelt extended can’t sit there either because the extender could trip people on the way out the emergency exit.”

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT Lawrence Brewer was one of three men who carried out the brutal hate crime murder of James Byrd Junior and was executed in Texas for the crime – but not before one final harrowing act

He was a brutal killer who claimed the life of a man simply because of the colour of his skin.

Lawrence Brewer was one of three men, along with Shawn Berry and John King, who launched a savage and harrowing attack on James Byrd Junior.

The victim was 49 when he was brutally murdered by the three men, two of them who were white supremacists, in Jasper, Texas in 1998. On June 7, James had accepted a lift from Shawn Berry, who was just 22 at the time. In the car with him were Brewer, then 31, and King, then 23.

Berry knew James as they both lived in the town but instead of taking him home the three men carried out an act of such violence it was leave the whole country appalled.

Taking James out of town and to a remote country road, they savagely beat him before tying a chain to his ankles and to the back of their pickup truck. Then then dragged him behind the truck for three miles. Brewer claims he slit James’ throat before the hellish journey began but horrifying forensic evidence showed the victim had been desperately trying to keep his head off the ground as he was dragged along.

It is thought he only succumbed to his injuries about half-way through the journey when his right arm and head were severed when his body hit a culvert. In addition, almost all of his ribs were fractured. When his head was discovered his brain and skull were still in tact, which lead forensic experts to believe he was still conscious as he was being dragged behind the pickup truck.

His killers then dumped his torso in front of a Black cemetery and heartlessly left the scene to head to a BBQ. James’ body wasn’t discovered until the following morning by a passing motorist. Close by police discovered a wrench with the word ‘Berry’ written on it and a lighter with the word ‘Possum’ written on it, which was King’s nickname while he was in prison.

Chillingly, officers discovered James’ remains in 81 locations and the harrowing killing was quickly labelled a hate crime and the FBI were called in to help with the investigation.

All three killers, Berry, Brewer and King, were arrested, tried and convicted for James’ murder, with King and Brewer sentenced to death while King was ordered to spend the rest of his life in prison.

Before Brewer’s execution on September 21, 2011, he requested a lavish final meal. He asked for two chicken fried steaks, a triple-meat bacon cheeseburger, fried okra, a pound of barbecue, three fajitas, a meat lover’s pizza, a pint of ice cream and a slab of peanut butter fudge with crushed peanuts.

However, he had one final chilling act to commit. After being presented with his final meal on earth, the brutal killer refused to eat a single mouthful. The act changed everything for those waiting to be executed on Texas’ death row – no last meal would ever be offered again.

Senator John Whitmire, chairman of the Senate criminal justice committee, said afterwards: “It is extremely inappropriate to give a person sentenced to death such a privilege.”

Instead inmates on the day before their death will now be served the same as all other inmates. After the ruling was passed, Whitmire said: “It’s long overdue. This old boy last night, enough is enough. We’re fixing to execute the guy and maybe it makes the system feel good about what they’re fixing to do. Kind of hypocritical, you reckon? Mr Byrd didn’t get to choose his last meal. The whole deal is so illogical.”

King was executed on April 24, 2019, while Brewer remains behind bars. He spends 23 hours per day in a cell measuring 8 by 6 feet, with one hour for exercise.

In an incredible act of forgiveness Ross Byrd, James Byrd’s only son, is now involved in Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation, an organisation opposed to capital punishment and he even campaigned to spare the lives of the men who had killed his father.

By QUENTIN LETTS, PARLIAMENTARY SKETCHWRITER

Published: 18:48 BST, 1 September 2026 | Updated: 06:46 BST, 2 September 2026

Michael Pickering was jailed for life in 2018 – an investigation is underway into his death

A sadistic killer who ‘enjoyed’ subjecting victims to extreme violence has died behind bars. Michael Pickering, from Oldham, was found died at HMP Long Martin, a category A men’s prison in Worcestershire, on August 7. He had a history of drug abuse. He was 39. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) has begun an investigation into the death.

He was behind bars for brutally murdering a recovering alcoholic in his own home before trying to sell his things.

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In 2018 Pickering was handed a life sentence to serve a minimum of 36 years in jail after being found guilty of torturing and killing Jonathan Herd at his flat in Oldham.

A judge said Pickering wanted to rob Mr Herd, 45, of anything he had of value during the raid on July 30, 2017 after running out of drugs.

He repeatedly stabbed and punched Mr Herd at his flat on Lee New Road before jumping up and down on his body as he lay defenceless, causing his lungs to collapse.

Mr Herd suffered 115 separate injuries. His body was discovered by his parents the next morning.

After killing Mr Herd, Pickering took a taxi to Oldham with three shopping bags of items he had stolen from the flat, including a mobile phone, an Xbox, a TV, some DVDs, £40 in cash, a coat and Mr Herd’s gold chain, which was ripped from his neck.

Pickering, of Coverham Avenue, Oldham, tried to sell the items at a branch of Cash Generators, but was refused. He is thought to have sold them privately.

Jurors were told that nearly two decades ago Mr Herd’s former partner died, and that he turned to drink as a way of managing his grief.

He was succeeding in his battle with drink, and Manchester Crown Court heard his family had ‘genuine hope’ he would return to his former self.

The PPO has now confirmed brief details of the death of Pickering on its website and said an investigation was ‘in progress’.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “HMP Long Lartin prisoner Michael Pickering died on 7th August 2026. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”

At Pickering’s 2018 sentencing hearing, Judge Richard Mansell QC said: “Jonathan’s life was extinguished by you in the most callous, cowardly and brutal way imaginable.”

The court heard Pickering had only been out of prison for two months when he killed Mr Herd, having served eight years in prison for robbery, blackmail and causing actual bodily harm.

Those charges related to a sickening incident when Pickering broke into a man’s home before holding him captive for hours. The man had a knife held to his throat and Pickering’s accomplice threatened to cut off the victim’s fingers and eat them, the court was told.

Pickering claimed to not have any recollection of the attack, having been drunk and high on class A drugs.

The judge said: “I am satisfied you [Pickering] gain a degree of enjoyment or excitement from subjecting someone to extremes of violence and torture.”

After his release in May 2017, Pickering began mixing with old friends and continued abusing drink and drugs.

He met Mr Herd through a mutual friend, who lived in a flat near Mr Herd’s home. The court heard Mr Herd invited Pickering into his flat after he asked to charge his phone.

Pickering, who had drunk ‘copious’ amounts of alcohol and taken crack cocaine, had taken an eight-inch blade from his friend’s house, which he used to deliver the ‘sickening and merciless violence’ in Mr Herd’s flat.

Judge Mansell said the sheer number of wounds, the location and the time over which they were delivered showed elements of torture.

In a victim impact statement read by prosecutor Rob Hall, Mr Herd’s mother Pauline said: “There are no words that will ever describe the pain.

“Jonathan was a kind, generous and loving son who loved his family and was dearly loved in return. He saw the good in people, and if he could help them, he would. He was looking forward to the future and his health was improving.

“He had started to get out, he was regaining his confidence and had made new friends.”

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Wilkinson from GMP’s Major Incident Team said: “This was an horrific attack on an innocent man whose life was taken away from him for the sake of an XBox and a few DVDs.

“Jonathan’s family came to visit him the following day and walked in to find their loved one lay dead on the floor after being brutally murdered. No one should ever have to see that.

“Sadly there is nothing we can do to bring Jonathan back, but I hope the result goes some way to helping his loved ones grieve and come to terms with their loss.

“Justice has been served today and Pickering is exactly where he deserves to be – behind bars where he will have plenty of time to think about what he did.”

Lisa Petrie is right to ask why her son’s killer was allowed to roam the streets.

John McNab was a young man with his whole life ahead of him. But at the age of just 22 his life was wiped out when a teenager stabbed him in the street.

Yesterday, a statue, the Knife Angel, was unveiled at the spot where John was killed a year ago as a monument to all victims of knife crime in Scotland. John’s mum, Lisa Petrie, was there to witness the artwork’s official launch and speaks eloquently in today’s Daily Record about the need for action on knife crime.

She has campaigned tirelessly for bleed kits to be installed around the country to help victims survive. Her work will save lives and for that we should all be grateful. But Lisa also wants to know what is being done by our political leaders to tackle the rising tide of knife violence.

The teenager who killed her son was out walking the streets, despite being charged with an earlier knife attack. Lisa wants a fatal accident inquiry into John’s death so that the full circumstances of the killer’s release into the community can be examined.

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It is widely accepted our overcrowded jails do not have room for everyone accused of a crime to be remanded in custody. But when a teenager has already attacked somebody with a knife, it is surely a matter of public safety to make sure they are not simply put back into the community to attack again.

Too many young men carry and use knives, but the process of dealing with these dangerous individuals is not tough enough.

Lisa is right to ask why her son’s killer was allowed to roam the streets. The teenager should have been in a secure unit – not free to kill.

FM’s food cap quest is a folly

Parts of John Swinney’s Programme for Government are welcome and worthy of support. Capping bus fares at £2 is a measure that will ease the pressure felt by low-income families.

Slashing NHS boards from 14 to two should have been done years ago and the First Minister’s instincts on fewer councils are also sound. But his plan for a supermarket price cap looks increasingly ridiculous.

Swinney came up with the gimmick during the heat of an election campaign and it looked ill-considered even then. It looks legally questionable and the SNP government could end up wasting more public money on a doomed court battle.

Swinney will have to challenge vested interests if he is to get his way on rewiring the Scottish state. His political capital should be spent in this area, not in a pointless battle with the UK Government on price caps.

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More than 200 Newnham residents have signed a petition calling for a safety review of the Barton Road and Grantchester Street junction

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Cambridgeshire Live readers are split over a ‘dangerous’ junction, with commenters at odds over who is responsible and what action should be taken.

Cambridge residents have called for a safety review of a ‘dangerous’ junction they claim has been the scene of numerous “near misses”. The junction of Barton Road and Grantchester Street has long been a source of concern for Newnham residents, and despite being redesigned in 2023, many still fear it remains unsafe.

Peter Singleton, chair of the Old Newnham Residents Association, says there are a number of ‘design flaws’ in the current junction that are causing confusion among drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. These include allowing cyclists and pedestrians to cross simultaneously and removing the audible beeping signal indicating it is safe to cross.

The 73-year-old warned that this poses a particular risk to cyclists and pedestrians and has already resulted in accidents and several near misses.

He said: “You’re never going to come up with something that’s going to satisfy everyone, but if we can make it safer, then that’s better. Accidents certainly happen there, and if you like, you could call it a case of more accidents waiting to happen. Particularly in Newnham Croft, there are quite a lot of elderly people who are not so agile.”

He launched a petition at the start of July, which has since gathered more than 200 signatures, sufficient to trigger a debate at Cambridgeshire County Council.

One commenter, Brexit498 quotes: ” ‘Dangerous junction where accidents are waiting to happen’, then they will have to wait a long time because there is no issue here for cyclists, pedestrians or motorists. The road layout is heavily biased towards cyclists and pedestrians (no problem with that), but that group needs to take some responsibility for crossing the road. BTW: how many ‘incidents’ have there been in, say, the last two years?”

Riccy feels: “There is nothing wrong with the junction, it’s the drivers who want to take their tests again and take more care.”

Freddly adds: “Essentially, the problem is one of too many cars and vans, and they are driving too fast for the road conditions. The crossing needs to be on a table which is high and steep enough to damage cars that drive over it at speed. The crossing needs to scrape and damage bunkers if taken at speed, also on SUVs with high clearance.”

Poppythecat says: “The problem is pretty obvious. It’s motorists speeding to beat the lights and, more than likely, going through red lights altogether. If you’re approaching a pedestrian crossing, you should be slowing down, not speeding up to get through before the lights change.”

Throatwobblermangrove writes: “And guess who redesigned this junction in 2023? The GCP, of course. The same issues were predicted back then, but were ignored by the GCP, who imposed the current design, with massive disruption and inconvenience, taking four months just to build the unwanted new crossing and claiming it would ‘improve walking and cycling links and make it safer for people crossing the road’. Yet again, look how wrong they were.”

Over on our Facebook page, Thalia M comments: “It would help if drivers did not ignore the no right turn to the river, and as always, cyclists ignore everything, lights, crossing points, cycle paths. Please don’t rip it up and spend any more time or money on this.”

Gabriel Bienzobas M believes: “A poorly designed junction which during the redesign had the opportunity to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists, but instead prioritises motor traffic.”

Rachel J feels: “Someone needs to be responsible for ensuring the safest possible designs for cyclists. What about that abomination of a roundabout on Fendon Road near the hospital?! It might work for the Dutch, but it doesn’t work in the UK. It’s so dangerous.”

Do you believe that this junction is dangerous? Comment below or HERE to have your say.

The manosphere is driving a surge in misogyny in schools, with teenage boys refusing to acknowledge female teachers or even mix with girls in their class.

Earlier this year, teaching union NASUWT warned that a ‘masculinity crisis is brewing’ after nearly a quarter of female teachers reported being subjected to misogynistic abuse in the classroom.

That figure has continuously risen over the past four years. Some teachers described feeling ‘humiliated’ and ‘demeaned’ after being ignored by male pupils.

It is something charity founders and filmmakers Alex Williams and Dwayne Gumbs have witnessed first-hand alongside their team on visits to schools to try and tackle those harmful ideologies head-on.

Through their charity Diverse Voices, the London-based pair use their skills to find creative ways to encourage young people from vulnerable communities to express themselves on sensitive topics.

Over the past 16 years, their workshops have been delivered to 40,000 pupils at more than 100 schools up and down the country.

Their work has exposed how harmful views capable of leading to violence against women and girls can be formed at an alarmingly young age.

Children’s views are increasingly being shaped online and in the playground, where they spend most of their time during the week.

Alex tells Metro: ‘We have seen as social media and the online world has developed, that young people have more access to information.

‘The scary part is, who is providing that information? What attitudes are being adopted from the influencers that they are engaging with online?’

This Is Not Right

On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.

With the help of our partners at Women’s Aid, This Is Not Right aims to shine a light on the sheer scale of this national emergency.

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You can find more articles here, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at vaw@metro.co.uk.

Read more:

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Nearly two-thirds of young men watch so-called ‘masculinity’ influencers, according to The Children’s Society.

Manosphere content exposes them to negative attitudes towards women and girls – objectifying them, dehumanising them and portraying them as inferior.

The manosphere is a loose network of digital forums and groups claiming to address men’s struggles.

But it often promotes harmful views of women and girls, while misrepresenting men as the oppressed victims of feminism.

‘A really big change I’ve noticed is the separation between boys and girls,’ Alex says of the workshops.

‘10 years ago, if you said in a classroom, “Guys, let’s get into groups”, there would be mixed groups.

‘Now if you say it, the boys will be on one side, and the girls will be on one side, and when you actually encourage mixing these groups, they are out of their comfort zone.

‘But we see that as an important thing to do because it’s not about singling out any gender around this education – it is about shared attitudes, boys who can become potential perpetrators but also girls knowing what shouldn’t be normalised as attitudes and actually being able to have that conversation in mixed groups.

‘But I think that just seeing that separation is something which, especially over the last three years, is something which has really changed.

‘It’s the culture that they’re exposed to online, the fact that boys are consuming a certain type of media and listening to a certain type of influencer and I guess not being exposed to the views of girls and women.

‘Taking that a step further, we’ve had male students who refuse to take instruction from female members of staff. Like, literally stonewall, “I’m not listening, I can’t hear you, I can’t see you”.

‘And yet, a male voice would say something a minute later, and they would react.

‘So, that takes that kind of classroom separation to the next level, where it actually impacts their behaviour and how they engage with teaching staff.’

Dwayne adds: ‘If they’re grouping together in these mini ecosystems around people they feel comfortable having these conversations with, then that just fuels the transfer of misinformation and ignorant views.

‘An important part of what we are really trying to do is to open the conversation up and create an environment where the majority of the learning comes from peer-to-peer conversations, as opposed to us lecturing them about what’s right and what’s wrong.’

To do that, Alex and Dwayne have created short films that feature within a learning portal tailored for both primary and secondary school audiences.

After an initial icebreaker task to encourage everyone to feel comfortable sharing their views, the groups are shown a short film tailored to their ages.

It is accompanied by a discussion on the issues it depicts, including relationships and pressure to have sex, consent, intimate image abuse, self-image and controlling and coercive behaviour.

The young people are asked whether the behaviour shown is ‘acceptable’, ‘unacceptable’ or ‘questionable’.

‘Seeing that through the lens of the film, you really see a lot of bright eyes kind of going, “Ah”, whereas they wouldn’t feel comfortable talking about these things if we were questioning them on what they are doing themselves,’ Alex says.

‘But actually having these characters as a focal point gives them the freedom to say their opinions.’

The conversation is then opened up to feedback on what was discussed in the groups to the whole class, before staff explain healthy approaches and laws surrounding the topic.

‘We’re really empowering them to kind of take ownership of having these discussions, empowering them to feel that their voice is valid and heard,’ Dwayne says.

‘Really, it’s just about facilitating the conversation in a way where a light could be shone on healthy views and opinions that are aired by the students, and really be used to kind of make the point, as opposed to it come directly from the adult in the room.’

The charity also enables schools to continue lessons using resources it has created.

Dwayne says: ‘It’s not an expectation that one conversation is going to change people’s opinions. But it’s continuing that conversation over a period of time and also opening the doors for young people to feel that they can have these conversations with their teachers, with the adults around them, regardless of whether it’s within a program of learning or not.’

Alex says: ‘By the end of that program, they haven’t just been spoken to by a classroom teacher or by us – they’ve actually engaged, interacted, and are now in control of changing the outcomes, which then empowers them to do the same thing in their own lives.

‘We have great results and we have evidence that changes happen. Beyond just those lessons, we have teachers reporting that they overhear the conversations even continuing in the playground.’

The pair emphasise the important role men can play in tackling violence against women and girls.

‘A lot of what we’re actually asking boys to unlearn, they are learning from men,’ Alex says.

‘So, that just puts the responsibility on us as men to actually be positive role models and to affect change.’

For more information on the charity Diverse Voices’ and their resources you can visit https://www.diversevoices.co.uk/ or email info@diversevoices.co.uk

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: Bereaved families urge government to block all killers from early release

MORE: Georgia Harrison: ‘Victims of revenge porn need a social media kill switch’

MORE: Self-proclaimed misogynist banned from incel sites and ‘loitering’ near women’s toilets

As autumn arrives, garden pests become more active

As autumn sets in, squirrels and mice can become more active as they prepare for colder conditions. This can turn them into a greater problem in gardens, where they might dig up lawns and flower beds while searching for food or shelter.

However, there could be a straightforward method to discourage them from lingering. According to experts at Pest Defence, the answer might be found in your kitchen cupboard.

One common household item can be sprayed across the grass to make your garden less inviting to these unwelcome guests.

The experts explained: “If you’ve ever watched squirrels closely, you’ll notice their little noses twitching. That’s because they have a keen sense of smell, something that is crucial for them in finding food and avoiding potential dangers.

“Any strong, unfamiliar or even irritating odour will disrupt their behaviour, sometimes even driving them away. That’s why natural repellents are a smart move as your first step in preventing an infestation.”

The same principle works for mice. These creatures also possess a highly developed sense of smell, which they rely on to locate food and navigate. Yet this can equally be exploited to repel them.

What to use to deter squirrels and mice?

Pest Defence recommends using peppermint oil, as the minty aroma is exceptionally powerful to squirrels and can irritate their noses. Unlike vinegar, which can be unpleasant to humans and damage your lawns and plants, peppermint has a bearable scent yet proves effective when applied properly.

Rather than buying a peppermint deterrent online, you can create your own mixture by diluting pure peppermint essential oil with water in a spray bottle. To apply the spray properly, “coat the perimeters of raised beds, the rims of containers, and the poles or bases of bird feeders”.

However, gardeners should avoid spraying bird food or feeding ports directly, as strong essential oils can irritate the birds they welcome.

To stop squirrels from becoming accustomed to the mint, apply the spray at least two to three times weekly. It is also recommended to alternate with cayenne pepper for a week before switching back to peppermint.

A writer at Homes and Garden also suggested: “Soak cotton balls in pure peppermint essential oil and tuck them directly into the soil of vulnerable containers, raised beds, or near the base of prized plants.

“Because the oil is shielded slightly by the cotton, it holds its scent longer outdoors than a topical spray.”

Does it actually work?

Peppermint oil has limitations. It may deter squirrels, but it does not form a complete barrier.

Hungry or territorial squirrels may disregard the scent if they have a compelling reason to remain, reported the West Side Journal. Properties with settled squirrel populations are more difficult to safeguard than those with only sporadic visits.

Squirrels may continue returning to dependable food sources, nesting spots, or well-known pathways despite the scent.

Ultimately, peppermint oil creates discomfort rather than rendering an area completely inaccessible, particularly when food is scarce.

By SAMEER SURI, US SENIOR SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER

Published: 19:04 BST, 1 September 2026 | Updated: 05:59 BST, 2 September 2026

Madonna could scarcely be recognized in the latest jaw-dropping suite of age-defying photos she posted to her Instagram page.

The 68-year-old’s makeup and voluminous blonde hairdo had an air of Pamela Anderson, 59, about them as she posed for the new images.

One snapshot allowed her to showcase her enviably toned physique to full advantage in a clinging scarlet jumpsuit as she strolled down a hallway.

In a behind-the-scenes glimpse from a recent photoshoot, the Queen of Pop slid her statuesque frame into a nude bodysuit and black lace corset.

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‘Paint me with your memory, and not with your eyes…….,’ she wrote alongside her new album, which also featured close-ups of her astonishingly smooth complexion.

Admirers flooded into the comments bubbling with praise for the pictures, including her fellow popstar Ricky Martin, who gushed: ‘Yessss.’

Madonna could scarcely be recognized in the latest jaw-dropping suite of age-defying photos she posted to her Instagram page 

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The 68-year-old’s makeup and voluminous blonde hairdo had an air of Pamela Anderson, 59, about them as she posed for the new images

Julia Garner, whom Madonna handpicked to play her in a planned self-directed biopic that eventually fell through because of a budgetary dispute, squealed: ‘Wow!!!!’

Madonna’s latest post comes two weeks after the MTV Video Music Award (VMA) nominations were announced and she emerged as the artist with the most nods.

The Material Girl is in competition for a staggering 11 prizes, narrowly beating out Taylor Swift, who has nods in nine categories.

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Swift, 36, and Beyonce, 44, are currently tied as the most decorated artists in the history of the VMAs, each with 30 gongs to their name.

Inasmuch as Beyonce has no nominations this year, all Swift has to do is win a single prize in order to become the reigning record-holder, via the Associated Press. 

Madonna famously performed at the first-ever VMAs in 1984, bursting from a gigantic wedding cake while dressed in a bridal gown for a rendition of Like A Virgin.

She has emerged as a reliable engine of memorable moments at the extravaganza, where she ignited a fan frenzy in 2003 by kissing Britney Spears on the lips.

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Over the course of her more than four-decade career, Madonna has earned a total of 19 VMAs, meaning that in order to equal Swift and Beyonce’s current record she will have to triumph in every category in which she is nominated this year.

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Has Madonna’s ever-changing appearance enhanced her artistry or overshadowed her legacy?

Admirers flooded into the comments bubbling with praise for the pictures, including her fellow popstar Ricky Martin, who gushed: ‘Yessss’ 

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Madonna’s VMAs coup comes after she earned a burst of critical acclaim and fan adoration for her latest album Confessions II, which was released July 3 and serves as a sequel to her 2005 smash hit Confessions On A Dance Floor.

During the promotions for Confessions II, Madonna went viral for describing John F Kennedy Jr as one of the best lovers she ever had. 

Madonna was asked to reveal her ‘best f***,’ and after insisting she would ‘only name dead people,’ whispered: ‘John Kennedy Jr.’

The Queen of Pop indulged in a dalliance with ‘America’s Prince’ in the 1980s, to the purported dismay of his mother Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

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Madonna paid her compliments to JFK Jr’s bedroom skills while appearing in a video for the gay hookup app Grindr, with which she had launched a Pride month partnership as an advertisement for Confessions II.

On the increase of the core funding, Mr Tomlinson added: “That reflects this bottom-up assessment that has taken place, looking across the needs of the Royal Household and making sure that it is being funded adequately for the work, for the public duties that His Royal Highness the King and the royal family carry out.