Today in History - November 20 | Blunder by tradie causes royal castle to go up in flames
Large parts of Windsor Castle, the residence of Britain's monarch, were engulfed by a fire on November 20, 1992.
More than 800 years of history went up in smoke all because decorators left a spotlight too close to a curtain.
The 1000-watt spotlight overheated and ignited a 10-metre draped curtain. There was no sprinkler system.
On November 20, 2003, music producer Phil Spector was formally charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson at his home in Los Angeles.
Spector denied the charge but was later indicted, beginning years of legal wrangling that culminated in his conviction for murder in April 2009.
Tobacco manufacturers in the United States signed an agreement with the governments of 46 states on November 20, 1998, in a landmark deal.
The companies, known as Big Tobacco, agreed to pay US$206 billion to the states over smoking-related illnesses.
Princess Diana held a tell-all interview with the BBC's Martin Bashir on November 20, 1995, watched by millions of television viewers.
She spoke candidly about her separation from Prince Charles, and admitted to an adulterous affair with her riding instructor.
A month later, Queen Elizabeth II wrote to her son Charles, Prince of Wales, and to Princess Diana asking them to seek an early divorce.
On Nov. 20, 1969, dozens of Native Americans took over Alcatraz in the San Francisco Bay to demand that the US government recognise longstanding agreements with tribes and turn over the deed to the island.
They arrived under the cover of night and vowed to peacefully protest federal policies that sought to eliminate tribes' culture and language, and strip them of their land.
The US government years earlier declared Alcatraz, the site of a former maximum-security prison, surplus property. Native Americans used an 1868 treaty between the US and the Sioux to stake a claim to it.
Hollywood star Drew Barrymore was aged just seven she first hosted Saturday Night Live on November 20, 1982.
The star of the hit movie E.T. held her own with the comedy skit show cast, which at the time included Eddie Murphy and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Barrymore remains the youngest ever SNL host.
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