• King Charles III addresses the Accession Council at St James's Palace, London, where he is formally proclaimed monarch. PA
    King Charles III addresses the Accession Council at St James's Palace, London, where he is formally proclaimed monarch. PA
  • King Charles automatically became British monarch on the death of his mother, but the Accession Council, attended by privy councillors, confirmed his role on Saturday. PA
    King Charles automatically became British monarch on the death of his mother, but the Accession Council, attended by privy councillors, confirmed his role on Saturday. PA
  • From left, William, the Prince of Wales, Queen Consort Camilla and King Charles III during the Accession Council meeting at St James's Palace. PA
    From left, William, the Prince of Wales, Queen Consort Camilla and King Charles III during the Accession Council meeting at St James's Palace. PA
  • The Accession Council met without Charles to proclaim him sovereign — officially confirming his title, King Charles III — before the monarch joined them to make a series of oaths and declarations. PA
    The Accession Council met without Charles to proclaim him sovereign — officially confirming his title, King Charles III — before the monarch joined them to make a series of oaths and declarations. PA
  • More than 200 privy councillors – a group of mostly senior politicians past and present, some members of the monarchy and other national figures – were present to hear the Clerk of the Council read the proclamation. PA
    More than 200 privy councillors – a group of mostly senior politicians past and present, some members of the monarchy and other national figures – were present to hear the Clerk of the Council read the proclamation. PA
  • Prince William and the queen consort, both privy councillors, were among those who formally proclaimed Charles as king. PA
    Prince William and the queen consort, both privy councillors, were among those who formally proclaimed Charles as king. PA
  • From second left, Prince William, the queen consort, Prime Minister Liz Truss, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell attend the Accession Council ceremony at St James's Palace in London. PA
    From second left, Prince William, the queen consort, Prime Minister Liz Truss, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell attend the Accession Council ceremony at St James's Palace in London. PA
  • From left, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and former British prime ministers Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Boris Johnson attend the Accession Council ceremony. AP
    From left, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and former British prime ministers Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Boris Johnson attend the Accession Council ceremony. AP
  • London Mayor Sadiq Khan talks to security as he arrives at St James's Palace for the Accession Council ceremony. Reuters
    London Mayor Sadiq Khan talks to security as he arrives at St James's Palace for the Accession Council ceremony. Reuters
  • Former British prime ministers Theresa May, front left, and John Major, centre, and Baroness Scotland arrive for the Accession Council ceremony at St James's Palace. AP
    Former British prime ministers Theresa May, front left, and John Major, centre, and Baroness Scotland arrive for the Accession Council ceremony at St James's Palace. AP
  • The Archbishop of Canterbury, left, arrives at St James's Palace in London for the Accession Council ceremony. Bloomberg
    The Archbishop of Canterbury, left, arrives at St James's Palace in London for the Accession Council ceremony. Bloomberg
  • Penny Mordaunt, UK leader of the House of Commons, arrives at St James's Palace for the proclamation ceremony. Bloomberg
    Penny Mordaunt, UK leader of the House of Commons, arrives at St James's Palace for the proclamation ceremony. Bloomberg
  • Police officers stand guard at St James's Palace before the proclamation of King Charles III on Saturday, September 10, 2022, in London. Getty
    Police officers stand guard at St James's Palace before the proclamation of King Charles III on Saturday, September 10, 2022, in London. Getty

Crown jewels — a guide to the British royal family's precious gems


  • English
  • Arabic

King Charles III was officially declared Britain's new monarch on Saturday, two days after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

King Charles, 73, immediately succeeded his mother but an Accession Council met to proclaim him as king, with his son and heir William, wife Queen Consort Camilla and Britain's new prime minister, Liz Truss, among those to sign the proclamation.

Charles's coronation as king will take place at a later date — and the timing for that is not yet clear. There was a 16-month gap between Elizabeth becoming queen in 1952 and her coronation in 1953.

The Ccrown Jjewels form the centrepiece of the royal coronation, and symbolise the pomp and history of the British monarchy over the centuries.

These are some of the Ccrown Jjewels you can expect to see at King Charles III's coronation.

The Imperial State Crown

The crown was commissioned for King George VI's coronation in 1937.

Used for formal events such as the state opening of parliament, Queen Elizabeth II wore it following her coronation ceremony.

The crown bears 2,868 diamonds, 269 pearls, 17 sapphires and 11 emeralds.

It weighs 1.06 kilograms and is 31.5 centimetres tall.

The second-largest stone cut from the Cullinan Diamond — the largest diamond mined — adorns the front.

The Imperial State Crown. PA
The Imperial State Crown. PA

The Sovereign's Sceptres

A gold rod with a globe, cross and dove at the top, the sceptre's design symbolises the Christian Holy Ghost.

It is associated with the monarch's pastoral role towards the people.

It weighs 1.15kg and is 1.1 metres long.

A second sceptre represents the monarch's temporal power and good governance and complements the spiritual power symbolised by the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross.

It weighs 1.17kg and is 92.2cm long.

The largest colourless cut diamond in the world, the Cullinan I, reigns at the top. It weighs 106 grams and is known as the "First Star of Africa".

The diamond's weight meant the sceptre had to be reinforced in 1910.

St Edward's Crown, The Orb, The Sceptre with Cross (also known as the Royal Sceptre), The Sceptre with Dove and The Sovereign's Ring. PA
St Edward's Crown, The Orb, The Sceptre with Cross (also known as the Royal Sceptre), The Sceptre with Dove and The Sovereign's Ring. PA

The Sovereign's Orb

The orb represents the monarch's power and the Christian world.

The gold piece of jewellery is surrounded by a band of diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphire and pearls and topped with amethyst and a cross.

It is 27.5cm high and weighs 1.32kg.

The gold Ampulla

The eagle-shaped vessel holds the consecrated oil used in coronation ceremonies.

The eagle's head comes off to allow oil to be poured into the vessel.

The design is based on a legend that the Virgin Mary appeared to mediaeval English saint Thomas Becket and handed him a golden eagle and oil to anoint future English kings.

It weighs 660 grams and measures 20.7cm by 10.4cm.

The Spurs

Gold, leather, velvet and gold thread make up one of the most ancient parts of Britain's royal coronation paraphernalia.

The use of spurs to represent knighthood in coronations dates back to the coronation of Richard I in 1189.

Spurs were traditionally fastened to the king's feet during coronation ceremonies but presented and placed on the altar for queens.

The Cullinan Diamond

It was the largest diamond ever mined when discovered in South Africa in 1905, weighing 621 grams in its uncut state.

The Transvaal government presented it to King Edward VII on his 66th birthday in 1907 as a gesture of reconciliation after the Second Boer War.

Three employees of Asschers of Amsterdam worked 14-hour days for eight months to cut and polish nine large stones from the original gem.

When workers began to cut the diamond, the first blow broke the knife rather than the diamond.

St Edward's Crown

Queen Elizabeth II wearing the St Edward Crown and carrying the sceptre and the rod. PA
Queen Elizabeth II wearing the St Edward Crown and carrying the sceptre and the rod. PA

Crown jeweller Robert Viner made it in 1661 for the coronation of King Charles II, after the previous medieval crown was melted down by parliamentarian rebels in 1649 during the English Civil War.

Monarchs did not wear the solid gold crown in coronation ceremonies for more than 200 years as it was too heavy.

It weighs 2.04kg and is 30.2cm tall.

Coronation ring

The ring dates back to the coronation of King William IV in 1831.

Queen Victoria did not wear it for her coronation in 1838 as her fingers were too small.

Purple Robe of Estate

Twelve seamstresses from the Royal School of Needlework took 3,500 hours to make it.

The robe is made of silk and embroidered with the monarch's cipher, wheat ears and olive branches.

The Stone of Scone

Also known as the "Stone of Destiny", it is the ancient symbol of Scotland's monarchy.

The sandstone slab weighs 152kg.

English king Edward I seized it in 1296 and incorporated it into the throne at Westminster, London.

Scottish nationalists stole it from London's Westminster Abbey in 1950 and it later reappeared in Arbroath Abbey, Scotland. It was formally returned to Scotland in 1996.

The stone will only leave Scotland again for a coronation at Westminster Abbey.

Abandon
Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay
Translated by Arunava Sinha
Tilted Axis Press 

THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

Results

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Rawat Al Reef, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)

5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Noof KB, Richard Mullen, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Seven Skies, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qaiss Aboud

6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Jabalini, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7pm: UAE Arabian Derby – Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Dergham Athbah, Richard Mullen, Mohamed Daggash

7.30pm: Emirates Championship – Group 1 (PA) Dh1,000,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle

8pm: Abu Dhabi Championship – Group 3 (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Irish Freedom, Antonio Fresu, Satish Seemar

Defending champions

World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack

Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

Jawan
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAtlee%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shah%20Rukh%20Khan%2C%20Nayanthara%2C%20Vijay%20Sethupathi%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog

Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer

Favourite superhero: Batman

Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.

Favourite car: Lamborghini

What is graphene?

Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.

It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.

It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.

It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.

Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.

The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.

Countries offering golden visas

UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.

Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.

Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.

Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.

Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence. 

MATCH INFO

Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)

Third-place play-off: New Zealand v Wales, Friday, 1pm

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

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The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ

Price, base: Dh1,731,672

Engine: 6.5-litre V12

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm

Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm

Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km

Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist

The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Milkman by Anna Burns

Ordinary People by Diana Evans

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

Circe by Madeline Miller

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: from Dh155,000

On sale: now

Surianah's top five jazz artists

Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.  

Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.

Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.

Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.

Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Updated: September 10, 2022, 12:17 PM