It has often been remarked that taking up the job he was born to inhabit at the age of 73 means King Charles III has served the longest apprenticeship ever observed.
This means the tests for the new British monarch can be easily identified. King Charles must connect with the people to become a guide in changing times. How he reflects the role of religion in society is one of the standout issues facing his reign.
There was a heavy hint of this in his first King's Speech just ahead of his formal accession. “Whatever may be your background or beliefs, I shall endeavour to serve you with loyalty, respect and love, as I have throughout my life,” he said.
There was more than a flavour of the famous pledge of lifelong service that Queen Elizabeth fulfilled in her long tenure on the throne. King Charles gave over the bulk of his speech to a personal tribute to his mother that was heartfelt and sincere, but the business end of the address was in the above quote. It was his personal manifesto to his subjects of what they could expect from his time as head of state.
Queen Elizabeth herself was deeply dedicated to her role as head of the established Church of England. She defined the role of that church as an institution that carved out the space for all religions in the country to enjoy the freedom to worship. In doing so, she went far down the road offering parity of esteem but held, ultimately, to the single foundation of the Anglican church as the prism for her religious interventions.
While the departed monarch was very identified with her own religion, King Charles has a long history of immersion in other faiths as well as his own. He has been very keen to show an openness not only to the tenants of other faiths but the variety of practice and the separate ethos that underpin religion.
This is an important distinction because the vast changes in British society under Queen Elizabeth were, in some ways, the most important element of her rule. This has seen the emergence of a multi-ethnic, cultural and religious society. King Charles was a keen student of the impact of these changes when he was Prince of Wales.
Now he gets the chance to embed new approaches in the institution of the monarchy, whose mission is to remain an emblem of British life.
As far back as 1994, King Charles talked about carving out a role as a “defender of faith”. This would have been a subtle change in the coronation oath that included the line that the monarch would act as a “defender of the faith”, signifying the Anglican faith.
The coronation is an event that is likely to take place at a much later date, and it seems there will be no changing of the language when that sacred and opulent ceremony takes place. King Charles himself does not push for the vital “the” to be dropped. “It’s always seemed to me that, while at the same time being defender of the faith, you can also be protector of faiths,” he said at one point.
Many things have moved on since he first trailed these thoughts.
As was evidenced on accession day, the history of the current dynasty is tied up with the split between Protestant and the Roman Catholic streams. It is still a central part of the declarations and proclamations that the new monarch must make. And it is up to King Charles to craft the wider messages that include other religions as well.
What lies ahead for the UK is an exercise in building over the void left by the departure of Queen Elizabeth. The qualities she possessed allowed the nation to look to her for some guidance at pivotal times. This kind of reassurance stemmed from her ability to channel the national mood. There were several occasions when she got it horribly wrong, but for the most part she was a class act.
King Charles noted that one of the changes for him would be that he would not have the time or ability to devote to the charities and causes that he was particularly associated with as heir to the throne. It is, therefore, right that he can find a role in giving cohesion to the British ways of faith and identity.
The messages and gestures that he shapes and delivers in these areas have a crucial role for this monarchy. Divides have already been eroded in everyday life by time and familiarity.
The next step must be to embed new openness to all faiths in the system and how it communicates with the country. This leadership will be important on an international level, not least in the Middle East, where the structure binding together the Abrahamic faiths is a pillar of unity.
It will be just as important for all those communities in Britain that want a monarch serving them with loyalty, love and respect – whatever be the values and ideals that they cherish as individuals and as members of society.
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MATCH INFO
Southampton 0
Manchester City 1 (Sterling 16')
Man of the match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Zayed Sustainability Prize
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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.”
Five films to watch
Castle in the Sky (1986)
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Only Yesterday (1991)
Pom Poki (1994)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
Secret Nation: The Hidden Armenians of Turkey
Avedis Hadjian, (IB Tauris)
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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