The coronation of Britain's King Charles III is to be screened live on Dubai's Queen Elizabeth II floating hotel anchored at Port Rashid on Saturday, May 6.
It will be the third historic royal event in British history to draw a crowd on board the ocean liner, now retired in Dubai.
Live screening of King Charles’s coronation follows the events staged on the luxury vessel to mark the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in May, followed by her funeral procession four months later.
Large screens will be set up inside the ship’s ballroom and other dining venues to allow guests to watch the coronation day’s events.
"We're thrilled to be able to offer our guests the chance to watch this historic moment live," said Ferghal Purcell, general manager of the QE2.
"We believe that this will be a once-in-a-lifetime event and we wanted to create a special atmosphere for our guests to enjoy it in."
The Queen's Room, one of the ship's grandest spaces, will serve a British-themed buffet while a three-course buffet will be offered at the Queen’s Grill.
The ship’s Golden Lion pub, the oldest in Dubai, will serve traditional British dishes while broadcasting the ceremony on several screens.
The coronation service at Westminster Abbey conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will begin at 2pm UAE time and be attended by about 2,000 guests from around the world.
King Charles’s procession will carry the monarch and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey inside the diamond jubilee stage coach.
The royal couple will then travel back via Parliament Square in the 260-year-old gold state coach, along Whitehall, around Trafalgar Square, through Admiralty Arch and down The Mall back to Buckingham Palace.
For the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, crowds filled the vessel's dining rooms and corridors to take in a significant moment in history, with similar numbers expected to visit the QE2 for next month's momentous coronation.
“We are delighted to be supporting the Queen Elizabeth II royal event,” said Visit Britain’s interim deputy director Carol Maddison.
“As the world turns its attention to the historic coronation, we’ve got a fantastic opportunity to highlight Great Britain’s world-renowned attractions, culture and heritage.
“Our latest research shows the draw of Britain’s history and heritage in driving inbound tourism and our renowned heritage, royal legacy and pomp and pageantry are proven tourism draws.”
UK prepares for royal coronation - in pictures
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Royal enthusiasts at their impromptu campsite on The Mall in London, where they await the May 6 coronation procession of King Charles III. Getty -
Police officers patrol near Westminster Abbey as security is heightened for the coronation. AFP -
A telephone box in the village of Compton, Surrey, decorated with the ears, nose and crown of King Charles. AFP -
A royal fan takes a break after booking his spot on the coronation route in London. AP -
Town crier Tony Appleton takes the train into central London. AFP -
The drum major's state coat, adorned with the new CR III cypher, to be worn during the coronation. AFP -
Decorations are put up outside Number 10 Downing Street in London. AP -
A royal fan gets into the spirit of the coronation on the Mall outside Buckingham Palace. Reuters -
Yeoman of the Guard, the British sovereign's bodyguards, prepare to board a bus in London. Getty -
The UK's military held a full dress rehearsal for the coronation ceremony of King Charles III on Tuesday night. Reuters -
A royal fan sleeps at The Mall outside Buckingham Palace as the countdown to the coronation continues. Reuters -
Big Ben, in central London, is lit up during a rehearsal for the ceremony. PA -
An art installation in London depicts St Edward's Crown. AP -
Madame Tussauds in Sydney, Australia, unveils a waxwork figure of King Charles, alongside figures of Prince William and his wife Kate. Reuters -
Royalists have slept out on The Mall in London for days for the best view of the ceremony. EPA -
A knitted coronation-themed postbox topper in Isleworth, London. AP -
Tailor William Skinner with a ceremonial uniform on Savile Row, London, before the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, on May 6. Reuters -
Caroline de Guitaut, deputy surveyor of the King's Works of Art, adjusts the imperial mantle, a part of the coronation vestments, in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
A banner celebrating the coronation at Kings Cross Station in London. AP -
Upholsterer Beatrice Ekwalla works on restoring a throne chair for the coronation at the Marlborough House workshops in London. AFP -
Royal fan Margaret Tyler poses for a portrait in the living room of her home in north London. EPA -
Parliament Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle with the Speaker's State Coach. PA -
Violinist Adrianna Forbes-Dorant, 17, takes part in a rehearsal with the Brixton Chamber Orchestra for coronation performances in London. AP -
British Army soldiers rehearse at RAF Odiham for a coronation parade. Getty -
Shoppers browse souvenirs for the coronation of King Charles III outside the Houses of Parliament in London. Reuters -
Temporary stands are constructed on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace, central London. PA -
Members of the military pass by Westminster Abbey in central London during a night-time rehearsal for the coronation. AP -
Britain's Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, attends a Coronation Big Lunch at Westminster Abbey. Reuters -
The London Scottish Band in Burlington Arcade, London, at an unveiling of a celebratory installation to mark the coronation. PA -
A crown is placed on top of a flagpole on The Mall in London. Getty Images -
The official 'Crowning of the King' souvenir programme sits on a shop shelf in central London. AFP -
Workers prepare the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the big event. AFP -
Ardent monarchist Anita Atkinson sits among her 13,283 pieces of royal memorabilia at her Weardale farm near Bishop Auckland. AFP -
Members of the Household Cavalry take part in a rehearsal for the coronation at Buckingham Palace. Getty Images -
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will travel to the coronation in the modern Diamond Jubilee State Coach and return in the Gold State Coach, pictured. PA -
A potter works on chinaware produced for the coronation at a factory in Stoke-on-Trent. AFP -
The Coronation Chair, also known as St Edward's Chair or King Edward's Chair, at Westminster Abbey in London. AFP -
King Charles is presented with the first struck £5 coronation coin by Royal Mint chief executive Anne Jessopp and director Rebecca Morgan at Windsor Castle. Reuters -
The first struck £5 coronation coin. Reuters -
A member of staff at Fudge Kitchen puts up bunting in Windsor. PA -
A crown made by British milliner Justin Smith, created using 319 Scrabble tiles to mark the board game's 75th anniversary and the coronation. PA -
People browse a souvenir kiosk in London. Reuters -
The new commemorative 50p coin, part of the coronation coin collection. PA
