Oils from the Mount of Olives are mixed with essential oils and blessed in Jerusalem by the Patriarch of Jerusalem to become chrism oil, which will be used in the coronation of King Charles III. PA
Oils from the Mount of Olives are mixed with essential oils and blessed in Jerusalem by the Patriarch of Jerusalem to become chrism oil, which will be used in the coronation of King Charles III. PA
Oils from the Mount of Olives are mixed with essential oils and blessed in Jerusalem by the Patriarch of Jerusalem to become chrism oil, which will be used in the coronation of King Charles III. PA
Oils from the Mount of Olives are mixed with essential oils and blessed in Jerusalem by the Patriarch of Jerusalem to become chrism oil, which will be used in the coronation of King Charles III. PA

King Charles's coronation holy oil made sacred in Jerusalem


Simon Rushton
  • English
  • Arabic

Chrism oil that will play a key role in the coronation of King Charles III has been made sacred at a ceremony in Jerusalem.

The Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, and the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, Rev Hosam Naoum, consecrated the holy oil in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Friday.

It was created using olives harvested from two groves on the Mount of Olives, at the Monastery of Mary Magdalene and the Monastery of the Ascension

The olives were pressed outside Bethlehem and the oil has been perfumed with sesame, rose, jasmine, cinnamon, neroli, benzoin and amber as well as orange blossom.

“I am honoured and grateful that His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III and Archbishop Hosam Naoum have consecrated the oil that will be used to anoint His Majesty the King” Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said.

“I want to thank especially His Beatitude for providing this coronation oil, which reflects the king's personal family connection with the Holy Land and his great care for its peoples.

The oil will be used to anoint King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla – one of the most sacred parts of the ceremony. PA
The oil will be used to anoint King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla – one of the most sacred parts of the ceremony. PA

“I am also delighted that the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem shared in the consecration of the oil.

“Since beginning of the planning for the coronation, my desire has been for a new coronation oil to be produced using olive oil from the Mount of Olives. This demonstrates the deep historic link between the coronation, the Bible and the Holy Land.

“From ancient kings through to the present day, monarchs have been anointed with oil from this sacred place. As we prepare to anoint the king and the queen consort, I pray that they would be guided and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.”

The oil will be used to anoint King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla — one of the most sacred parts of the ceremony.

The oil is based on what was used at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. PA
The oil is based on what was used at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. PA

The king will also receive the orb, coronation ring and sceptre, and will be crowned with the majestic St Edward's Crown and blessed during the historic ceremony on May 6.

Queen Consort Camilla will also be anointed with holy oil and crowned, as the Queen Mother was when she was crowned in 1937.

The oil is based on what was used at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the formula of which has been used for hundreds of years.

The anointing process involves the Archbishop of Canterbury pouring holy oil from the beak of the golden eagle-shaped ampulla on to a 12th-century, silver-gilt anointing spoon, the most ancient treasure of the Crown Jewels. He then uses the holy oil to anoint the hands, chest and head in the form of a cross.

Considered to be the most sacred part of the religious ceremony, the act of anointing a sovereign has not previously been seen by the public.

  • King Charles III at a Jewish community centre in London ahead of Hanukkah celebrations. AP
    King Charles III at a Jewish community centre in London ahead of Hanukkah celebrations. AP
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    The centre is open to all faiths and is a hub for arts, culture, social action and learning in North London. Reuters
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    The king and Dean of Westminster David Hoyle at the 'Together at Christmas' service at Westminster Abbey in London. PA
  • Front row left to right, King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Kate, Princess of Wales and Sophie, Countess of Wessex during the service. PA
    Front row left to right, King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Kate, Princess of Wales and Sophie, Countess of Wessex during the service. PA
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    The monarch inspects a chicken during a tour of a community kitchen in Harrow, Greater London. Getty
  • Another part of the kitchen tour. Getty
    Another part of the kitchen tour. Getty
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    The king visits Westminster Hall to unveil a plaque marking the place of the lying-in-state of Queen Elizabeth II. PA
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    AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot, is knighted at Windsor Castle. PA
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    King Charles meets guide dog Bobby at Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford. AP
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    The king and queen consort's Christmas card. Getty
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    King Charles at St Giles' Church in Wrexham at a celebration to mark the town becoming a city. AFP
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    The king and queen consort talk to Wrexham football club owners Ryan Reynolds, left, and Rob McElhenney, right. Getty
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    The monarch at the 40th anniversary celebration of Business in the Community at Central Hall Westminster in London. Reuters
  • The king at a diplomatic corps reception at Buckingham Palace. Getty
    The king at a diplomatic corps reception at Buckingham Palace. Getty
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    King Charles makes the traditional namaste gesture on a visit to the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Luton. AFP
  • The king at an event on the new cable transit system that will connect Luton rail station to Luton Airport. PA
    The king at an event on the new cable transit system that will connect Luton rail station to Luton Airport. PA
  • The king meets schoolchildren in Luton. AFP
    The king meets schoolchildren in Luton. AFP
  • The monarch visits the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile in London. AFP
    The monarch visits the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile in London. AFP
  • King Charles is presented with a maquette of Queen Elizabeth by South Australia Governor Frances Adamson and other Australian officials at Buckingham Palace. AFP
    King Charles is presented with a maquette of Queen Elizabeth by South Australia Governor Frances Adamson and other Australian officials at Buckingham Palace. AFP
  • The monarch meets Spain's King Felipe VI at Clarence House in London. AFP
    The monarch meets Spain's King Felipe VI at Clarence House in London. AFP
  • An audience with Jordan's King Abdullah II at Buckingham Palace. AFP
    An audience with Jordan's King Abdullah II at Buckingham Palace. AFP
  • The king and queen consort are shown a scaled replica of a statue of Queen Elizabeth on a visit to York Minster. AFP
    The king and queen consort are shown a scaled replica of a statue of Queen Elizabeth on a visit to York Minster. AFP
  • The king and queen consort formally mark the conferral of city status on Dunfermline in Scotland. AFP
    The king and queen consort formally mark the conferral of city status on Dunfermline in Scotland. AFP
  • The king with Prince William and his wife Kate at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London. AFP
    The king with Prince William and his wife Kate at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London. AFP
  • Laying a wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday in central London. AFP
    Laying a wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday in central London. AFP
  • The monarch with David Attenborough during a lunch at Buckingham Palace. AFP
    The monarch with David Attenborough during a lunch at Buckingham Palace. AFP
  • The monarch on a visit to Aberdeen. AFP
    The monarch on a visit to Aberdeen. AFP
  • Visiting St Bartholomew's Hospital in east London. AFP
    Visiting St Bartholomew's Hospital in east London. AFP
  • Arriving to reopen the refurbished Burrell Collection museum at Pollok Country Park in Glasgow. AFP
    Arriving to reopen the refurbished Burrell Collection museum at Pollok Country Park in Glasgow. AFP
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    With trainees during a visit to the Goldsmiths' Centre charity in London. AFP
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    Plants a lime tree at Buckingham Palace garden ahead of Cop27. AFP
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    With British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, fashion designer Stella McCartney and US climate envoy John Kerry at Buckingham Palace. AFP
  • The Princess of Wales, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and the queen consort listen to the king during a banquet at Buckingham Palace. AFP
    The Princess of Wales, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and the queen consort listen to the king during a banquet at Buckingham Palace. AFP
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    Meeting Kuwait's UK ambassador Bader Al Awadi at Buckingham Palace. AFP
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    Greeting Mr Sunak at Buckingham Palace on his appointment as Prime Minister. AFP
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    King Charles walks behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth during a procession from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster. AFP
  • The king greets then-prime minister Liz Truss at Buckingham Palace. AFP
    The king greets then-prime minister Liz Truss at Buckingham Palace. AFP

During Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953, a canopy was held over the monarch’s head to protect her privacy.

King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla are reportedly considering using a transparent canopy, which will make the pair the first in British history to be publicly anointed.

The coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, “while being rooted in long-standing traditions and pageantry”, said Buckingham Palace.

The crowning of a monarch is one of Britain's most ancient ceremonies, being deeply religious and steeped in regalia, such as the Crown Jewels.

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953 was one of the defining moments of the 20th century. King Charles's coronation will be shorter and on a smaller scale but will still retain the pageantry and tradition that was on display with such aplomb at the queen's funeral.

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

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

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

Non-oil%20trade
%3Cp%3ENon-oil%20trade%20between%20the%20UAE%20and%20Japan%20grew%20by%2034%20per%20cent%20over%20the%20past%20two%20years%2C%20according%20to%20data%20from%20the%20Federal%20Competitiveness%20and%20Statistics%20Centre.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%2010%20years%2C%20it%20has%20reached%20a%20total%20of%20Dh524.4%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECars%20topped%20the%20list%20of%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20re-exported%20to%20Japan%20in%202022%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh1.3%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJewellery%20and%20ornaments%20amounted%20to%20Dh150%20million%20while%20precious%20metal%20scraps%20amounted%20to%20Dh105%20million.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERaw%20aluminium%20was%20ranked%20first%20among%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20exported%20to%20Japan.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETop%20of%20the%20list%20of%20commodities%20imported%20from%20Japan%20in%202022%20was%20cars%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh20.08%20billion.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks

As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.

The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.

Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.

Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
 

Not taxed:

Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

Updated: March 03, 2023, 10:00 PM