A member of the Royal School of Needlework works on the chair of state of Queen Consort Camilla before the coronation. PA
A member of the Royal School of Needlework works on the chair of state of Queen Consort Camilla before the coronation. PA
A member of the Royal School of Needlework works on the chair of state of Queen Consort Camilla before the coronation. PA
A member of the Royal School of Needlework works on the chair of state of Queen Consort Camilla before the coronation. PA

The chairs of state: A look at some of the most important symbols of the monarchy


Marwa Hassan
  • English
  • Arabic

Follow the latest news from the coronation of King Charles here

The UK has a rich history of chairs of state, which hold great significance in royal ceremonies and symbolise the power and authority of the British monarchy.

Among the most prominent are the Chairs of Estate and the Throne Chairs, each playing a distinct role in the coronation ceremonies of British monarchs.

Crafted for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1953, the Chairs of Estate have been meticulously conserved and reupholstered.

These regal chairs mark the beginning of the service during coronation ceremonies.

The Throne Chairs, commissioned for the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, in 1937, have also been preserved and reupholstered for use in future coronations.

During the coronation ceremony, the sovereign and their consort are seated on the Chairs of Estate, and the Archbishop of Canterbury administers the oath.

After the anointing and crowning, the newly crowned monarch moves to the Throne Chairs, signifying the completion of the most solemn part of the ceremony and the commencement of the homage segment.

Chairs of state in the UK, including the Chairs of Estate and Throne Chairs, are characterised by their large size, ornate design, luxurious upholstery and gold or silver embellishments.

These opulent chairs grace formal events such as coronations, state banquets and religious ceremonies.

One of the UK's most renowned chairs of state is the Coronation Chair, also known as King Edward's Chair.

  • Phillip Williams, 86, from East Sussex, was 16 when Queen Elizabeth II was crowned and worked a 15-hour shift as a young police cadet. All photos: Reuters
    Phillip Williams, 86, from East Sussex, was 16 when Queen Elizabeth II was crowned and worked a 15-hour shift as a young police cadet. All photos: Reuters
  • The helmet of retired Metropolitan Police officer Phillip Williams is displayed in his home in East Sussex
    The helmet of retired Metropolitan Police officer Phillip Williams is displayed in his home in East Sussex
  • Alan Francis, 93, a retired police officer, at his home in Orpington, Kent
    Alan Francis, 93, a retired police officer, at his home in Orpington, Kent
  • A City of London Police ornament belonging to Alan Francis, who was stationed outside Westminster Abbey during the queen's coronation
    A City of London Police ornament belonging to Alan Francis, who was stationed outside Westminster Abbey during the queen's coronation
  • Brenda Piper, 88, left rear, with friends as they wait for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation procession to pass by in Piccadilly
    Brenda Piper, 88, left rear, with friends as they wait for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation procession to pass by in Piccadilly
  • A letter from Queen Elizabeth II to Angela Cumlin, 97, thanking her for the birthday wishes she sent to the queen
    A letter from Queen Elizabeth II to Angela Cumlin, 97, thanking her for the birthday wishes she sent to the queen
  • Norman Allen, 86, was 16 and a boy scout at the time of coronation in 1953. He volunteered to sell programmes on The Mall during the ceremony
    Norman Allen, 86, was 16 and a boy scout at the time of coronation in 1953. He volunteered to sell programmes on The Mall during the ceremony
  • Pamela Tawse, 88, was 18 in 1953 and attended the coronation procession with a friend after working a night shift at St Bart's Hospital
    Pamela Tawse, 88, was 18 in 1953 and attended the coronation procession with a friend after working a night shift at St Bart's Hospital
  • Old photographs of Tom Weatherall, 89, including one, centre, of him and a friend before the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
    Old photographs of Tom Weatherall, 89, including one, centre, of him and a friend before the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
  • Muriel Tredinnick, 103, in her bedroom at the Rokewood Court Care Home in Kenley. In 1953 she visited a friend's house to watch the crowning on TV, the first time in her life she had watched television
    Muriel Tredinnick, 103, in her bedroom at the Rokewood Court Care Home in Kenley. In 1953 she visited a friend's house to watch the crowning on TV, the first time in her life she had watched television
  • Rev Milton Job, 90, in the Celestial Church of Christ in south-east London. Rev Job, who moved to the UK in 1961 from Nigeria, was 20 at the time of the coronation and enjoyed an Empire Day festival with his community on the day of the event
    Rev Milton Job, 90, in the Celestial Church of Christ in south-east London. Rev Job, who moved to the UK in 1961 from Nigeria, was 20 at the time of the coronation and enjoyed an Empire Day festival with his community on the day of the event
  • Information about Yvonne (Eve) Harewood, 83, on the door of her bedroom at the Peartree Care Home in London. Harewood, who is originally from Singapore, watched the event on television with her sister and her school friends
    Information about Yvonne (Eve) Harewood, 83, on the door of her bedroom at the Peartree Care Home in London. Harewood, who is originally from Singapore, watched the event on television with her sister and her school friends
  • Angela Cumlin, 97, at home in London. Cumlin, who is Italian and moved to the UK in 1947, shares a birthday with the late queen and attended a party on the street where she still lives today
    Angela Cumlin, 97, at home in London. Cumlin, who is Italian and moved to the UK in 1947, shares a birthday with the late queen and attended a party on the street where she still lives today
  • Olive Goldsmith, 90, at home in London. In 1953 she didn't know anyone with a television so she attended a street party with her baby and two friends
    Olive Goldsmith, 90, at home in London. In 1953 she didn't know anyone with a television so she attended a street party with her baby and two friends
  • A basket belonging to Pamela Tawse, 88, who said in 1953 she 'could see nothing due to the density of the crowds'. But 'suddenly there was an almighty roar and above the crowds we could see the top of the Coronation Coach pass by,' she said. 'We were there, participating in the coronation.'
    A basket belonging to Pamela Tawse, 88, who said in 1953 she 'could see nothing due to the density of the crowds'. But 'suddenly there was an almighty roar and above the crowds we could see the top of the Coronation Coach pass by,' she said. 'We were there, participating in the coronation.'
  • A portrait from 1953 of Reverend Milton Job and a photograph from 2008 of Queen Elizabeth II awarding him with an MBE on display at the Celestial Church of Christ, in south-east London
    A portrait from 1953 of Reverend Milton Job and a photograph from 2008 of Queen Elizabeth II awarding him with an MBE on display at the Celestial Church of Christ, in south-east London
  • Brenda Piper, 88, with her daughter's cat Bueno. Piper was 19 in 1953 when she camped overnight on the route with her friends to get a good spot to watch the coronation procession
    Brenda Piper, 88, with her daughter's cat Bueno. Piper was 19 in 1953 when she camped overnight on the route with her friends to get a good spot to watch the coronation procession
  • Yvonne Harewood, 83, originally from Singapore, watched the event on television with her sister and her school friends
    Yvonne Harewood, 83, originally from Singapore, watched the event on television with her sister and her school friends
  • Royal Air Force veteran Tom Weatherall, 89, who received an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II was 19 at the time of the coronation and part of the procession
    Royal Air Force veteran Tom Weatherall, 89, who received an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II was 19 at the time of the coronation and part of the procession
  • Alex Falk, 86, who was 16 in 1953, was inside Westminster Abbey for his job as a runner for Reuters and at the time did not realise the significance of the coronation
    Alex Falk, 86, who was 16 in 1953, was inside Westminster Abbey for his job as a runner for Reuters and at the time did not realise the significance of the coronation

Housed in Westminster Abbey, this historic chair has been used for the coronation of British monarchs since the 14th century.

The Chairs of Estate and Throne Chairs not only represent the importance of those seated upon them but also inspire awe and respect in observers.

As enduring symbols in British royal history, these chairs of state continue to reflect the grand tradition and significance of the monarchy.

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Director: Romany Saad
Starring: Mirfat Amin, Boumi Fouad and Tariq Al Ibyari

A Dog's Journey 

Directed by: Gail Mancuso

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott

3 out of 5 stars

Awar Qalb

Director: Jamal Salem

Starring: Abdulla Zaid, Joma Ali, Neven Madi and Khadija Sleiman

Two stars

The Lowdown

Kesari

Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Anubhav Singh
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra

 

Huroob Ezterari

Director: Ahmed Moussa

Starring: Ahmed El Sakka, Amir Karara, Ghada Adel and Moustafa Mohammed

Three stars

The Dictionary of Animal Languages
Heidi Sopinka
​​​​​​​Scribe

Five healthy carbs and how to eat them

Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand

Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat  

Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar

Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices

Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants

Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique

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

RESULTS
%3Cp%3E3.30pm%3A%20Al%20Maktoum%20Challenge%20Round%203%20%E2%80%93%20Group%201%20(PA)%20%2475%2C000%20(Dirt)%202%2C000m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Jugurtha%20De%20Monlau%2C%20Pat%20Dobbs%20(jockey)%2C%20Jean-Claude%20Pecout%20(trainer)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E4.05pm%3A%20Dubai%20City%20Of%20Gold%20%E2%80%93%20Group%202%20(TB)%20%24250%2C000%20(Turf)%202%2C410m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Global%20Storm%2C%20William%20Buick%2C%20Charlie%20Appleby%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E4.40pm%3A%20Burj%20Nahaar%20%E2%80%93%20Group%203%20(TB)%20%24250%2C000%20(D)%201%2C600m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Discovery%20Island%2C%20James%20Doyle%2C%20Bhupat%20Seemar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E5.15pm%3A%20Nad%20Al%20Sheba%20Turf%20Sprint%20%E2%80%93%20Group%203%20(TB)%20%24250%2C000%20(T)%201%2C200m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Al%20Dasim%2C%20Mickael%20Barzalona%2C%20George%20Boughey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E5.50pm%3A%20Al%20Bastakiya%20%E2%80%93%20Listed%20(TB)%20%24170%2C000%20(D)%201%2C900m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Go%20Soldier%20Go%2C%20Adrie%20de%20Vries%2C%20Fawzi%20Nass%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E6.25pm%3A%20Al%20Maktoum%20Challenge%20Round%203%20%E2%80%93%20Group%201%20(TB)%20%24450%2C000%20(D)%202%2C000m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Salute%20The%20Soldier%2C%20Adrie%20de%20Vries%2C%20Fawzi%20Nass%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E7.10pm%3A%20Ras%20Al%20Khor%20%E2%80%93%20Conditions%20(TB)%20%24300%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Al%20Suhail%2C%20William%20Buick%2C%20Charlie%20Appleby%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E7.45pm%3A%20Jebel%20Hatta%20%E2%80%93%20Group%201%20(TB)%20%24350%2C000%20(T)%201%2C800m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Alfareeq%2C%20Dane%20O%E2%80%99Neill%2C%20Charlie%20Appleby%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E8.20pm%3A%20Mahab%20Al%20Shimaal%20%E2%80%93%20Group%203%20(TB)%20%24250%2C000%20(D)%201%2C200m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Sound%20Money%2C%20Mickael%20Barzalona%2C%20Bhupat%20Seemar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

MATCH INFO

FA Cup fifth round

Chelsea v Manchester United, Monday, 11.30pm (UAE), BeIN Sports

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

From Conquest to Deportation

Jeronim Perovic, Hurst

Specs

Engine: 3.0L twin-turbo V6
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 405hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 562Nm at 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.2L/100km
Price: From Dh292,845 (Reserve); from Dh320,145 (Presidential)
On sale: Now

Traits of Chinese zodiac animals

Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent   

Torbal Rayeh Wa Jayeh
Starring: Ali El Ghoureir, Khalil El Roumeithy, Mostafa Abo Seria
Stars: 3

Dubai World Cup nominations

UAE: Thunder Snow/Saeed bin Suroor (trainer), North America/Satish Seemar, Drafted/Doug Watson, New Trails/Ahmad bin Harmash, Capezzano, Gronkowski, Axelrod, all trained by Salem bin Ghadayer

USA: Seeking The Soul/Dallas Stewart, Imperial Hunt/Luis Carvajal Jr, Audible/Todd Pletcher, Roy H/Peter Miller, Yoshida/William Mott, Promises Fulfilled/Dale Romans, Gunnevera/Antonio Sano, XY Jet/Jorge Navarro, Pavel/Doug O’Neill, Switzerland/Steve Asmussen.

Japan: Matera Sky/Hideyuki Mori, KT Brace/Haruki Sugiyama. Bahrain: Nine Below Zero/Fawzi Nass. Ireland: Tato Key/David Marnane. Hong Kong: Fight Hero/Me Tsui. South Korea: Dolkong/Simon Foster.

The 12

England

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur

Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus

Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid

AL%20BOOM
%3Cp%20style%3D%22text-align%3Ajustify%3B%22%3E%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3BDirector%3AAssad%20Al%20Waslati%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%20style%3D%22text-align%3Ajustify%3B%22%3E%0DStarring%3A%20Omar%20Al%20Mulla%2C%20Badr%20Hakami%20and%20Rehab%20Al%20Attar%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20ADtv%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

TOURNAMENT INFO

Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier

Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November

UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi

Results

Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent

Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent

Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Updated: May 06, 2023, 10:55 AM