Prince George of Wales tries his hand at archery at the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut, in Slough, near London. Getty
Prince George of Wales tries his hand at archery at the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut, in Slough, near London. Getty
Prince George of Wales tries his hand at archery at the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut, in Slough, near London. Getty
Prince George of Wales tries his hand at archery at the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut, in Slough, near London. Getty

Royal family join Big Help Out in bid to create lasting legacy in King Charles's name


Marwa Hassan
  • English
  • Arabic

Follow the latest news from the coronation of King Charles here

The young royals kept up their starring roles in the celebrations for King Charles's coronation with an appearance at the Big Help Out, a UK-wide volunteering event that aims to create a lasting legacy in honour of the monarch.

Prince Louis, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte joined their parents, Prince William and Kate, assisting in the renovation and improvement of the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, near London.

Prince George was seen using a drill, while Princess Charlotte painted doors, and Prince Louis helped with interior decorating under the guidance of the Princess of Wales.

The young royals also enjoyed toasting marshmallows over a barbecue and tried their hand at archery.

There were 52,000 registered Big Help Out events and six million people were expected to take part.

The king and queen did not take part in the final day of activities.

A Buckingham Palace representative said: “While wholly supportive of the Big Help Out initiatives taking place right across Britain on Monday May 7, [the king and queen] will not be attending any events in person. These will instead be attended by other members of the royal family.”

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh visited a Guide Dogs charity in Berkshire, participating in training exercises with Labrador retrievers.

At the pop-up Coronation Cafe, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie attempted to put branded harnesses on the dogs and helped train the puppies to resist distractions, such as treats displayed on a union-flagged, cardboard London bus.

  • Watched by his mother Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George tries his hand at archery while taking part in the Big Help Out, in Slough, west of London on Monday. AFP
    Watched by his mother Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George tries his hand at archery while taking part in the Big Help Out, in Slough, west of London on Monday. AFP
  • Princess Charlotte gives it a go as celebrations for King Charles III's coronation drew to a close on Monday with a nationwide volunteering drive. PA
    Princess Charlotte gives it a go as celebrations for King Charles III's coronation drew to a close on Monday with a nationwide volunteering drive. PA
  • Prince Louis sees if he can add some strings to his bow. PA
    Prince Louis sees if he can add some strings to his bow. PA
  • The Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis joined volunteers to help renovate and improve the 3rd Upton Scouts' hut in Slough, as part of the Big Help Out. PA
    The Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis joined volunteers to help renovate and improve the 3rd Upton Scouts' hut in Slough, as part of the Big Help Out. PA
  • Prince George helps out with some woodwork as Britain enjoyed a bank holiday for the coronation weekend. Getty
    Prince George helps out with some woodwork as Britain enjoyed a bank holiday for the coronation weekend. Getty
  • The young royals watch on as a Big Help Out event takes place in Slough. Getty
    The young royals watch on as a Big Help Out event takes place in Slough. Getty
  • The Princess of Wales and Prince Louis watch Prince William (not pictured) use a digger. Reuters
    The Princess of Wales and Prince Louis watch Prince William (not pictured) use a digger. Reuters
  • Prince Louis grabs a shovel to help out. AP
    Prince Louis grabs a shovel to help out. AP
  • Prince George tries out some hand-painting at the 3rd Upton Scouts' hut in Slough, where the royals joined volunteers helping to renovate and improve the building. AFP
    Prince George tries out some hand-painting at the 3rd Upton Scouts' hut in Slough, where the royals joined volunteers helping to renovate and improve the building. AFP
  • Prince Louis admires some of his handiwork. AFP
    Prince Louis admires some of his handiwork. AFP
  • Prince William and his son Prince Louis try out using the controls of a digger in the scout hut grounds. Getty
    Prince William and his son Prince Louis try out using the controls of a digger in the scout hut grounds. Getty
  • The Prince of Wales and Prince Louis joined volunteers as countless events were held across Britain under the Big Help Out drive. PA
    The Prince of Wales and Prince Louis joined volunteers as countless events were held across Britain under the Big Help Out drive. PA
  • Princess Charlotte stains some wood. Getty
    Princess Charlotte stains some wood. Getty

Prince Edward successfully guided a dog named Sunny away from the treats, earning praise from one of the trainers.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester visited the Coptic Orthodox Church in London, where young volunteers were holding a coronation street party.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, who crowned King Charles III, participated in the Big Help Out by serving lunch at Catching Lives, a homeless charity in Canterbury.

Wearing a denim Bon Jovi apron, the Most Rev Justin Welby and his wife, Caroline, handed out plates of cottage pie during the national volunteering drive.

A Lambeth Palace representative expressed delight at the enthusiasm and support for the coronation, as well as the positive impact of the Big Lunch and Big Help Out events on communities.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, joined volunteers at a Hertfordshire community centre as part of the day's events.

The couple helped prepare and serve lunch at a club for the elderly, chopping strawberries and parsnips for the meal.

Mr Sunak jokingly took responsibility for any dip in lunch quality, telling attendees: “If the lunch today isn't as good as it normally is, you know whose fault that is.”

The Together Coalition, in partnership with the Scout Association, the Royal Voluntary Service and faith groups organised the Big Help Out day.

The event seeks to demonstrate the positive impact of volunteering on communities and inspire individuals to engage in volunteering efforts.

Members of the public were encouraged to take up hundreds of thousands of volunteering roles during the extra bank holiday, with more than 1,500 charities involved.

An app was developed to help people find volunteering opportunities in areas such as elderly care, environmental conservation and animal welfare.

The extra bank holiday concluded a long weekend of celebrations.

On Sunday night, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended a star-studded coronation concert at Windsor Castle featuring actors, singers and entertainers, and with a surprise appearance by Kermit the Frog.

The concert celebrated King Charles's life, from his service in the Armed Forces to his passion for the arts and his charitable work.

The Prince of Wales paid tribute to his father before the 20,000-strong audience, saying: “Pa, we are all so proud of you.”

The king's lifelong connection to aviation was also celebrated on Sunday at the King and Country Air Show in Bedford.

A De Havilland Chipmunk WP903 in which the King learnt to fly in 1969 took part in the event, alongside various other vintage military aeroplanes.

Euro 2020

Group A: Italy, Switzerland, Wales, Turkey 

Group B: Belgium, Russia, Denmark, Finland

Group C: Netherlands, Ukraine, Austria, 
Georgia/Kosovo/Belarus/North Macedonia

Group D: England, Croatia, Czech Republic, 
Scotland/Israel/Norway/Serbia

Group E: Spain, Poland, Sweden, 
N.Ireland/Bosnia/Slovakia/Ireland

Group F: Germany, France, Portugal, 
Iceland/Romania/Bulgaria/Hungary

Sreesanth's India bowling career

Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40

ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55

T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12

What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

The Africa Institute 101

Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction. 

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

MATCH INFO

Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')

Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')

The bio

Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France

Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines

Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.

Favourite Author: My father for sure

Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst

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

UAE%20ILT20
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Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

The specs

Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6

Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm

Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Kerb weight: 1580kg

Price: From Dh750k

On sale: via special order

New UK refugee system

 

  • A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
  • Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
  • A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
  • To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
  • Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
  • Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

500 People from Gaza enter France

115 Special programme for artists

25   Evacuation of injured and sick

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E6.5-litre%20V12%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E725hp%20at%207%2C750rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E716Nm%20at%206%2C250rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EQ4%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C650%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Updated: May 08, 2023, 5:34 PM