Follow the latest news from the coronation of King Charles here
Thousands of royal fans have packed into the grounds of Windsor Castle to watch a star-studded line-up of artists perform at a concert to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation.
Household names appearing on the stage include Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Olly Murs, Take That, Nicole Scherzinger and Italian opera legend Andrea Bocelli.
The 20,000-strong audience will also be entertained by a choir of nurses, doctors and other workers in the UK’s National Health Service, the Royal Ballet, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Opera among others.
Ticket-holders, who started queueing at noon on the Long Walk will also watch pre-recorded video sketches from actors Tom Cruise and Dame Joan Collins, adventurer Bear Grylls.
Singer Tom Jones will use his message to reveal little-known facts about King Charles.
The show, which started at 8pm on Sunday, comes on the second day of coronation celebrations across the UK and the Commonwealth.
It is hosted by actor Hugh Bonneville, 59, best known for his role in Downton Abbey and the Paddington films. He said he was delighted to be announcing the acts.
"In true British style, come rain or shine it will be a night to remember,” Bonneville said.
His central role in the concert at the king's castle is seen as a nod to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who collaborated with Paddington Bear for a sketch to mark her platinum jubilee last summer.
DJ Pete Tong said King Charles specifically requested Ibiza classic songs as part of his coronation concert.
The BBC Radio 1 DJ, who has been given the task of delivering the king’s wish at the event, said he hoped it would be a brilliant way to start the show.
Sarah Edwards and her daughter Charlotte travelled from Suffolk to the royal town to attend the concert.
“We watched all the coronation on TV yesterday," Sarah said. “It made us really excited to be here today. I think it’s a big part of history for my daughter to be a part of.
“I’m really excited to be part of such a big day.”
Faatimah and Hafsah Malik had a much shorter journey as they live in nearby Slough.
The pair were excited to watch Katy Perry and were hoping to catch a glimpse of King Charles.
“I would like to meet them," Hafsah said. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It was really shocking to win the tickets.
“I love Kate. She has a really beautiful style. It’s very simple but elegant.”
Many royal fans had failed to get tickets to the sold-out event and instead opted to attend a free party on the lawn in front of the castle on Sunday afternoon.
The Prince and Princess of Wales made a surprise appearance at the gathering and chatted to revellers and performers.
Kate told The National that their three children were in good spirits after being in the spotlight at the coronation service at Westminster Abbey on Saturday.
Asked how Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were feeling after the big day, Kate told of their joy at participating in the ceremony.
“They’re good, thank you very much,” she told The National. “They enjoyed yesterday.”
While Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Louis sat with their parents in the abbey, George, nine, was seated separately as he acted as one of four Pages of Honour to the king.
Steven and Christine Birch basked in the afternoon sun on the Long Walk on Sunday afternoon, soaking up the celebratory atmosphere.
The couple travelled to London and Windsor for the coronation but sadly missed out on tickets to the concert. Instead, they attended the free picnic.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us," Mrs Birch told The National. "It's a piece of history. We come down for all the royal events. We loved watching the coronation yesterday."
Shakeela Ahmed and her niece Farah Mukhtar were also among the royal admirers who missed out on the concert.
Yet the women, originally from Pakistan, decided to go all-out for the royal occasion and donned Union Jack hijabs for the Big Lunch picnic.
Speaking to The National in the shadow of the castle, the two reminisced about being in the same spot in May 2018 to celebrate the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan.
"We were fasting for Ramadan but we still came to the celebrations," Shakeela said. "It was an amazing day.
"We even made it into Harry and Meghan's wedding book. There was a picture of us wearing Union Jack hijabs. It was seen as a symbol of multicultural Britain."
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 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
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Results
2.30pm: Expo 2020 Dubai – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: Barakka, Ray Dawson (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)
3.05pm: Now Or Never – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: One Idea, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson
3.40pm: This Is Our Time – Handicap (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Perfect Balance, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
4.15pm: Visit Expo 2020 – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Kaheall, Richard Mullen, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.50pm: The World In One Place – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1.900m; Winner: Castlebar, Adrie de Vries, Helal Al Alawi
5.25pm: Vision – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Shanty Star, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly
6pm: Al Wasl Plaza – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Jadwal, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
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.
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
England squad
Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dominic Bess, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Foakes, Lewis Gregory, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Amar Virdi, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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
Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
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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.
