UK’s Elizabeth wants Charles’ wife to be ‘Queen Camilla’ when he’s king

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has offered her support to have the Duchess of Cornwall (right) become Queen Camilla in due time. (AP file photo)
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Updated 06 February 2022
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UK’s Elizabeth wants Charles’ wife to be ‘Queen Camilla’ when he’s king

  • The queen's statement cements the Duchess of Cornwall's place at the heart of the royal family
  • Camilla used to be judged an outsider in a nation that loves Charles’ ill-fated first wife, Princess Diana

LONDON: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth said on Saturday that she wants Prince Charles’ wife Camilla to be styled Queen Consort when he becomes king, cementing her place at the heart of the royal family after once being judged an outsider.
In a letter written to mark the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne, Elizabeth said the occasion had given her pause to reflect upon the loyalty and affection shown to her by the British public.
She said she hoped Charles and Camilla would receive the same support.
“(It) is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service,” Elizabeth said.
Charles and Camilla, long-time lovers, were married in 2005 in a civil ceremony in Windsor. Their Clarence House residence said on Saturday that they were “touched and honored by Her Majesty’s words.”
Elizabeth’s move reflects a wider acceptance of Camilla’s status as a royal.
Tabloid newspapers no longer target her as they did in the decade following the death in 1997 of Charles’ first wife, Princess Diana.
Camilla — whose current title is Duchess of Cornwall — now regularly represents the royal family alongside Charles during official duties.

Throughout British history, the wife of a king typically is given the title Queen Consort. At the time of their marriage, it had been officially decided that Camilla would use the title Princess Consort if Charles were to become king.
While Elizabeth on Sunday celebrates 70 years on the British throne — an unprecedented stretch — the anniversary comes at a time of tumult for the royal family.
From the US sex abuse court case facing her son Prince Andrew to allegations by her grandson Prince Harry and his wife of racism in the royal household, rarely has the 95-year-old Elizabeth’s family faced such scrutiny and damaging headlines.
Last year she lost her husband of 73 years, Philip, whom she acknowledged in her letter on Saturday.
“I was blessed that in Prince Philip I had a partner willing to carry out the role of consort and unselfishly make the sacrifices that go with it. It is a role I saw my own mother perform during my father’s reign,” Elizabeth said.

Pomp and poignancy
Earlier on Saturday, Elizabeth kicked off celebrations for the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne by inviting local community groups to her Sandringham residence in the east of England.
The queen, pictured smiling and wearing a light blue dress, cut a celebratory cake baked by a local resident and heard a rendition of “Congratulations” played by a concert band.
“I remain eternally grateful for, and humbled by, the loyalty and affection that you continue to give me,” she said in her letter to the public.
Ironically Elizabeth was not destined to be monarch at her birth, and became queen only because her uncle Edward VIII abdicated to be with American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
But in 2015, she overtook Victoria as Britain’s longest-reigning sovereign in a line that traces its origin back to Norman King William I and his 1066 conquest of England.
This weekend’s low-key events are a prelude to more pomp and ceremony to mark the platinum jubilee in early June, when the government will add an extra public holiday.
But Elizabeth said the anniversary was to her one of reflection and poignancy.
“It is a day that, even after 70 years, I still remember as much for the death of my father, King George VI, as for the start of my reign,” she wrote.
“As we mark this anniversary, it gives me pleasure to renew to you the pledge I gave in 1947 that my life will always be devoted to your service.” 


Christian Dior retrospective opens in Riyadh

Updated 39 min 47 sec ago
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Christian Dior retrospective opens in Riyadh

  • The exhibition, at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia until April 2, explores the legacy of the fashion designer and his successors through a specially curated narrative

RIYADH: An exhibition celebrating the life and work of fashion designer Christian Dior is now open at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia as part of this year’s Riyadh Season.

“Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams,” a retrospective covering more than 75 years of his creativity and design and the work he inspired, is a collaboration between the French fashion house and Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority.

“Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” is a collaboration between the French fashion house and GEA. (Supplied)

The event, which runs until April 2, explores the legacy of Dior and his successors through a fresh narrative specially curated for the show by art historian Florence Muller and scenographer Nathalie Criniere.

The exhibition covers more than 75 years of creativity and design and the work Dior inspired. (Supplied)

Highlights include tributes to some of Dior’s classic designs, such as Miss Dior and J’adore, and an homage to the Lady Dior bag in the form of the Dior Lady Art project.

Faisal Bafarat, the CEO of the General Entertainment Authority, officially opened the exhibition on Wednesday. Tickets are available from the WeBook platform.


Where We Are Going Today: Soul Bowl restaurant in Riyadh

Updated 21 November 2024
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Where We Are Going Today: Soul Bowl restaurant in Riyadh

Soul Bowl, an on-the-go healthy meal station is catching the eye of Riyadh’s foodie and wellness fiends with their nutritious bowls and sandwiches.

While most tend to order for delivery, you can enjoy a comfortable and quaint indoor dining experience in their store in As Sahafah; where the neutral colors, soft warm lighting, and pop of green offer a welcoming atmosphere for both solo and social dining.

Soul Bowl’s menu offers a wide selection of salads, bowls, flatbread sandwiches, wraps, soups, and rice meals, as well as fresh juices, desserts and acai bowls. 

Their wraps and bowls are a hit, with the chicken chipotle wrap and the Mexican bowl as big standouts. 

The chicken used is clearly of high quality and cooked very well, and the rest of the ingredients, such as the greens, rice, sauces, feel very fresh. The flatbread sandwiches, however, are a bit of a hit or miss.

The main courses they offer range from tandoori chicken to beef stroganoff.


Spike Lee to preside over Red Sea International Film Festival jury

Updated 21 November 2024
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Spike Lee to preside over Red Sea International Film Festival jury

DUBAI: Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee – known for films like “Malcom X” and “BlacKkKlansman” – will preside over the Red Sea Internation Film Festival’s Red Sea: Features Competition Jury this year.

The fourth edition of the festival will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from Dec. 5 - 14, in Jeddah’s Old Town of Al Balad. 

The Red Sea: Features competition will showcase the highest achievements from a diverse range of filmmakers from the Arab region, Asia and Africa. Sixteen features have been selected to showcase the most compelling, unique and impressive work from the past year, with the winners being selected by Lee and the rest of the jury to receive the coveted Yusr Awards.

In 2023, the Golden Yusr for Best Feature Film was awarded to “In Flames,” directed by Zarrar Khan.

Lee will also participate in the festival’s In Conversation strand, which welcomes industry luminaries from all over the world to share insights and have meaningful discussions about their practice, passions and stories.

Jomana Al Rashid, Chairwoman of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said in a statement: “Looking towards our fourth edition, we’re honoured to welcome the legendary Spike Lee as our President of Jury for the festival this year. Spike is a pioneering director whose iconic work has made a lasting impact on both film as a medium and culture at large. His energy, incisiveness and genuine championing of creativity and new voices makes him an ideal fit to lead our jury for this year - we look forward to him engaging with the burgeoning talent in our competition line up.”

Lee added: “Having been lucky enough to experience first-hand the incredible filmmaking, atmosphere and creativity at the Red Sea International Film Festival in 2022, it's a privilege to be returning this year as President of the Jury. Alongside creating a melting pot for cultures to come together in celebration of our important art-form, it's vital to continue to platform young and emerging filmmakers who are finding their voice in the industry, and it's exciting to see first-time directors from across the Arab region, Asia and Africa as part of the Competition lineup this year. I'm looking forward to diving in to the programme and making what I'm sure will be some very tough decisions alongside the leading luminaries on the jury.”


‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra’ heads to Tokyo  

1 - The 'Marvels of Saudi Orchestra' show being performed in Paris - Image courtesy of Music Commission
Updated 21 November 2024
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‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra’ heads to Tokyo  

  • The Saudi National Orchestra and Choir’s global tour reaches Japan 

DUBAI: The Saudi National Orchestra and Choir is on a mission to build a bridge between the Kingdom and the rest of the world, one musical collaboration at a time. 

Having already performed its musical showcase “Marvels of Saudi Orchestra” in Paris, Mexico City, New York and London, the orchestra will perform at Tokyo Opera City on Nov. 22.  

The evening’s performance will feature the Saudi National Orchestra and Choir performing alongside Japan’s Gagaku Orchestra Imperial Court Music and the Orchestra Academy of Tokyo College of Music. The collaborative program will showcase traditional Saudi pieces and classical Japanese music. Renowned Japanese guitarist Hotei will also deliver a special guest performance. 

In an interview with Arab News, Saudi Music Commission CEO Paul Pacifico attributed the idea of taking the Saudi orchestra on a world tour to Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, and cited a dual purpose behind the program. 

“The first opportunity is international. It’s about taking the best of Saudi culture to the world and showing the world what Saudi culture is about. Most people around the world haven’t heard Saudi music, so this is a new experience,” Pacifico said. 

Maestro Hiro. (Supplied)

“The second part of this is about showing Saudi people how Saudi culture can be received worldwide, and how Saudi music can take its place on any of the world’s greatest stages with the world’s greatest cultural organizations. And really to take pride in seeing Saudi culture celebrated and validated in that way,” he added. 

Composed and arranged by Saudi Arabian maestro Rami Bashih with the support of Japanese maestro Hirofumi Yoshida, the Tokyo performance is an ode to Japanese and Saudi musical traditions. 

“I hope this performance will deepen the Tokyo audience’s understanding of different cultures through music and serve as a catalyst for building new cultural ties between Saudi Arabia and Japan. This concert brings together distinct musical cultures on a single stage, offering the audience a valuable experience to see music and culture from a fresh perspective,” Yoshida told Arab News. 

“In the first and second parts of the program, the audience will enjoy a contrast between Saudi Arabia’s traditional music and the ancient Japanese court music, gagaku. In the third part, they will experience cultural harmony through a joint performance by musicians from both countries,” he continued. 

Both the Japanese and Saudi orchestras have had to rehearse online ahead of the big day. 

The 'Marvels of Saudi Orchestra' show in Paris. (Saudi Music Commission)

“The Saudi Music Commission and Japan’s Rising Sun Opera Foundation have held numerous remote meetings and organized advance visits from the Saudi side to prepare for this event in detail. We shared musical ideas online and made every effort to maximize our limited rehearsal time. Remote collaboration has been a new challenge, but by sharing a strong passion for music, we’ve been able to overcome the distance and foster meaningful cooperation,” said Yoshida. 

Yoshida is no stranger to Saudi Arabia, either. In 2017, he led the first performance by a full Japanese orchestra in the Kingdom. 

“I was deeply impressed by the enthusiastic applause, especially from young people, after each piece. Feeling the energy in the hall, I became certain that culture and the arts would flourish in Saudi Arabia in the near future. This experience showed me the potential for Saudi musical culture to continue growing and be shared with even more people around the world,” he said. 

For Pacifico, the opportunity to take Saudi music to yet another cultural capital is exciting. 

“There are so many rich collaborations in all of these cultures that we visited and hope to visit — whether that was the Carlos Chavez Orchestra in Mexico City, the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars in New York, or the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, every time we make a stop, we look to collaborate with the best cultural ambassadors from that city. And the cities haven’t let us down,” said Pacifico. “They’ve really exceeded our expectations. And, again, in two ways: the way the musicians have blended together and the audience reaction — how welcoming people have been, how interested and culturally curious to discover Saudi music, and the feedback has been incredible. 

“So much of what we do is about programs, KPIs… the technical work of government. But ‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra’ brings it to a very human level. It’s about people connecting, and it’s that human connection that stands out to me,” he continued. “That’s what surprises and delights me each time that we’ve done this, and I’m sure will continue to do so.” 


Review: ‘Cross’ is a better-than-average gritty cop drama, thanks to Aldis Hodge 

Updated 21 November 2024
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Review: ‘Cross’ is a better-than-average gritty cop drama, thanks to Aldis Hodge 

  • Hodge stars as James Patterson’s tortured detective in new Amazon series 

LONDON: In its admirably committed bid to monopolize the ‘gritty cop drama adapted from books you might buy for your dad’ market, Amazon has turned to James Patterson’s Washington DC-based detective (and forensic psychologist) Alex Cross to follow in the footsteps of previous hits “Reacher”, “Jack Ryan” and “Bosch.”  

“Cross” (there’s a pattern here…) stars Aldis Hodge as the recently bereaved eponymous homicide detective. Assigned to investigate the murder of a prominent Black Lives Matter activist, our hero is all consummate professionalism and cerebral calmness as he attempts to unpick the increasingly sinister machinations of a deranged serial killer even as his bosses try to sweep the case under the carpet.  

What makes “Cross” more interesting than a lot of airport-novel adaptations is that Alex is also working a second case, obsessed as he is with hunting the murderer of his wife, who was shot in broad daylight a little over a year earlier. And when it comes to that case, he is neither a consummate professional nor cerebrally calm. 

The details of the two cases are better left unpacked here — spoiling the developments of either would be a shame — but it’s safe to say the show’s MVP is Hodge (“One Night in Miami”, “Black Adam”). The detective is, at times, more like two characters — one striving to deliver justice for his city, the other bent on nothing more than revenge and a desire to keep his family safe. And Hodge deserves plaudits for his portrayals of both sides of Cross, even as the lines between the two begin to blur and overlap across the eight-episode stretch.  

In fact, Hodge is so good, that it’s easy to forgive some of the show’s more cliché-riddled missteps. A couple of plot points arrive with much fanfare, only to slink out, unresolved; Alex’s supposedly masterful analytical superpowers tend to desert him when it suits the advancement of the story… There are other niggles, too. But, with a lead this charismatic — and closer to Patterson’s original Cross than the three previous film adaptations — and a supporting cast on their game, they’re all easy enough to overlook.