King Charles’ ‘historic’ coronation thrills with blend of ancient and modern

King Charles III was crowned at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday in a ceremony replete with ancient traditions, regal pomp and circumstance and a sprinkling of the modern. (AFP)
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Updated 06 May 2023
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King Charles’ ‘historic’ coronation thrills with blend of ancient and modern

  • Among the guests were Arab leaders, US First Lady Jill Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron
  • Charles worked actively to make event as inclusive, reflective of Britain he now rules over as possible

LONDON: King Charles III was crowned at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday in a ceremony replete with ancient traditions, regal pomp and circumstance and a sprinkling of the modern.

The grand old church, which has been the site of coronations of 39 monarchs before Charles, was packed to the rafters with 2,000 attendees as international dignitaries and nobles mixed with specially invited members of the public.

Among the guests were Arab leaders, US First Lady Jill Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as well as seven former premiers who joined the celebration alongside celebrities including Judi Dench, Emma Thompson and Lionel Richie.

They were among the lucky few present in the abbey as Charles was anointed with oil from the Mount of Olives in the Holy Land and presented with an orb, swords and scepters, before Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed the St. Edward’s Crown, bedecked with more than 400 precious stones, on the monarch’s head. Trumpets blared out the anthem, and gun salutes were fired in cities across the UK.




The set-piece coronation was the first in Britain in 70 years, and only the second in history to be televised. Charles was the 40th reigning monarch to be crowned at Westminster Abbey since King William I in 1066. (AFP)

Alongside the ancient rites, Charles had worked actively to make his big day as inclusive and reflective of the Britain he now rules over as possible, and in a break from tradition, representatives of the Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish and Sikh faiths were involved for the first time.

The usually Anglican ceremony saw Charles, robed in crimson and cream, swear on a Bible that he was a “true Protestant,” but a preface was added to the oath to say that the Church of England would seek to “foster an environment where people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely.”

The reading from the King James Bible was made by Sunak, Britain’s first Hindu leader, and a gospel choir performed a newly composed “Alleluia,” while for the first time, female clergy took part in the ceremony.

The cost of the ceremony — the exact figure will be released by Buckingham Palace after the event — had drawn criticism from some quarters of British society, who questioned the timing of a coronation amid a cost-of-living crisis, during which Britons have struggled to pay energy bills and buy food.

Charles, however, has made it his mission to streamline the royal family for the 21st century and offer taxpayers “value for money.” His coronation was markedly shorter than the 1953 extravaganza of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, with fewer guests and an abbreviated procession.

And while much of the reverence that surrounded coronations of the past has faded in the modern world, those who attended and watched the event told Arab News that they still felt its sense of historical importance.

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“Obviously, it’s the first coronation I’ve ever attended. I haven’t been able to witness anything like this before and it’s such an incredible moment for me,” Muslim convert Naima Pinchen, from the English city of Derby, said.

“Being British and previously being part of the Royal Air Force, this has meant so much to me to witness, from a military, but also a personal, perspective.

“The royal family has been such an integral part of this country for more than 1,000 years — to be part of such a momentous occasion is just mind-blowing,” she added.

“It’s incredible. You can see so many different cultures, colors, backgrounds here all in one place. I’ve seen people from Asian countries, from Arab countries, from African countries, European countries — there’s not just British people here,” Pinchen said.

Jill Coughlin, a royal fan from Essex, east of London, called Charles Britain’s “mainstay” and added: “It’s just great to be surrounded by love and to see our King Charles. We loved our queen and this is just further generations, so it’s wonderful for us — absolutely wonderful.”

Vickey Davis, who traveled from the Midlands with Claire Waters, said: “We wanted to come down and be part of history, really. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing that we get to experience, so we wanted to be a part of it.”

Waters added: “He’ll be a good king. He (cares about) the environment and conservation, and leaving the planet a better place.”




King Charles III and Queen Camilla stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony, in London, following their coronations. (AFP)

Thousands of people from across the UK and around the world camped overnight along a two-kilometer route that the king and queen used to travel to and from Westminster Abbey in a gilt-trimmed, horse-drawn carriage.

And it was not just Charles’ British subjects who were taken by the sense of occasion throughout the coronation.

“I came because it’s a historic moment, and I’m happy to be part of it with all the English people at such a happy event. As (a) Moroccan, we understand that love for a king,” Yasir El-Ayadi, visiting from France, told Arab News.

Quan Nguyen, who moved to the UK two years ago from Vietnam, and also witnessed Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations last summer as well as her funeral in September, said that the coronation was an event that he “just had to be part of.”

He added: “The whole event was just magnificent. It’s amazing to see and I feel lucky that in just two years I’ve been to three big royal events, and I’ll be there for the balcony (appearance).”

Nguyen said that while it was a shame that the late Princess Diana was not around to be part of the event, it was “great” that the royal family had stayed steadfast in their duty, adding: “Today is a chance for them to prove how serious they are to their duty.”

Charles’ son and heir to the throne, William, Prince of Wales, attended alongside his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and their three children. Toward the end of the ceremony, William knelt before his father and paid homage to the king as his “liege man” — before kissing him on the cheek.




Charles and Camilla travel in the Gold State Coach, back to Buckingham Palace from Westminster Abbey. (AFP)

Meanwhile, William’s younger brother, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, who has publicly sparred with the family, arrived alone. His wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, as well as their children, remained at home in California.

Marisa Legters, who volunteers with the Royal Parks, said that she wanted to be part of a “historic day,” but said it was “sad” that Meghan was not in attendance, perhaps because “she wouldn’t feel that welcome here.”

Legters added that she thought Charles would make a great monarch, with his focus on diversity, his passion for nature and appearance of an “approachable king.”

After the more staid and sober events at the abbey, the thousands who had lined the streets along the processional route cheered as the king and queen passed in the Gold State Coach on their way to Buckingham Palace for the moment many who had braved the torrential London rain were waiting for.

Charles and Camilla appeared on the famous old balcony to greet the crowds. An Armed Forces flypast took place over the palace, with William, Kate and other members of the working royal family, including Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and his wife and children, also present.

Helen Rimmer, who had traveled several hundred miles from northern England to witness the event, summed up the mood of the day, saying: “It’s a very special occasion, especially for our country and the Commonwealth. It’s the atmosphere, just everything about it, really. It’s just a big celebration — it’s great.”

* With AP


Trump administration plans $1,000 fee to fast-track tourist visas -memo

Updated 10 sec ago
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Trump administration plans $1,000 fee to fast-track tourist visas -memo

The new $1,000 option the US is considering would be a premium service
The program could arrive in pilot form as soon as December

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration is considering a $1,000 fee for tourists and other non-immigrant visa applicants seeking an expedited interview appointment though government lawyers have raised legal red flags over the plan, according to a US official and an internal State Department memo.

Individuals entering the US on tourist and other non-immigrant visas already pay a $185 processing fee. The new $1,000 option the US is considering would be a premium service that allows some people to jump to the front of the line for visa interviews.

The program could arrive in pilot form as soon as December, the memo reviewed by Reuters said.

The proposed fee for visa appointments, which has not been previously reported, comes alongside President Donald Trump’s vision of a “gold card” that would sell US citizenship for $5 million, granting faster access to those willing to pay.

But the State Department’s legal team said there was a “high risk” it would be rejected by the White House budget office or struck down in US courts, the memo said. Setting a fee above the cost to provide the service “is contrary to settled Supreme Court precedent,” the memo said.

A State Department spokesperson said the department does not comment on internal documents and communications.

“The department’s scheduling of non-immigrant visa interview appointments is dynamic and we are continually working to improve our operations worldwide,” the spokesperson said.

Since taking office on Jan. 20, Trump has aggressively cracked down on immigration, including revoking some student visas and increasing scrutiny of all visa applicants.

The State Department issued 10.4 million non-immigrant visas in fiscal year 2023, including 5.9 million tourist visas, according to the agency’s most recent annual report. International travel spending in the United States is expected to decline about 7 percent in 2025 as opposition to Trump’s policies and a strong dollar prompt foreign visitors to opt for other destinations, the World Travel and Tourism Council said in May.

Growing numbers of people worldwide unhappy with Israeli state and Netanyahu, survey finds

Updated 20 min 22 sec ago
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Growing numbers of people worldwide unhappy with Israeli state and Netanyahu, survey finds

  • Poll of 32,000 people in 24 countries finds numbers holding unfavorable views on Israel have risen significantly in many places, including the US and UK
  • ‘Majorities across all 24 countries show a lack of confidence that (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu will “do the right thing,”’ researcher says

CHICAGO: The results of a survey published this week by the Pew Research Center in Washington reveal a significant increase in the proportions of people in the US, UK and other nations, mostly in the West, who hold unfavorable views on the Israeli state and its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Researchers polled 32,000 people in 24 countries. Previous surveys had been carried out in 11 of them, 13 were being surveyed for the first time. Maria Smerkovich, a research associate with Pew, told Arab News on Wednesday that the results showed conclusively that public attitudes toward Israel and the country’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, were increasingly negative, especially in America, traditionally one of the strongest advocates for Israel, and in the UK.

“The median is 62 percent have unfavorable views of the country of Israel, compared with a 29 percent median that have favorable views,” she said of the overall results.

“In about 20 of these countries, half of the population or more have unfavorable views of the country. We find that younger people and people on the left are more likely to have negative views of the country.

“In the US, views on Israel have turned more negative. The last time we asked about the favorability of Israel in the US was in 2022, before the current war (in Gaza). And at that time, a slight majority had favorable views of Israel. A smaller share had unfavorable views of Israel.

“Now (since the start of the conflict in Gaza) we’ve seen the tide turn, where just over half have unfavorable views of Israel and 45 percent have favorable views. So that’s a leap in terms of unfavorability; it’s a jump from 42 percent to 53 percent in just three years.”

She continued: “In about 10 other countries, the last time we asked about favorability of Israel was in 2013. And we have seen, in most of the countries, we have seen views turn more negative. For example in the UK in 2013, unfavorability was at 44 percent. Today, it’s at 61 percent. So that’s quite a jump.

“Israel’s unfavorability has increased in seven countries of the 10 where we have trends,” she said adding that the proportions of unfavorable views had remained “about the same since 2013” in France, Germany and Greece.

In addition to the “striking” increase in unfavorable views in the UK, Smerkovich said: “In Indonesia, it’s gone up from 71 percent to 80 percent. In Turkey, from 85 percent to 93 percent. In Nigeria, 25 percent to 32 percent.”

In the other 13 countries with no previous survey results, majorities also held strongly unfavorable views of both Israel and Netanyahu.

The survey reveals “majorities across all 24 countries show a lack of confidence that Netanyahu will ‘do the right thing,’” Smerkovich said.

Many people the US “have no confidence in Netanyahu,” she added, and there “has been an increase in the share that say they have no confidence in him … about a 10 percent jump, whereas the share that say they do have confidence in him has stayed fairly stable.”

This pattern is repeated in other countries, she said, where “we have seen an increase in no confidence in Netanyahu. But the share that say they do have confidence in him hasn’t really changed much in the US.”

The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan “fact tank” that says it aims to inform the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts opinion polls, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social science research and does not adopt any positions on policies.


Prestigious Irish university to cut links with Israel over Gaza war

Updated 04 June 2025
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Prestigious Irish university to cut links with Israel over Gaza war

  • Trinity College Dublin will sever institutional links with the Israeli state, universities and companies headquartered there
  • University said the action was a protest against 'violations of international and humanitarian law'

DUBLIN: Ireland’s prestigious Trinity College Dublin said on Wednesday that it would cut all links with Israel in protest at “ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law.”
The university’s board informed students by email that it had accepted the recommendations of a taskforce to sever “institutional links with the State of Israel, Israeli universities and companies headquartered in Israel.”
The recommendations would be “enacted for the duration of the ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law,” said the email sent by the board’s chairman Paul Farrell, and seen by AFP.
The taskforce was set up after part of the university’s campus in central Dublin was blockaded by students for five days last year in protest at Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Among the taskforce’s recommendations approved by the board were pledges to divest “from all companies headquartered in Israel” and to “enter into no future supply contracts with Israeli firms” and “no new commercial relationships with Israeli entities.”
The university also said that it would “enter into no further mobility agreements with Israeli universities.”
Trinity has two current Erasmus+ exchange agreements with Israeli universities: Bar Ilan University, an agreement that ends in July 2026, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which ends in July 2025, the university told AFP in an email.
The board also said that the university “should not submit for approval or agree to participate in any new institutional research agreements involving Israeli participation.”
It “should seek to align itself with like-minded universities and bodies in an effort to influence EU policy concerning Israel’s participation in such collaborations,” it added.
Ireland has been among the most outspoken critics of Israel’s response to the October 7, 2023 attacks on southern Israel by Hamas militants that sparked the war in Gaza.
Polls since the start of the war have shown overwhelming pro-Palestinian sympathy in Ireland.
In May 2024, Dublin joined several other European countries in recognizing Palestine as a “sovereign and independent state.”
It then joined South Africa in bringing a case before the International Court of Justice in The Hague accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza — charges angrily denied by Israeli leaders.
In December, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar ordered the closure of the country’s embassy in Dublin, blaming Ireland’s “extreme anti-Israel policies.”
The University of Geneva also announced Wednesday that it has ended its partnership with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem following student protests, saying it no longer reflected the institution’s “strategic priorities.”


Moscow security chief discusses Ukraine with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un

Updated 04 June 2025
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Moscow security chief discusses Ukraine with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un

  • “Sergei Shoigu was received by the Chairman of State Affairs of the DPRK, Kim Jong Un,” the embassy said
  • It said talks took place “in an atmosphere of friendly mutual understanding“

MOSCOW: Russia’s security chief Sergei Shoigu discussed the Ukraine conflict with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un on a visit to Pyongyang on Wednesday, Moscow’s embassy in the reclusive state said.

North Korea has become one of Russia’s main allies during Moscow’s more than three-year-long Ukraine offensive, sending thousands of troops to help the Kremlin oust Ukrainian forces from its Kursk border region.

Pyongyang is also largely believed to be arming Russia.

“Sergei Shoigu was received by the Chairman of State Affairs of the DPRK, Kim Jong Un,” the embassy said, adding that they “exchanged views on the situation around the Ukrainian crisis and the Korean peninsula.”

It said talks took place “in an atmosphere of friendly mutual understanding.”

Shoigu also met with North Korean military official Pak Jong-chon, the embassy said.

Russia’s TASS news agency said earlier that Shoigu had arrived on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Wednesday’s visit is Shoigu’s second to Pyongyang in less than three months.

Pyongyang has defended its military cooperation with Russia, saying on Monday that ties were aimed at “ensuring peace and stability” in Europe and Asia.

Around 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed and thousands more wounded fighting for Russia, according to South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun, citing the country’s intelligence service.

Russia and North Korea signed a sweeping military deal last year, including a mutual defense clause, during a rare visit by Putin to the nuclear-armed North.

Shoigu hailed the deal as “fully meeting the interests of both countries” during a visit in March.


UN Security Council will vote on a resolution demanding a Gaza ceasefire, with US veto expected

Updated 18 min 21 sec ago
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UN Security Council will vote on a resolution demanding a Gaza ceasefire, with US veto expected

  • The US vetoed the last resolution on Gaza in November, under the Biden administration
  • Several UN diplomats from different countries, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions have been private, said they expect the United States to veto the resolution

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council will vote Wednesday on a resolution demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and the Trump administration is expected to veto it because it does not link the ceasefire to the release of all the hostages held by Hamas.

The resolution before the UN’s most powerful body also does not condemn Hamas’ deadly attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which ignited the war, or say the militant group must disarm and withdraw from Gaza — two other US demands.

The US vetoed the last resolution on Gaza in November, under the Biden administration, because the ceasefire demand was not directly linked to the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. Similarly, the current resolution demands those taken by Hamas and other groups be released, but it does not make it a condition for a truce.

Calling the humanitarian situation in Gaza “catastrophic,” the resolution, put forth by the 15-member council’s 10 elected members, also calls for “the immediate and unconditional lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and its safe and unhindered distribution at scale, including by the UN and humanitarian partners.”

President Donald Trump’s administration has tried to ramp up its efforts to broker peace in Gaza after 20 months of war. However, Hamas has sought amendments to a US proposal that special envoy Steve Witkoff has called “totally unacceptable.”

The vote follows a decision by an Israeli and US-backed foundation to pause food delivery at its three distribution sites in the Gaza Strip after health officials said dozens of Palestinians were killed in a series of shootings near the sites this week. Israel and the United States say they supported the establishment of the new aid system to prevent Hamas from stealing aid previously distributed by the UN

The United Nations has rejected the new system, saying it doesn’t address Gaza’s mounting hunger crisis, allows Israel to use aid as a weapon and doesn’t comply with the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence. The UN says its distribution system throughout Gaza worked very well during the March ceasefire and is carefully monitored.

The resolution demands the restoration of all essential humanitarian services in line with humanitarian principles, international humanitarian law and UN Security Council resolutions.

Several UN diplomats from different countries, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions have been private, said they expect the United States to veto the resolution. They also said they expect a similar vote to the one in November, when the 14 other council members supported the resolution.

Israel’s UN Mission said Ambassador Danny Danon, who will speak after the vote, will say the resolution undermines humanitarian relief efforts and ignores Hamas, which is still endangering civilians in Gaza. He also will say the resolution disregards the ceasefire negotiations that are already underway, the mission said.

Gaza’s roughly 2 million people are almost completely reliant on international aid because Israel’s offensive has destroyed nearly all food production capabilities. Israel imposed a blockade on supplies into Gaza on March 2, and limited aid began to enter again late last month after pressure from allies and warnings of famine.

“The world is watching, day after day, horrifying scenes of Palestinians being shot, wounded or killed in Gaza while simply trying to eat,” UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said in a statement Wednesday. He called for a flood of aid to be let in and for the world body to be the one delivering it.

The Security Council has voted on 14 Gaza-related resolutions and approved four since the war began. That is when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251.

They are still holding 58 hostages, a third of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.

Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants.

The ministry is led by medical professionals but reports to the Hamas-run government. Its toll is seen as generally reliable by UN agencies and independent experts, though Israel has challenged its numbers.