Mayday is a much loved British tradition. It’s a spring holiday and the time for another lovely tradition, picking wild garlic leaves in woodland when the bluebells are in bloom. Half an hour with a pair of scissors or a sharp knife and you can gather enough garlic to freeze or bottle and use in cooking for a year. But British people have another tradition on their minds this month. It’s a tradition so unusual that few citizens can remember the last time it happened.
King Charles III will be the first British monarch to be crowned in the past seven decades. There is coronation bunting in some areas and posters in shop windows ahead of the ceremony this weekend. The expectation is of a carefully choreographed made-for-television festival. The coronation will involve a revival of historic traditions including the use of the Stone of Scone (sometimes called the Stone of Destiny). It’s a slab of ancient sandstone brought to London from Scotland and used for centuries in the coronation of Scottish kings. It will now be used for Charles in a ceremony in which the Archbishop of Canterbury will anoint the King with oil and will also – we are told – invite the congregation and the global television audience to “pay true allegiance to Your Majesty and to your heirs and successors according to the law, so help me God.”
Opinion polls, however, suggest excitement in the coronation is limited, especially among young people. In a YouGov survey of 3070 adults, only 6 per cent of the young adult age group of 18 to 24 year olds said they were "very interested". Some 24 per cent said they were "quite interested.” But 35 per cent said they were "not very interested" and 29 per cent said they were "not at all interested".
In the 1930s, Edward VIII didn’t even have a coronation
There is criticism too of the cost, put at £100 million, at a time when inflation is high and the cost of living crisis hurts many British people. But what has been less discussed is why a coronation is necessary at all and what impact this version of an ancient ceremony will have on Britain’s image abroad. King Charles is, obviously, already King. He became King with the passing of his much respected mother Queen Elizabeth II. The continuity of the British monarchy has always been a top priority, but a coronation is not constitutionally necessary.
In the 1930s, Edward VIII didn’t even have a coronation. One clue as to why a coronation is thought to be important in the 21st century is that it will be a magnificent and highly rehearsed show, designed to connect with an international 21st century television audience and reinforce how the UK is seen around the world. But that itself may be a mixed blessing.
The British Council surveys opinion in many countries. One survey a few years ago found that "the UK is both loved and loathed for its traditions. The images most often associated with Great Britain in the survey are the Queen and the Royal Family, kilts, castles and rugby. This has implications for public diplomacy."
One of those implications is how far Britain is celebrated not for its present competence, future creativity and wealth creation, but for its past. The coronation will remind the world of the great British heritage. But it may also reinforce the idea that, as another British Council survey of US opinion a few years ago put it, Britain is seen as “a historic theme park rather than as a modern forward-thinking partner in innovation and creativity: American views of the UK are driven more by cultural factors than political issues… pointing to a crucial role for culture in future relations between the two countries.
The report reveals that culture and history were the two top rated factors contributing to the UK’s attractiveness among American respondents, with 43 per cent identifying "cultural and historic attractions" as a major draw and 42 per cent identifying "history". The current and past actions of governments were only the 16th most important factor (at 17 per cent) in determining how attractive they found the UK.
Brand Britain will be noticed around the world as a result of the coronation, but it will be less the “Cool Britannia” promoted in the 1990s than a glimpse of ancient and historic Britannia reworked in the 21st century.
The TV spectacular will be a visual demonstration that the monarchy and the House of Windsor are secure. Republicanism in Britain remains a minority interest. The splendid show may bring in tourists to have a look at Britain's castles and its culture. But the coronation may also reinforce the idea of Britain as merely a “historic theme park”. Men and women in strange clothing will do some strange things in the name of unfamiliar traditions. The downside is if the image of the UK seen around the world is less that of its glorious history and more the idea that modern Britain is not just celebrating the past but stuck in it.
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
BIG SPENDERS
Premier League clubs spent £230 million (Dh1.15 billion) on January transfers, the second-highest total for the mid-season window, the Sports Business Group at Deloitte said in a report.
Match info:
Real Betis v Sevilla, 10.45pm (UAE)
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
'Midnights'
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
Scoreline
Ireland 16 (Tries: Stockdale Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 3)
New Zealand 9 (Pens: Barrett 2 Drop Goal: Barrett)
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
Second Test
In Dubai
Pakistan 418-5 (declared)
New Zealand 90 and 131-2 (follow on)
Day 3: New Zealand trail by 197 runs with 8 wickets remaining
Racecard
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Premier League results
Saturday
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Arsenal 1
Bournemouth 0 Manchester City 1
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Huddersfield Town 0
Burnley 1 Crystal Palace 3
Manchester United 3 Southampton 2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Cardiff City 0
West Ham United 2 Newcastle United 0
Sunday
Watford 2 Leicester City 1
Fulham 1 Chelsea 2
Everton 0 Liverpool 0
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,200 metres
Winner: Jabalini, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Younis Kalbani (trainer)
5.30pm: UAE Arabian Derby (PA) | Prestige | Dh150,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Octave, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round 3 (PA) | Group 3 Dh300,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Harrab, Richard Mullen, Mohamed Ali
6.30pm: Emirates Championship (PA) | Group 1 | Dh1million | 2,200m
Winner: BF Mughader, Szczepan Mazur, Younis Al Kalbani
7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (TB) | Group 3 | Dh380,000 | 2,200m
Winner: GM Hopkins, Patrick Cosgrave, Jaber Ramadhan
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) | Conditions | Dh70,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF La’Asae, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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.
