Why ravenous ravens are leaving the Tower of London

A worried raven master is urging tourists to return to the Tower of London, fearing that the fate of both the Tower and Britain itself are at stake.

Historically, it was escaping from the Norman-built tower in the heart of the capital that often proved problematic. And the handful of inmates who did take flight were often recaptured and summarily beheaded.

Perhaps knowledge of the gruesome fate of their human counterparts has discouraged the Tower of London's famously parochial raven population from making similarly disastrous attempts.

But, in an ominous turn of events, it has been reported that two of the castle's seven ravens have started to venture beyond its precincts in search of grub.

According to a decree by King Charles II, six ravens must be "kept at the tower or the kingdom will fall".

The birds, called Merlina and Jubilee (the others, with one spare, are Harris, Gripp, Rocky, Erin, Poppy) - have unsettled the tower's resident ravenmaster.

Christopher Skaife firmly believes in the legend that the building erected by William the Conqueror will crumble - along with the kingdom - should the ravens ever leave.

"The tower is only the tower when the people are here," Mr Skaife told The Sun. "If the ravens were to leave, the tower would crumble to dust."

He is so worried that he has even been urging the Beefeaters who guard the site to feed leftovers to the birds. He has also bought teddy bears, footballs and squeaky dog toys in a desperate attempt to ward off the birds' flight.

With more than two million annual visitors in recent years, the chances of the legend coming to pass had been slim to none. Ravens are notorious scavengers, and the incessant supply of tourist-generated litter offered the birds more tasty morsels than they could ever feast on.

The onset of the coronavirus pandemic changed all that. Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the historical jail under lock and key on March 23, and all of a sudden the ravens' gravy train came to a shuddering halt. The tower reopened on July 10 but its usual 15,000 visitors a day has dropped to 800.

"Even in World War Two, there were still hundreds [of visitors] in and around," Mr Skaife said.

For the sake of the distressed ravenmaster, the emaciating ravens, and the future of the UK itself, it can only be hoped that visitor numbers pick up soon.

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Women:

1. Rhiannan Iffland (AUS) 322.95 points
2. Lysanne Richard (CAN) 285.75
3. Ellie Smart (USA) 277.70

Men:

1. Gary Hunt (GBR) 431.55
2. Constantin Popovici (ROU) 424.65
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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.

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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.

A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.

The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.

When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.

A new relationship with the old country

Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates

The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.

ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.

ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.

DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.

Signed

Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed