Among the crowds of mourners wearing jeans and rainproof jackets on London's South Bank as they waited to visit Queen Elizabeth II lying in state, Jeanette Williams stood out for her old-school attire.
The self-declared lifelong royalist turned up in head-to-toe black complete with gloves and a hat, and as she prepared to cross Lambeth Bridge, the 72-year-old's coming meeting with the monarch was at the forefront of her mind.
“She treated you as if she knew you,” Ms Williams said, recalling meeting the queen when the monarch visited a school she worked at in 1994. “You felt comfortable in her company. She made you feel at ease.”
“The queen always looked her best so this is the least I can do,” she said, as she shuffled along the path with her daughter Nicola.
The pair rose at 4am to take an early train from Yorkshire and were pleased to find the atmosphere upon their arrival in the capital was “respectful”.
Years after being introduced to the monarch, Ms Williams would again see the sovereign at her next job at Eton College. The monarch would often visit her grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry while they studied at the all-boys school.
“I’m trying to contain myself,” Ms Williams admitted as she prepared to enter Westminster Hall to view the queen's coffin, remembering the “warmth” she displayed during their meeting.
“I remember watching the queen’s coronation as a little girl. I was only 3 and my father held me up in the crowd to see the TV. It is a special memory.”
Shirley Gillard, originally from France, left her baby at her home in Cambridge to travel to London with her 3-year-old daughter.
“I think it’s a good experience for her,” she said, gesturing to her child whom she named Elizabeth “because I just love the name”.
“She can always say she was here."
The long line of people snaking its way along South Bank was watched by doctors and nurses from St Thomas’ Hospital during their lunch break. The group, all wearing scrubs, looked on as the constant stream of people moved at a snail’s pace.
Some sipped hot drinks, others munched on sandwiches and some momentarily left their spots in the queue to read names on the National Covid Memorial Wall.
Angela Eze from west London said, having been raised by her Nigerian parents to admire the queen, standing in line for hours to pay her respects felt like “the natural thing to do”.
“I am a person of faith so I am always spiritually prepared,” she said.
People who have made the trip from outside of London took advantage of the afternoon sunshine to pose for selfies in front of Parliament.
Mother and daughter Serreen and Nouf Abdullah, visiting from Saudi Arabia, are among those to hark back to memories of Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997.
Ms Abdullah recalled how she brought her daughter, now 28, to Buckingham Palace to see the mountains of flowers left in honour of the young princess, a scene repeated last week following the queen’s death.
“The queen was a good for the people, everyone in Saudi Arabia liked her,” she said.
“She was a strong woman.
“Every summer we come to London and we always watched her on the news and there was always something new.”
Members of the London Fire Brigade cheerfully passed out free bottles of water to people in the queue and offered words of encouragement.
Wiling away the hours moving along the pathways, people resorted to reading books, newspapers and even tackling crosswords.
While most were wrapped up well amid the constant threat of rain, John Dodd stood out as one of the few men baring their legs in a kilt.
“My family were Scottish and as the queen died at Balmoral I made the effort to wear it,” he said. “Today I’m wearing the Ramsay kilt but my favourite is the Hamilton. I worked at a kilt shop in Kensington years ago and I learnt all about the different prints.”
Mr Dodd, 77, points to Westminster Bridge as he explains the different route he took to see Sir Winston Churchill lying in state in 1965.
The retired actor from south-west London is keen to point out his knowledge of the capital, having appeared alongside Warren Beatty in the 1981 film Reds, which was shot at locations in the capital, as well as acting alongside Michael Caine in the 1988 Jack the Ripper production.
Further down the line, the sound of bagpipes being played on Westminster Bridge grew louder.
Outside the British Film Institute, the crowds waiting to move forward were kept entertained by a giant screen showing dated black-and-white footage of the queen. One clip showed the young Princess Elizabeth posing with her beloved ponies while another showed her in a garden with her sister Princess Margaret and parents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
“I’m here for my grandfather,” said Nadia, 45, who had been queuing for four hours. “He was from Mauritius and served in the British army.
“He was very proud to come to London and to live here. He loved the royals. We take after him.”
Echoing the words of many mourners waiting for their chance to visit the queen lying in state along a queue dotted with ice cream vans and food trucks, she said: “At the moment, it has not kicked in.
“I think when I am in there and I see the coffin, it will.”
Inside Westminster Hall, the atmosphere centred on grief.
The high-pitched squeals of a baby were all that pierced the heavy silence dominating the hall as sombre mourners bid farewell to the queen.
Reverberating up to the heights of the medieval venue and bouncing off the intricately carved wooden beams, the child's exuberant cries were in stark contrast to the feeble crying of so many around him, who bowed or genuflected as they passed the monarch’s coffin.
Although not yet old enough to walk, the little boy cradled by his mother was afforded a privilege reserved for none other in the room — the liberty to make as much noise as he wanted to.
Another baby who sucked on a dummy appeared oblivious to her surroundings as her mother carried her in a sling past the catafalque holding the coffin draped in the Royal Standard. The woman sobbed, her tears falling on her daughter’s hair as she kissed the back of her head.
Women held up wet tissues to their eyes in a bid to stop their mascara from running, while men, many bearing military medals on their suits, remained tight-lipped in a show of stoicism. Many glanced back to get one final look at the coffin before exiting through the giant doors.
It was hard to believe that some had been queuing for hours, with some ladies arriving in full make-up, elegant black dresses and high heels. One woman in bright red lipstick, a long black dress and matching stilettos struggled to keep her composure as she cried while making her way along the carpet away from the coffin being closely guarded by the queen’s guards.
Children and babies were few and far between in the two lines which passed on either side of the stand holding the remains of the queen the public had grown to love over seven decades.
People were stopped in their tracks during the changing of the guard, which happens every 20 minutes, with the faces of the younger members of the crowds showing fascination with the perfectly timed footsteps of the men.
A heavily pregnant woman led her young son by the hand as he looked up wide-eyed. The sparkles of the Imperial State Crown, which has more than 2,800 diamonds, and the colourful uniforms and giant swords of the queen’s guards were enough to keep the child momentarily entertained.
Queen Elizabeth II lying in state — in pictures
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE SQUAD
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Ahmed Raza, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Chirag Suri , Zahoor Khan
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
More coverage from the Future Forum
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday
Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm kick-off UAE)
Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Cologne (5.30pm)
Mainz v Arminia Bielefeld (5.30pm)
Augsburg v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich (8.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Freiburg (10.30pm)
Sunday
VfB Stuttgart v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Union Berlin v Hertha Berlin (8pm)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 390bhp
Torque: 400Nm
Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579
Results
57kg quarter-finals
Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Hamed Al Matari (YEM) by points 3-0.
60kg quarter-finals
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) RSC round 2.
63.5kg quarter-finals
Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Shamlan A Othman (KUW) by points 3-0.
67kg quarter-finals
Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Ahmad Ondash (LBN) by points 2-1.
71kg quarter-finals
Ahmad Bahman (UAE) defeated Lalthasanga Lelhchhun (IND) by points 3-0.
Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Seyed Kaveh Safakhaneh (IRI) by points 3-0.
81kg quarter-finals
Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Ahmad Hilal (PLE) by points 3-0
Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V6%20and%20electric%20motor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20power%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20700hp%20at%207%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20torque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20720Nm%20at%202%2C250rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E330kph%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh1.14%20million%20(%24311%2C000)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
Getting%20there%20and%20where%20to%20stay
%3Cp%3EFly%20with%20Etihad%20Airways%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi%20to%20New%20York%E2%80%99s%20JFK.%20There's%2011%20flights%20a%20week%20and%20economy%20fares%20start%20at%20around%20Dh5%2C000.%3Cbr%3EStay%20at%20The%20Mark%20Hotel%20on%20the%20city%E2%80%99s%20Upper%20East%20Side.%20Overnight%20stays%20start%20from%20%241395%20per%20night.%3Cbr%3EVisit%20NYC%20Go%2C%20the%20official%20destination%20resource%20for%20New%20York%20City%20for%20all%20the%20latest%20events%2C%20activites%20and%20openings.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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
