A photo shows King Charles III during the recording of his first Christmas broadcast. PA
A photo shows King Charles III during the recording of his first Christmas broadcast. PA
A photo shows King Charles III during the recording of his first Christmas broadcast. PA
A photo shows King Charles III during the recording of his first Christmas broadcast. PA

Photo marks King Charles III’s first Christmas speech as he gives to charity


Simon Rushton
  • English
  • Arabic

Queen Elizabeth II is expected to be remembered fondly in King Charles III's first Christmas speech as he celebrates in Norfolk, from where he gave to a charity for people who are struggling with bills.

A photo, taken during the recording of his festive address, was released for Saturday before the traditional broadcast, which is aired on Christmas Day.

King Charles has arrived in Sandringham, his family's Norfolk estate, and made a donation to the Fuel Bank Foundation, a charity for people suffering the cost-of-living crisis.

The royal standard is flying above Sandringham, where King Charles and the Queen Consort Camilla will celebrate Christmas Day with family.

In the newly-released photograph, the king is standing while delivering his address. In recent years, the queen recorded her Christmas broadcast sat at a desk, but in previous decades she has also stood for the occasion.

The festive message was recorded on December 13 at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.

In the background is a large Christmas tree decorated with ornaments made from sustainable materials including paper and glass, as well as natural products such as pine cones.

The picture also shows foliage decorations that have been placed among the stalls in the quire, that feature holly, berried ivy and red skimmia.

The Fuel Bank Foundation said financial donations have been passed on to the charity along with an undisclosed donation from Charles through the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund.

“We are extremely grateful for the kind and generous donation from His Majesty the King,” said foundation head Matthew Cole.

“The money will be used to help keep vulnerable people warm this winter, offering some physical and mental respite from the challenges posed by the energy and cost-of-living crisis.”

The charity provides emergency help to people living without heat, light and power in their homes because they cannot afford to top up prepayment gas or electricity meters.

It will be the first time the royal family has spent Christmas at Sandringham since 2019 and will be a poignant period after the death of the queen in September.

The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children are expected to join the king and his wife, alongside the Princess Royal and her family and the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children.

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Hatta v Al Jazira, 4.55pm
Al Wasl v Dibba, 7.45pm

Friday:
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Shabab Al Ahli Dubai v Al Wahda, 7.45pm

Saturday:
Ajman v Emirates, 4.55pm
Al Ain v Sharjah, 7.45pm

Biography

Favourite drink: Must have karak chai and Chinese tea every day

Favourite non-Chinese food: Arabic sweets and Indian puri, small round bread of wheat flour

Favourite Chinese dish: Spicy boiled fish or anything cooked by her mother because of its flavour

Best vacation: Returning home to China

Music interests: Enjoys playing the zheng, a string musical instrument

Enjoys reading: Chinese novels, romantic comedies, reading up on business trends, government policy changes

Favourite book: Chairman Mao Zedong’s poems

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs

Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms

Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles

Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon

Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon

Volvo ES90 Specs

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Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

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Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

Recent winners

2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)

2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)

2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)

2007 Grace Bijjani  (Mexico)

2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)

2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)

2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)

2011 Maria Farah (Canada)

2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)

2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)              

2014 Lia Saad  (UAE)

2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)

2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)

2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)

2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)

PROFILE OF SWVL

Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

Size: 450 employees

Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani

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The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

Updated: December 24, 2022, 4:58 AM`