For almost a millennium the Sword of Spiritual Justice has been carried in front of the king of England as an integral part of the ancient coronation service.
On Saturday, it will be Gen Lord David Richards who holds the unsheathed blade aloft, marching with two other sword-bearers ahead of King Charles III.
He will walk in the Westminster Abbey footsteps of great military leaders who have carried the sword over the centuries.
The former Chief of the Defence Staff has spoken to The National about the honour, the monarch’s importance to the armed forces, and his own personal relationship with King Charles III.
“It's a great privilege because I recognise that many other much greater people than I have historically had this honour,” Gen Richards said.
“And I'm now doing it for our new king, who I know reasonably well and have a very high regard for, so there's a personal element to it too.”
Ancient swords
Since the coronation of Richard the Lionheart in 1189, the Sword of Spiritual Justice has been carried by prominent figures, alongside the Sword of Temporal Justice and the Sword of Mercy.
The swords signify kingly virtues, and the blade carried by Gen Richards has been carried in the 15 coronations since Charles I was crowned in 1626. It represents the monarch as defender of the faith.
Gen Richards, who commanded Nato forces in Afghanistan in 2006, said he was uncertain why he had been selected for the role but was honoured to be “doing it on behalf of very many people who I served with”.
“Most of all, it's great to be part of such a historical occasion and that I've been asked by His Majesty the King and the Queen Consort to do this.”
The two other swords will be also carried by former chiefs of the defence staff, Gen Lord Nicholas Houghton and Air Marshal Lord Stuart Peach.
“The three of us will parade in front of His Majesty along with many others, standing near the altar in Westminster Abbey and observe proceedings and follow him around as he moves,” said the general, who as a lord will wear his ermine robe over his full-dress ceremonial uniform.
Normal, approachable officer
Gen Richards has known the king since the-then Prince Charles served as an officer in the Royal Navy in the 1970s.
“When I met him first he was a very normal, approachable officer and that's how he wanted to be treated and viewed,” he told The National.
“Since then I have met him on many occasions and I’ve always found him remarkably normal and lacking in pomposity or self-regard.”
The officer became more acquainted with the king as he moved into senior positions, especially when in charge of the Afghanistan operation at a time when British troops were struggling with equipment and manning issues.
“He wanted to know what was going on in Afghanistan as he had a great interest in aspects of Afghanistan, which I was involved in,” Gen Richards said.
The officer, who was made head of the British army in 2009, admitted that “where it made sense” he felt it was his duty to “speak truth unto power” during difficult periods for the forces.
“I don't know what he did with the information I shared with him but just the knowledge that the Prince of Wales as heir to the throne acknowledged it was helpful.”
He said the royals were “above politics and above politicians” and ultimately British service personnel swore an oath of allegiance to the sovereign as head of the armed forces.
“That was a really important factor, as we went through the process of arguing our case with politicians who weren't always that sympathetic or didn't in our view have the time to get down into the big issues that were affecting people in places like Helmand,” said Gen Richards.
“But the knowledge that the royal family, who have all served and are very close to the armed forces, did take a real interest, even if it was just their sympathy and guidance, that alone mattered a lot to all of us.”
Egregious orders
While the British military takes its orders from the elected government, “if we don't like them, or they're wanting in some way, the knowledge that ultimately our loyalty is to the monarch is very reassuring indeed,” he said.
If an issue arose that was “particularly egregious” then the military had an obligation to speak to the king or queen of the day.
“They will give us sound advice and might well bring it up in their weekly audiences with the prime minister, although I have no knowledge whether that ever happened in my case.”
Gen Richards said the separation “from the political rough and tumble and the prejudices of politicians” had passed down a royal line “that lasts hundreds and hundreds of years with the same relationship”.
“More recently [Field Marshals] Montgomery and Alanbrooke, but before that the [Dukes of] Wellington, Marlborough — that is a very special and reassuring relationship.
Queen's counsel
The general, who has worked as an adviser for the UAE government, had several private audiences with Queen Elizabeth II in his role as CDS.
“The late queen was so fantastic in her regard and affection for the armed forces, it'd be hard to beat that,” he said.
“But I think King Charles, having served in the Royal Navy, and having worn the uniform of the three services with such obvious pride over many, many years before he's become king, that will give him an added insight and make it a powerful influence for good.”
National pleasure
As it is the first British coronation in 70 years, the vast majority of those watching will have little idea of its impact on Britain and the wider world.
Gen Richards suggested that the occasion would “bring home to everybody that we really do now have a new monarch, King Charles,” and that he was evolving in the role.
Asked what it would mean for the country, he said people now recognised “what a decent person he is”.
“The things that have spoiled his image in the past have been put to one side. It’s a genuine national pleasure that we are so lucky to have a royal family and in particular, this king.”
Defender of faiths
The decorated officer also welcomed the diversity of religions and that the king had made it clear he was the defender of “faiths” rather than just the Church of England.
“The king has a genuine interest in people from all backgrounds and persuasions,” Gen Richards said. “When you think of Great Britain at the moment, how diverse we are, in all respects, but particularly in terms of faith.
"Many faith groups will be represented alongside all the well-established ones like Islam, Christianity, Buddhism.
"I think we're very lucky to have such diversity. Every time I get in an Uber cab in London and talk to the driver, they always say to me how lucky they are to live in such a tolerant country.
"I think this this coronation will bring that back to everyone in spades.”
Coronation regalia - in pictures
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The struggle is on for active managers
David Einhorn closed out 2018 with his biggest annual loss ever for the 22-year-old Greenlight Capital.
The firm’s main hedge fund fell 9 per cent in December, extending this year’s decline to 34 percent, according to an investor update viewed by Bloomberg.
Greenlight posted some of the industry’s best returns in its early years, but has stumbled since losing more than 20 per cent in 2015.
Other value-investing managers have also struggled, as a decade of historically low interest rates and the rise of passive investing and quant trading pushed growth stocks past their inexpensive brethren. Three Bays Capital and SPO Partners & Co., which sought to make wagers on undervalued stocks, closed in 2018. Mr Einhorn has repeatedly expressed his frustration with the poor performance this year, while remaining steadfast in his commitment to value investing.
Greenlight, which posted gains only in May and October, underperformed both the broader market and its peers in 2018. The S&P 500 Index dropped 4.4 per cent, including dividends, while the HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index, an early indicator of industry performance, fell 7 per cent through December. 28.
At the start of the year, Greenlight managed $6.3 billion in assets, according to a regulatory filing. By May, the firm was down to $5.5bn.
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
ENGLAND SQUAD
Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
More on Quran memorisation:
Ready Player One
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
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
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
THREE
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UAE%20Warriors%2033%20Results
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
