Journalists worldwide have been on a royal bonanza this week in the run-up to the crowning of King Charles III.
The coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday has been heralded as an opportunity to boost the UK’s morale and coffers. But the historic event has also fuelled questions about the role of the monarchy in modern-day life and about Charles’s ability to enhance the nation’s soft power on the global stage.
Tensions in the run-up to the big day have been heightened by a controversial public order bill granting police more authority to take action against non-violent protesters. Under new laws that came into force on Wednesday, protesters who block roads face up to 12 months in prison, and anyone who “locks on” to other people, objects or buildings could get a six-month sentence or unlimited fine. .
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Debate has also been raging about an invitation to the public to take pledge of allegiance to the newly crowned monarch during the coronation. The new “Homage to the People” was reportedly intended to widen access and engagement with the ancient ceremony, but critics blasted the pledge as “tone deaf”.
Despite the various controversies, hundreds of millions of viewers across the UK and the rest of the world are expected to tune in to see Charles offfically become King alongside Queen Camilla.
To find out how closely you’ve been paying attention to the latest developments in the news and other global events, put your knowledge to the test with our Quiz of The Week.
1. Liz Truss is facing a bill from the government for how much relating to her use of a grace-and-favour country home?
£150
£2,200
£5,000
£12,000
2. How many flights on private jets were made globally last year, according to a new report?
850,000
1.8m
5.3m
6.2m
3. What is the name of the anthem composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber for the King’s coronation?
Raise Your Voice in Joy
Make a Joyful Noise
Sing with Jubilation
Celebrate with Song
4. Keir Starmer vowed to be bolder and “go beyond” which former Labour PM on public service reform?
Harold Wilson
James Callaghan
Tony Blair
Gordon Brown
5. Latest analysis by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) found that which country ranks lowest for press freedom?
Vietnam
China
Iran
North Korea
6. A new study tracking more than 210,000 Brits has linked which everyday activity to high blood pressure?
Talking on mobile phones
Using social media
Drinking fizzy drinks
Watching TV on streaming platforms
7. Which energy giant has posted record profits of £7.6bn for the first three months of this year?
Shell
BP
TotalEnergies
ExxonMobil
8. Who did Luca Brecel beat to become the first world snooker champion from mainland Europe?
Judd Trump
Mark Selby
Neil Robertson
Shaun Murphy
9. Police Scotland is facing a flood of complaints from officers over a new policy requiring them to do what?
Work longer hours
Undergo monthly fitness assessments
Stop wearing aftershave and perfume
Shave off beards and moustaches
10. Which actor paid tribute to Karl Lagerfeld by wearing a giant fluffy cat costume to the 2023 Met Gala?
Bill Nighy
Pedro Pascal
Jared Leto
Regé-Jean Page
1. £12,000
The former prime minister is contesting the bill for costs incurred at Chevening House in Kent during her tenure as foreign secretary. The costs reportedly include food, wine and missing items, but Truss says the vast majority of the invoice relates to official government business, for which she would not be liable, rather than personal expenses.
2. 5.3m
According to the think-tank report, the global fleet of private jets has more than doubled in the past two decades, hitting 23,133 in mid-2022, and sales are forecast to reach a record high of $34.6bn (£27.6bn) this year. Find out more with The Week Unwrapped podcast.
3. Make a Joyful Noise
The composer’s coronation anthem will be played publicly for the first time as King Charles III is crowned in Westminster Abbey on Saturday. According to Lloyd Webber, the monarch requested that the tune be “hummable” and cheerful because “he wants the anthem sung in churches”.
4. Tony Blair
In a newspaper interview ahead of Thursday’s local elections, Starmer pledged to lead a “bold and reforming Labour government bringing about real change” by overhauling public services including the NHS. The Labour leader also unveiled plans to help first-time home buyers, and a revamp of tuition fees.
5.North Korea
The analysis of press freedom in 180 countries and territories put the hermit kingdom in last place on the annual World Press Freedom Index, followed by Vietnam and China. Norway topped the ranking for the seventh year in a row.
6. Talking on mobile phones
Scientists at China’s Southern Medical University tracked 212,000 British adults with an average age of 54 over a 12-year period and found that those who chatted on a mobile for 30 minutes a week were 12% more likely to be diagnosed with high blood pressure, while six hours a week raised the risk to 25%. The researchers suggested that exposure to the low levels of radiofrequency energy emitted by phones may raise blood pressure, and spending hours on calls was also linked to worse sleep and higher stress.
7. Shell
The oil and gas company has been accused of a “profiteering bonanza” after making equivalent to £986 per second in the first quarter of 2023, as households struggle with a cost-of-living crisis largely driven by inflated energy bills. BP this week announced profits of £4bn for the same period.
8. Mark Selby
Belgium’s Brecel claimed a 18-15 victory over four-times winner Selby in the World Snooker Championship final at Sheffield’s Crucible on Monday.
9. Shave off beards and moustaches
The Scottish Police Federation, which represents police officers, has reported being “inundated with complaints” over the policy, which the force said was necessary so that staff could wear protective FFP3 masks that require users to be clean-shaven. Four officers are reportedly taking legal action in relation to the rule, due to come into effect on 29 May.
10. Jared Leto
Leto dressed up as Legerfeld’s famed cat Choupette for the gala in New York on Monday, which was themed on the late fashion designer.
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Sorcha Bradley is a writer at The Week and a regular on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast. She worked at The Week magazine for a year and a half before taking up her current role with the digital team, where she mostly covers UK current affairs and politics. Before joining The Week, Sorcha worked at slow-news start-up Tortoise Media. She has also written for Sky News, The Sunday Times, the London Evening Standard and Grazia magazine, among other publications. She has a master’s in newspaper journalism from City, University of London, where she specialised in political journalism.
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