Charles and Camilla to unveil staging for Eurovision and tour arena in Liverpool
They will meet Mae Muller, the UK’s contestant, as well as celebrity presenters and creative teams, ahead of the contest next month.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The King and the Queen Consort will unveil the staging for the Eurovision Song Contest and tour the arena in Liverpool on Wednesday.
Charles and Camilla will be shown around the M&S Bank Arena and meet Mae Muller, the UK’s contestant, as well as celebrity presenters and creative teams, ahead of the contest next month.
The grand final of the competition is due to take place on May 13, a week after the coronation ceremony.
Eurovision 2023 will take place in Liverpool after the UK was chosen to host the competition on behalf of war-torn Ukraine.
It will be the first time the competition has been held in the UK for 25 years.
On Wednesday, Charles and Camilla will be met at the arena by BBC director general Tim Davie, BBC director of content Charlotte Moore and managing director for BBC Eurovision 2023 Martin Green.
In the foyer, they will meet representatives from the BBC Board, BBC Studios and managing director of the arena Faye Dyer.
They will be given a tour backstage to meet production staff before being invited to light and animate the arena, revealing the competition staging for the first time.
The couple will also be introduced to Eurovision hosts Julia Sanina, Hannah Waddingham, Scott Mills and Rylan Clark, before meeting with this year’s UK entrant, Mae Muller, alongside Blue Peter presenters.
Charles and Camilla’s visit to the arena is one of several royal engagements in Liverpool, recognising the cultural partnership of the UK and Ukraine and celebrating Eurovision.
They will also visit Liverpool Central Library to officially mark its twinning with Ukraine’s first public library, the Regional Scientific Library in Odesa.
They will meet key partners involved in both a two-week cultural festival running alongside the contest, and Eurolearn, a Eurovision-inspired education programme for primary and secondary pupils.
Chief executive of Liverpool City Council, Theresa Grant, and director of Culture Liverpool and Major Events, Claire McColgan will guide the royal pair around the external exhibits.
A recital of Poem For Eurovision by poet Levi Tafari, written with the help of secondary pupils from several of Liverpool’s Schools of Sanctuary, will take place in the library’s atrium.
Touring the library space, Charles will meet Ukrainian refugees and their host families who have been supported by The Prince’s Trust while Camilla meets young people as part of a story telling session.
The pair will then together meet members of the Ukrainian Community in Liverpool and their host families.
Charles will later reveal a plaque to mark the twinning of the libraries, during a live link with the site in Odesa, and the visit will end with a performance by English National Opera.