VISITING LIVERPOOL IN THE BUILD-UP TO THE SONG CONTEST THE KING AND QUEEN CONSORT ARE PERFECTLY IN TUNE AS THEY MEET EUROVISION STARS AND EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH UKRAINE
REPORT: TRACY SCHAVERIEN
T he King and Queen Consort embraced Eurovision fever to officially kick off proceedings in Liverpool, which is hosting the international song contest this year.
Their Majesties took part in a countdown and pressed a button to light up the stage at the M&S Bank Arena, which will host live shows next week before performers battle it out for the coveted title in the grand final on Saturday 13 May. They also met the Eurovision 2023 presenters, as well as Mae Muller, who is representing the UK with her track I Wrote a Song.
“Good luck – we’ll be watching with great interest, egging you on,” the King said. “Thank you. No pressure. No nul points this year,” Mae, 25, replied, joking about some of the UK’s low scores in years gone by. “As long as I can get up there and say it’s the best I’ve ever done it, I’ll be pleased.”
Camilla said: “It feels like a good energy this year – no nul points.”
The royal couple chatted to presenters Rylan Clark, Scott Mills and Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham, as well as Ukrainian host Julia Sanina. Referring to the coronation, Hannah told Their Majesties: “I can’t believe you’re both here, given what you have coming up next week. You’ll have to put yourselves in a darkened room afterwards and try to switch off.”
UNITED IN SONG
This year’s contest is the 67th edition of Eurovision and the first held in the UK for 25 years. Having finished second last year, the UK is hosting on behalf of last year’s winners, Ukraine, which is unable to stage the contest because of the war with Russia.
Their Majesties were greeted at the venue by senior BBC staff including director-general Tim Davie, director of content Charlotte Moore and Martin Green, managing director of BBC Eurovision 2023, before being given a behind-the-scenes tour. They then met Blue Peter presenters Joel Mawhinney, Abby Cook and Mwaksy Mudenda, along with three young viewers. Talking to Sasha, eight, about her haul of eight Blue Peter badges, the Queen Consort said: “That’s a lot of bling.”
Sasha asked the King if he watched Blue Peter as a child, and he replied: “Yes I did, can you believe it – and a lot of other ones which are no longer existing, sadly.”
The royal couple were each presented with a gold Blue Peter badge, the show’s highest accolade, for their work helping young people and protecting the environment.
Asked by a youngster about which part of the coronation he was looking forward to
