King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will visit Liverpool today.
To kick off Eurovision and reveal the staging, the Royals will visit the M&S Bank Arena and Liverpool Central Library. During the visit, their Majesties will meet with this year’s UK contestant, Mae Muller and also unveil a new plaque to mark the twinning of libraries in Liverpool and Ukraine.
This year marks the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, the first to be held in the United Kingdom for 25 years. Liverpool is hosting the event on behalf of Ukraine, after Kalush Orchestra from Turin, Ukraine won last year’s Eurovision 2022.
READ MORE: Live updates as King Charles visits Liverpool ahead of Eurovision Song Contest
It was decided that the country would be unable to host because of the demands of the ongoing conflict. So the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Ukraine made the decision to host in the UK who came in second place in 2022.
Today the King and The Queen Consort will meet representatives from the BBC, Eurovision hosts and staff preparing the M&S Bank Arena before the contest starts. They will also meet partners involved in both a two-week cultural festival that will run alongside the contest, and Eurolearn, a Eurovision-inspired education programme for primary and secondary pupils.
While they're in the city, they will be treated to performances by brass band EuroBrass with Resonate Liverpool Music Hub and Liverpool’s 100 Voices Choir, a choir of young people from local secondary schools. His Majesty will meet Ukrainian refugees, and their host families, who have been supported by The Prince’s Trust since settling in Liverpool.
We'll be bringing you the latest updates throughout the visit here.
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