King Charles opens the stage of the Eurovision Song Contest | world

King Charles and his wife Camilla visited the stage where Eurovision 2023 is taking place in Liverpool, northern England. The king said he would attend the event.

Charles, who will be crowned a few days before the competition, also met British contestant May Mueller and participated in the recording of a segment for the children’s entertainment program Blue Peter.

“We will watch with great interest and encourage you,” the King told Müller. Liverpool will host the competition instead of Ukraine, which won last year, after the country was unable to host the tournament due to the Russian invasion. The UK was in second place last year.

After a countdown from spectators, Charles and Camilla reveal the competition stage by pressing a large pink button that results in a series of dancing colored lights and a pulsating rhythm.

Next month will see a series of celebrations across the UK, with Charles’s official coronation in Westminster Abbey on May 6 and a concert the following day at Windsor Castle.

In February, the British government said it would provide 3,000 tickets to the festival to displaced Ukrainians and provide 10 million pounds ($12.47 million) in funding to help host the competition.

Eurovision will take place between May 9 and 13.