London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jun 17, 2026

Eurovision 2023: King Charles tells Mae Muller he will be 'egging you on'

Eurovision 2023: King Charles tells Mae Muller he will be 'egging you on'

King Charles III has told the UK's Eurovision entrant Mae Muller he will be "egging" her on and watching next month's contest "with great interest".

The King and Queen Consort met the singer when they visited the venue in Liverpool and unveiled the event's set.

Camilla said "no pressure" to Muller, who replied: "It feels like a good energy this year, no nil points."

She added: "As long as I can get up there and say it's the best I've ever done it, I'll be pleased."

The venue will stage the first semi-final in less than two weeks, as the UK hosts the annual competition on behalf of last year's winners Ukraine.

The grand final will take place a week after the coronation.

"We'll be watching with great interest, egging you on," the King told Muller.

The King and Queen Consort also met Julia Sanina, Rylan Clark, Hannah Waddingham and Scott Mills


The King and Queen Consort also met co-hosts Hannah Waddingham and Julia Sanina, commentators Rylan Clark and Scott Mills, and members of the production team.

"They were very lovely, so chatty," Clark told BBC Radio 2 afterwards. "And Queen Consort Camilla was like, 'I hear you've been in The Archers," referring to his appearance in a special Eurovision episode of the Radio 4 soap.

Clark went on to tell the King he would have to "behave himself this year" because Eurovision is in the UK, Mills said. "I won't be able to roll around Italy like I normally do," Clark added.

"That did get a Royal laugh," noted Mills.

The King and Queen Consort also pushed a button to officially light up the arena for the first time.

The venue has been fitted with more than 2,000 specialist lighting fixtures, with a pink, blue and yellow colour scheme to match this year's Eurovision logo.

The cabling for the lighting, sound and video could reach eight miles if rolled out.

The King and Queen Consort pressed a button to switch on the lights on the Eurovision set

This year's stage was designed to symbolise the UK offering a hug to last year's winners Ukraine

The semi-finals will take place on Tuesday 9 and Thursday 11 May, before the final on Saturday 13 May.


Around 6,000 fans will be in the arena for each of the shows, with an estimated 160 million viewers watching the final around the world.

Tickets have sold out, but there will be a Eurovision Village fan zone for thousands to watch the event on big screens, and a two-week cultural festival in the city will also run alongside the competition.

BBC director general Tim Davie said: "It is an honour that His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort have come here today to reveal the fantastic staging for our Eurovision Song Contest programming.

"This set will be the focal point for all of the celebrations and we cannot wait to see it lighting up Liverpool and TV screens across the world."

Last month, stage designer Julio Himede told the BBC's Eurovisioncast podcast the set at the M&S Bank Arena was "very adaptable".

"It was an interesting creative challenge to come up with a design that felt big enough in the arena and big enough on camera," he said.

"Creatively, me and my team had to think about how we could give the stage an identity that says Eurovision - one of the biggest music shows in the world."

Around half of the 37 participants wil use the catwalk that extends from the main stage during their performances, he added.


Who pays for Eurovision?


As this year's host broadcaster, the bulk of the cost to put on the three live televised shows falls to the BBC.

The total is expected to be between £8m and £17m, but the corporation hasn't released its budget for the event.

Malta's The Busker will compete in the first semi-final on Tuesday 9 May


Each year, the 37 competing broadcasters all pay a fee to enter, which in recent years has totalled a combined sum of about £5m.

The BBC, which is the UK's participating broadcaster, does not make its contribution public.

There is also £10m coming from the UK government, which includes an undisclosed amount being given to assist with the BBC's spending for the event.

However, officials say the majority will be spent on ensuring "the inclusion of Ukrainian culture".

Finally, local authorities in Liverpool have pledged £4m for the event.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Government Advances New Airport Slot Rules to Ease Airline Operating Constraints
BBC Opens Flagship Science-Fiction Franchise to Competitive Production Bids
Chancellor Meets City Leaders Amid Concerns Over Gilt Market Liquidity
Rathbones Shares Fall Seventeen Percent After Regulatory Review Reveals Compliance Failings
United Kingdom Joins Group of Seven Initiative Using Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing for Cancer Research
Parliament Debates Doubling Tax Allowance for Pensioners After Major Public Petition
Measles Cases Exceed Seven Hundred in London and the West Midlands
British Military Leadership Faces Parliamentary Scrutiny After Defence Secretary's Sudden Resignation
House of Lords Begins Debate on Steel Industry Nationalisation Legislation
Parliament Advances Bill to Abolish NHS England and Create Single Patient Records
Parliament Fast-Tracks National Security Bill to Expand Powers Against Foreign Threats
United Kingdom and European Union Set July Summit to Deepen Post-Brexit Cooperation
United Kingdom Imposes Seventy New Sanctions on Russia and Expands Support for Ukraine's Nuclear Sector
United Kingdom Announces Social Media Ban for Children Under Sixteen
0British Government Investigates Reports of Russian Warship Firing Warning Shots Near Isle of Wight
UK Supreme Court Revises Legal Definition of Deprivation of Liberty
King’s Birthday Honours Recognise Contributions Across Science, Culture and Public Service
UK Ministry of Defence Reports Interdiction of Russian Shadow Fleet Vessel
UK and US Launch Joint Regulatory Programme for Medicines and Healthcare Products
Solicitor General Refers Murder Sentence to Court of Appeal Under Unduly Lenient Scheme
UK Launches £1.6 Million Mobile Museum Initiative to Expand Cultural Access
Judicial Pay Structure Undergoes Government Review Following Senior Recommendations
Government Confirms Nearly 180 New Youth Hubs Across the United Kingdom
UK Government Expands Careers Support Through Partnership with LinkedIn
Digital News Report Highlights Growing Global Concern Over AI and Information Overload
UK Chancellor Reaffirms Fiscal Discipline and Borrowing Reduction Strategy
UK Government Invests £219 Million in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Development
Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors Secures Major Swedish Export Contract
Government Confirms Locations for Nearly 180 Youth Hubs Across Great Britain
UK Government Partners with LinkedIn to Expand Employment Support Services
Reuters Institute Report Flags Rising Public Anxiety Over News and Information Overload
UK Government Commits £219 Million to Expand Sustainable Aviation Fuel Industry
Chancellor Convenes Market Engagement Group to Assess UK Economic Outlook and Productivity Risks
Rolls-Royce Wins Multibillion-Pound Swedish Contract for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors
Government to Ban Social Media Access for Under-Sixteens Across the United Kingdom
Government Approves Fast-Tracked Broadcast Merger Reshaping UK's Media Landscape
Resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey Triggers Debate Over UK Military Strategy
Britain Intensifies Diplomatic Efforts to Support US-Iran Ceasefire
Bank of England Faces Tough Interest Rate Choices After Economic Contraction
Belfast Sees Second Day of Anti-Migrant Riots as Police Deploy Water Cannons
UK Economy Shrinks in April as Energy Price Shocks Weigh on Growth
UK to Ban Social Media Access for Children Under 16 From 2027
UK Parliament Opens Week of Fast-Tracked Security and Infrastructure Legislation
Northern Ireland Projects £21 Million Boost From Major Cultural and Sporting Events
UK and Japan Sign Technology Security Pact to Strengthen AI and Supply Chain Cooperation
UK Welcomes US-Iran Peace Breakthrough Aimed at Restoring Strait of Hormuz Shipping
British Forces Intercept Russian Shadow Fleet Oil Tanker in English Channel Sanctions Operation
UK to Ban Social Media for Under-16s Under Landmark Online Safety Expansion
Anti-Immigrant Riots Spread Across Belfast, Raising Security Concerns
Ministry of Defence Opens Europe's Largest Drone Testing Facility in Swindon
×