LONDON: Britain’s famous parliament clock tower is to be renamed Elizabeth Tower in honor of the queen’s diamond jubilee, officials announced yesterday.
The change comes after dozens of lawmakers signed up to a campaign to change the name of the tower — officially named the Clock Tower but commonly known as Big Ben — in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th year on the throne.
Big Ben is technically the name of the huge bell at the top of the 96-meter tower, one of London’s best-loved landmarks.
“The House of Commons Commission welcomed the proposal to rename the Clock Tower Elizabeth Tower in recognition of HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and will arrange for this decision to be implemented in an appropriate manner in due course,” a spokesman said.
Lawmakers have accepted that the iconic tower, which sounds out the hours over central London with distinctive “bongs,” will continue to be known colloquially as Big Ben.
The change mirrors an honor bestowed on queen Victoria — the only other British monarch to celebrate a diamond jubilee back in 1897 — who gives her name to the other tower at the west end of Parliament.
A spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron said the name change was “a fitting tribute to the queen and the service she has given to our country in this Jubilee year.”
Big Ben bells to toll for Elizabeth
Big Ben bells to toll for Elizabeth
Mohamed Abdo rings in New Year with landmark Saudi celebration in London
- Abdo performs 16 of his most beloved songs over 4 hours
- He lauds ‘genius choice’ of first Saudi-led New Year show
LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s music icon Mohamed Abdo welcomed the New Year with a historic sold-out concert in London, marking what organizers described as the first Kingdom-led celebration in the UK capital.
Organized by Global Gala, the event drew more than 1,400 people, with Saudis traveling from the Kingdom and across Europe to attend.
There were also local fans, underscoring the wide appeal of the evening and the growing international presence of Saudi Arabia’s cultural events.
The concert was held at the Great Room at Grosvenor House, a venue of particular significance for Abdo because it was the same location where he first performed in London.
Tickets sold out rapidly following the show’s announcement. The organizers said the strong response reflected both Abdo’s enduring popularity and the anticipation surrounding a Saudi-led New Year’s event abroad.
When asked about the timing of the concert, Abdo praised the organizers’
decision to stage the event on New Year’s Eve, describing it as a “genius choice” that aligned naturally with the spirit of welcoming a new year.
Over the course of four hours, Abdo performed 16 songs, spanning decades of his career.
The audience responded warmly throughout the night, particularly during well-known tracks including “Al Amaken,” “Ashofak Kil Youm,” and “Majmouat Insan.”
The audience included prominent figures from the worlds of entertainment, media and public life.
