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May 8, 2023 16 tweets 7 min read Read on X
#THREAD

Globally, what were the most-watched royal events in history?

And how does Charles's #Coronation compare?

The results might surprise you...

history101.com/27-of-the-most…
Prince William and Kate Middleton wedding: 350 million viewers.

On April 29th, 2011, Kate Middleton, who was the daughter of wealthy business owners with ties to the crown, became Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Image
Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer wedding: 1 billion viewers.

On July 29, 1981, Lady Di went from nursery teacher’s assistant to the Princess of Wales. Image
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wedding: 1.9 billion viewers.

On May 19th, 2018, Meghan Markle, who had previously worked as an actress, blogger, charity ambassador, and advocate, (briefly) became HRH the Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel. Image
Funeral of Lady Di: 2 billion viewers.

Di’s funeral took place at Westminster Abbey on Sept. 6th, 1997. A hearse transported her coffin to Kensington Palace days before the funeral took place. Although this wasn’t the formal procession, thousands of onlookers lined the streets. Image
Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral: 2.5 billion people.

The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II took place at Westminster Abbey on Monday 19th September. Image
King Charles III #coronation - 400 million.

UK viewing peaked at 20.4 million as Charles was crowned (compared to the 29 million who watched the Queen's funeral, & the 32 million who watched Di's funeral - second only to the 32.3 million who watched the 1966 World Cup Final). 🇬🇧 Image
Only ten global events (including Di's & Queen's funeral) have been watched by 2 billion+ viewers.

Ali vs Larry Holmes: 2 billion viewers.

On Oct. 2nd, 1980, Ali took to the ring suffering slurred speech & decreased motor function. After 10 rounds his manager ended the fight. Image
Michael Jackson Memorial Service: 2 billion viewers.

A public memorial service for Michael Jackson was held on July 7, 2009, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, twelve days after his death. Image
Live 8: 2 billion viewers

Live 8 was a benefit concert to raise money to try & end poverty worldwide. The G8 countries & South Africa performed simultaneous concerts on July 2nd, 2005 - the 20th anniversary of Live Aid (estimated TV audience of 1.9 billion). Image
9/11 terror attacks: 2 billion viewers.

Media coverage started when American Airlines Flight 11 collided with the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Within one hour and fifteen minutes, three more planes crashed in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. Image
1998 World Cup Final, France vs. Brazil: 2 billion viewers.

France's 3-0 win was their first World Cup title. Zidane was named the man of the match, while Ronaldo was awarded the Golden Ball as FIFA's outstanding player of the tournament. Image
Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks II: 2 billion viewers.

September 15th, 1978, marked the second time Ali and Spinks met in the ring. Ali was 36, but dominated the fight and defeated Spinks by unanimous decision, avenging his split decision loss to Spinks from seven months prior. Image
2002 World Cup Final, Brazil vs. Germany: 2 billion viewers

On June 30, 2002, Brazil played Germany in a world cup final for first time. Two second-half goals by the original Ronaldo led to a 2-0 victory. Image
2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony: 3 billion viewers.

The number “8” is a big deal in China, and it’s no accident that the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony took place on Aug. 8, 2008 (8/8/08).

On that day, 15,000 performers put on a show that seemed to defy belief. Image
1996 Atlanta Olympics Opening Ceremony: 3.6 billion viewers!

On July 19, 1996, Ali lit the Olympic torch that started the games, at the most watched event in TV history.

(The opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics attracted a global TV audience of 900 million people). Image

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More from @docrussjackson

Aug 27
Farage's illiberal, immoral, & unworkable authoritarian plan involves ripping up human rights laws forged after WWII, which protect British people, & wasting £billions of UK taxpayers' money, giving some of it to corrupt misogynistic totalitarian regimes.
theguardian.com/politics/2025/…Image
Image
Leaving the #ECHR, repealing the Human Rights Act and disapplying international conventions

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x.com/docrussjackson…
Reform UK’s grotesque far-right mass deportation plan is not just economically and socially illiterate (Britain an ageing population and low birth rate) rely on striking “returns agreements” with countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Eritrea and Sudan, offering financial incentives to secure these deals, alongside visa restrictions and potential sanctions on countries that refuse.

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Read 13 tweets
Aug 25
🧵

The internet never forgets.

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A reminder of the one, viewed 310,000 times, for which she was jailed, which urged people to burn down asylum seeker hotels after the #Southport attack - which had nothing to do with asylum seekers. Image
While all these tweets of Connolly's were made before her incendiary post, they don't say which year they were posted.

They can be accessed here, via The Wayback Machine, which has archived more than 916 billion web pages.

Draw your own conclusions.

web.archive.org/web/2024080616…
Connolly's tweet (top right) was in response to the tweet on the left, which criticised Laurence Fox for posting an upskirt photograph of Narinder Kaur.

The next one (right centre) was Connolly asking Kaur if she had 'flashed her gash'.

The third discusses a teenage experience. Image
Read 16 tweets
Aug 22
🧵

Trump’s Fake Washington DC Emergency: Power Grab Exposed (in 2 Minutes).

Excellent explainer of an age-old strategy.

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Watch and share.

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Image
Read 6 tweets
Aug 21
🧵

A little-known US-based conservative organisation, the #RockbridgeNetwork, has quietly entered the global political stage.

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Read 30 tweets
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🧵

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Supposedly based in York, 'Flag Force UK' self-identifies as a "grass roots" campaign set up by three men who 'just wanted to put England and Union flags up', and which already brands itself as "the UK's premier community network tracking flag raisings across the nation." Image
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Read 29 tweets
Aug 19
🧵

Robert Jenrick’s attendance at the Epping anti-refugee protest on August 18, 2025, represents a grave error of judgment, dangerously irresponsible behaviour, and a morally indefensible decision, particularly given his role as Shadow Justice Secretary. Image
Jenrick posted photos showing himself at the protest outside the Bell hotel in Epping, where police have been attacked.

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The rally, organised by the neo-Nazi Homeland Party provided a platform for extremists. Jenrick shared a photo of himslef next to Eddy Butler, former Combat 18 founder and ex-BNP organiser.

hopenothate.org.uk/case-files-hom…
Read 16 tweets

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