this is bbc news. the headlines... with just two days to go into the coronation, preparations go ahead, and the prince and princess of wales drop into a london pub for a pint. we are going to take a look at the root of the procession to and from westminster abbey where people are already camping out. and a new alzheimer's drug has been shown to slow the deceits by about one third. also, the most difficult year of his career. the billionaire sir richard branson tells the bbc he thought he was going to lose his entire empire during the pandemic. hello there and

welcome to bbc news. here in the uk, preparations are well under way for the coronation of king charles iii this weekend. hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line the route. it's only a shortjourney, but people are already camping out to get the best viewpoints. a royal correspondent tells us more. the route would be a familiar one, past some of london's most famous landmarks. and for the king and queen consort, the most significant 1.3 miles they will ever travel. along the way, flags have been raised and finishing touches added for a ceremonial event not seen in this country for seven decades on

saturday morning for thousand specially invited people seated here will get the first glimpse of the queen and king as they depart buckingham polish through the centre gates at 1020. the couple will travel in the diamond jubilee state coach. electric windows, air conditioning, and hydraulic stabilisers should make for a bump free, comfyjourney. there will be space for tens of thousands of people on the pavements to watch as the procession goes by but the advice is to get there early. not least because people are already camping out to make sure they are at the front. in terms of public transport, there will be alterations and closures are checked before you travel. the kings procession, complete with military escort, will head up the mile through admiralty arch and that will pass on the south side, down whitehall, around parliament square, and finishing at

the abbey, arriving just before 11 o'clock. this is been location for coronations since 1066. king trousers will take around two hours, and so not after one o'clock, the procession back to buckingham palace will begin. just as queen elizabeth did in 1953, the newly crowned king and queen will travel in the gold state coach. 70 years ago, the late queens return trip was more than four miles long, taking in oxford street, in regent street. on saturday, the couple returned the way they came, along whitehall on the morrow. it will be a much grander procession back, involving 4000 service personnel. 0nce 4000 service personnel. once the procession is over, the mall will be reopened, allowing the crowds to surge forward. at 230, the raf will perform the coronation fly past. with the king and the queen watching on. buckingham palace, bbc news. as

sarah pointed out there, it's a case of the early bird catches the best viewpoint. 0ur correspondent has been speaking to some of the very early arrivals there. we are around halfway down the miles so hundreds of times here now. it is thursday early evening here in london, so the ceremony itself doesn't happen until saturday morning. so there will definitely be a lot of time to go, but people are determined to be here. let's have a quick group. mandy, when you come from's why have you come so early, mandy? well, if you're going to do it, you might as well get a good place. yeah, yeah. now it's beautiful at the moment, isn't it? the sun is shining. the forecast is horrible. yes, we're going to get wet. we're definitely going to get. are you prepared? have you got a tent? oh, no, we don't do tents. we're hardcore royalists. yes.

i mean, it's.. i suppose the question for some people watching will be why so early? why brave the rain? i mean, what is it about it that's so important to you? to get a good view. because if you're going to come, you want to be on the front row, don't you? really? i'm sure charles will be looking out for us. you reckon? yeah. hope so. you look fabulous, if i may say so. there's been a lot of effort gone into this. i make it myself. did you? yeah. it's fantastic. thank you. let's see. so, christine, maybe you could tell us why you've decided to join the crew. well, my sister in law, mandy's the culprit, and she always involves us with all the royal events. so, yes. just wanted to come and soak up the atmosphere. yes. i mean, it is a real sort of piece of history. this, isn't it? because you're certainly too young, aren't you, to remember the last coronation? yes, lam. 70 years ago. yeah, but it's important.

do you feel like to be here as to be here for present for a piece of history? yes, definitely. most definitely. yeah. and it's just a wonderful moment in time and it's a moment in history that... yeah. and by the crowds arriving and yeah. everybody is backing and supporting king charles and that's wonderful. yes. and do you... do you think you'll be a good king? i do, yes. yeah. i think people need to love him and support him because we're all nothing until we've got that team behind us and we can be that team. yeah. thank you so much. well done. i hope the weather is kind to you all. so there we are. there's just a handful of the people who've started camping out here ready for what will be a spectacular procession that starts at 1020 on saturday morning. we'll travel down the mall round the corner down whitehall to westminster abbey, where there's a two hour ceremony,

and then you get to see it all again on the way back, but this time with around 4000 military personnel. and then they will end, of course, with the traditional fly—past. so quite a spectacle to come on saturday. grand central there. well, the royal family has already been busy with the run—up to the big day. earlier today prince william and catherine the elizabeth line, that is the two blind named after the late queen, inter—central london. this was part of a visit to support the work of hospitality businesses, so they visited the dog and duck pub in soho, with crowds jammed into the narrow streets to try and see them. and trying his hand as being a barman, prince william pulled a pint of cider. meanwhile, the king has been meeting with amazonian indigenous leaders at buckingham palace, aiming to reflect his commitment to protecting the rainforest and his keen interest in the environment. he has also been hosting other indigenous leaders from around the world ahead of the

coronation. let's speak now to pr consultant mark. thanks for talking to us. with your professional hard on, from your perspective, how big of a pr week is this for the royal family? it of a pr week is this for the royal famil ? , ., _ of a pr week is this for the royal famil? ., , of a pr week is this for the royal famil? ., i, family? it is obviously a very big week. family? it is obviously a very big week- and _ family? it is obviously a very big week. and obviously, _ family? it is obviously a very big week. and obviously, event - family? it is obviously a very big| week. and obviously, event such family? it is obviously a very big . week. and obviously, event such as this in the historic moments are going infinitely well. you talked about how people are getting very excited and taking their advanced positions, but there has been pinpoint military rehearsals for this, because it is something the royal household does incredibly well. of course, it's going to be beamed across the world. and i think in some ways, it has been quite muted. i don't remember quite it being so controlled. because on one hand, it's an enormous moment, a very historic moment, as i said. but

to a certain extent it comes at a time where the younger generation are not really engaged in it. not that they are anti—the royal family or that they are republicans, it's just that they are indifferent. and of course, this will be a great occasion and a lot of money, a lot of time will be spent on this. and people are going through tough times at the moment, so i think that's what the younger generation find difficult to come to terms with. there is a delicate balance to strike there, isn't it? looking at some of the activities that the royal family has been engaged some of the activities that the royalfamily has been engaged in this week, we saw kate and william taking the elizabeth line. clearly, a very considered decision, going to a very considered decision, going to a pub to pull a point. how much do those little details matter? £31 those little details matter? of course the matter. this is a well rehearsed choreography. there is this sort of balance that has to be struck between being populist and

for charles, it is an opportunity for charles, it is an opportunity for him to strike his personality. we as a nation want to go to extraordinary scenes of all those people being cute who paid pilgrimage to the late queen. it wasn't that long ago where all those events that surrounded it gripped the world. so, you are coming out of it now. and the royal family took a bit of a battering. there is a dissonance. there was a slight disruption in the folds, particularly with harry and megan and their identification of what they felt. we had the spare, this visceral book that really has cast a bit of a shadow. this is their moment now to establish their brand, their terms of what the future is going to be. so clearly, charles meeting with indigenous people and being very close to environmental issues, which is always been true to

her span with, we are beginning to see what his reign will look like. and of course, they have made very important strives to establish who is the next in line. a very much slimmed—down royalfamily for the slimmed—down royal family for the future of, slimmed—down royalfamily for the future of, which when william and kate come to the throne is going to be yet again a very different feel. so in some ways, it is a point of transition. and especially what the royal family is going to look like in the future. i royal family is going to look like in the future.— in the future. i 'ust have to ask really quickly. — in the future. ijust have to ask really quickly, because - in the future. ijust have to ask really quickly, because you - in the future. ijust have to ask really quickly, because you arej in the future. ijust have to ask. really quickly, because you are a band consultant who has worked with the likes of michaeljackson and cliff richard, how well do you think the royal family strategy is working, just quickly? i the royal family strategy is working, just quickly? working, 'ust quickly? ithink it's a ve working, just quickly? i think it's a very difficult _ working, just quickly? i think it's a very difficult job. _ working, just quickly? i think it's a very difficult job. they're - working, just quickly? i think it's i a very difficult job. they're damned a very difficultjob. they're damned if they do, they're damned if they don't. they're managing very well. they've got some great people at the heart of it. and they have some ups and downs, a bit of a roller coaster, but i think they do a really good job, considering all the forces against them.—

really good job, considering all the forces against them. thank you. good to have you — forces against them. thank you. good to have you on — forces against them. thank you. good to have you on the _ forces against them. thank you. good to have you on the programme. - forces against them. thank you. good to have you on the programme. nowl forces against them. thank you. good i to have you on the programme. now my colleague katie k is at westminster abbey. good to see you caddie. tell us how preparations are going. thank ou. it's us how preparations are going. thank yom it's pretty _ us how preparations are going. thank yom it's pretty calm _ us how preparations are going. thank you. it's pretty calm here _ us how preparations are going. thank you. it's pretty calm here at - us how preparations are going. thank you. it's pretty calm here at the - you. it's pretty calm here at the moment at westminster abby. we do know that the royal family is doing rehearsals over the course of the last day and there have certainly been crowds. they are sending out a little bit now, it's getting dark here. there have been crowds all day long outside the abbey, looking at the preparations. we've seen a few of the guards carrying flags, and they will be more preparations as well ahead of the coronation. now less than 40 hours away. and it's interesting, we were hearing there about some of the challenges that the royal family has faced in terms of their popularity, in terms of their appeal to the british public. i also want to focus on the moment that this is for them and what it will mean for them personally. i am trying to now by and 11. she is a

royal commentator. an author speaks about the world, most recently about camilla, from outcast or queen consort. thank you forjoining us. thank you for having me. we consort. thank you forjoining us. thank you for having me.- consort. thank you forjoining us. thank you for having me. we are now six hours away _ thank you for having me. we are now six hours away from _ thank you for having me. we are now six hours away from the _ thank you for having me. we are now six hours away from the coronation. l six hours away from the coronation. what do you think is going to the minds of the king and the queen? i think that in one way they are incredibly— think that in one way they are incredibly happy and relieved, because — incredibly happy and relieved, because once they have had the coronation, they are sealed in their position _ coronation, they are sealed in their position i— coronation, they are sealed in their position. i think it's quite difficult, _ position. i think it's quite difficult, between getting the titles, — difficult, between getting the titles, the minute, the second that the queen— titles, the minute, the second that the queen herself died, and just waiting — the queen herself died, and just waiting until you can start doing all the _ waiting until you can start doing all the things that you really want to do _ all the things that you really want to do. when you are in power. what ou mean to do. when you are in power. what you mean by — to do. when you are in power. what you mean by that — to do. when you are in power. what you mean by that does _ to do. when you are in power. twat you mean by that does not lots to do. when you are in power. kwiagit you mean by that does not lots of americans have had to me, hold on a second, i thought you became king last year? what actually changes just because of this ancient ceremony were all going to watch on tv? �* , ~ , ., ceremony were all going to watch on tv? it's like signing a contract. you no tv? it's like signing a contract. you go when — tv? it's like signing a contract. you go when you _ tv? it's like signing a contract. you go when you might - tv? it's like signing a contract. you go when you might set - tv? it's like signing a contract. | you go when you might set a job tv? it's like signing a contract. - you go when you might set a job but you don't know if you're stable. it

actually once you are signed in and you have _ actually once you are signed in and you have had the blessing, that's the way— you have had the blessing, that's the way it— you have had the blessing, that's the way it works. and then at the wedding — the way it works. and then at the wedding too. you're living together, you feel_ wedding too. you're living together, you feel like husband—and—wife, but you feel like husband—and—wife, but you actually— you feel like husband—and—wife, but you actually have the wedding to sorta _ you actually have the wedding to sorta finish of law. 30 you actually have the wedding to sorta finish of law.— you actually have the wedding to sorta finish of law. so they've been enuaaed, sorta finish of law. so they've been engaged. it's _ sorta finish of law. so they've been engaged, it's actually _ sorta finish of law. so they've been engaged, it's actually marriage? i engaged, it's actually marriage? talking of marriage, you know queen camilla very well. you have written about her. what is this moment for her? she is a fascinating figure to me, of all the people who are in there and that abby on saturday morning, because she is the woman who was so reviled by the british media for many years of her life, went in and out of popularity, but has managed over the years to rehabilitate herself, clearly she is the love of charles are sly. at such an interesting story. yes the love of charles are sly. at such an interesting story.— an interesting story. yes it is, actually- _ an interesting story. yes it is, actually- i— an interesting story. yes it is, actually. i currently _ an interesting story. yes it is, actually. i currently enjoyed i actually. i currently enjoyed writing _ actually. i currently enjoyed writing her enter autobiography. what's _ writing her enter autobiography. what's interesting is she is not someone — what's interesting is she is not someone who likes to be the centre of attention, so i think she will be

feeling _ of attention, so i think she will be feeling quite nervous. she does an awful— feeling quite nervous. she does an awful lot _ feeling quite nervous. she does an awful lot behind the scenes. because that is— awful lot behind the scenes. because that is how_ awful lot behind the scenes. because that is how she wants to do it. as her title has _ that is how she wants to do it. as her title has gone up from doctors to gueen, — her title has gone up from doctors to queen, she feels that that enables— to queen, she feels that that enables her to help people who are in trouble _ enables her to help people who are in trouble in some form of another. redoing _ in trouble in some form of another. redoing domestic violence, all those things. _ redoing domestic violence, all those things, that's really what she wants to do _ things, that's really what she wants to do. being queen, i think it's important _ to do. being queen, i think it's important to her, but it's really important — important to her, but it's really important to her, but it's really important to charles. he has really wanted _ important to charles. he has really wanted this. important to charles. he has really wanted this— important to charles. he has really wanted this. ., , . . �* , wanted this. how did she change in's i think it's wanted this. how did she change in's i think it'sjust _ wanted this. how did she change in's i think it'sjust because _ wanted this. how did she change in's i think it'sjust because there - wanted this. how did she change in's i think it'sjust because there in - i think it'sjust because there in love _ i think it'sjust because there in love with each other. you can see that when — love with each other. you can see that when they are together. you look that when they are together. you took at _ that when they are together. you look at them, and they are very happy— look at them, and they are very happy together. they have a sort of secret _ happy together. they have a sort of secret way— happy together. they have a sort of secret way of talking, which is our eyes _ secret way of talking, which is our eyes and — secret way of talking, which is our eyes and whispers and things like that _ eyes and whispers and things like that they— eyes and whispers and things like that. they are just very comfortable. i don't think she tried to change — comfortable. i don't think she tried to change them. she brought out the best in— to change them. she brought out the best in him — to change them. she brought out the best in him. she has brought out the best of— best in him. she has brought out the best of him — best in him. she has brought out the best of him. in the queen and prince philip. _ best of him. in the queen and prince philip. who— best of him. in the queen and prince philip, who didn't want to have

anything — philip, who didn't want to have anything to do with her, realised that over— anything to do with her, realised that over time. not only that, but she is— that over time. not only that, but she is devoted to the monarchy as well _ she is devoted to the monarchy as well not— she is devoted to the monarchy as well. not for herself, but she thinks — well. not for herself, but she thinks it's— well. not for herself, but she thinks it's a very good institution. also, _ thinks it's a very good institution. also it _ thinks it's a very good institution. also, it means she wants to give. if the people — also, it means she wants to give. if the people who want to give of themselves. it's not about me, me. that's_ themselves. it's not about me, me. that's the _ themselves. it's not about me, me. that's the last thing she would think— that's the last thing she would think about. it's actually being able _ think about. it's actually being able to— think about. it's actually being able to help people who need it. and she is— able to help people who need it. and she is in— able to help people who need it. and she is in a _ able to help people who need it. and she is in a position to do so. i think— she is in a position to do so. i think that _ she is in a position to do so. i think that what will make homer nervous — think that what will make homer nervous is — think that what will make homer nervous is that she could read her husband _ nervous is that she could read her husband like a book. she would want to be _ husband like a book. she would want to be there _ husband like a book. she would want to be there not to get too nervous for herself, — to be there not to get too nervous for herself, and to be there to support— for herself, and to be there to support him. hence the queen consort. that means you're there to support— consort. that means you're there to support the — consort. that means you're there to support the monarch. talk consort. that means you're there to support the monarch.— support the monarch. talk about prince harry- _ support the monarch. talk about prince harry. he _ support the monarch. talk about prince harry. he wrote _ support the monarch. talk about prince harry. he wrote about - support the monarch. talk about | prince harry. he wrote about her, support the monarch. talk about - prince harry. he wrote about her, of course, in his book, not flattering lay. he will be there in the abby as well. do you know if the relationship is still strange between them? is it better with prince philip's between them? is it better with prince philip'— between them? is it better with prince philip's prince william and prince philip's prince william and prince harry? — prince philip's prince william and prince harry? is— prince philip's prince william and prince harry? is the _ prince philip's prince william and prince harry? is the relationshipl prince harry? is the relationship better with _

prince harry? is the relationship better with prince _ prince harry? is the relationship better with prince william? - prince harry? is the relationship better with prince william? no. | better with prince william? no. prince william _ better with prince william? no. prince william is _ better with prince william? no. prince william is absolutely furious with harvey. he is invading his privacy — with harvey. he is invading his privacy. f0r— with harvey. he is invading his privacy. for example, he said that he was _ privacy. for example, he said that he was born— privacy. for example, he said that he was born and had a sort of ceremony— he was born and had a sort of ceremony to remove the bit of it. and he _ ceremony to remove the bit of it. and he thought that was discussing, that he _ and he thought that was discussing, that he would intrude on him. especially that harry is taking to court _ especially that harry is taking to court anybody who intrudes on his own privacy. i think william also feels _ own privacy. i think william also feels very— own privacy. i think william also feels very angry that he has attacked catherine, he's been very rude about — attacked catherine, he's been very rude about her. when he actually said that — rude about her. when he actually said that she was a sister that he had always— said that she was a sister that he had always wanted. and they were very close — had always wanted. and they were very close at one point. but all of that is— very close at one point. but all of that is gone. i think people are going _ that is gone. i think people are going to — that is gone. i think people are going to be very nervous of saying anything _ going to be very nervous of saying anything to him apart from discussing the weather, because they know that _ discussing the weather, because they know that he can't be trusted now. he will— know that he can't be trusted now. he will go— know that he can't be trusted now. he will go off and sell it, or it might be _ he will go off and sell it, or it might be useful for the next netflix document three. it�*s might be useful for the next netflix document three.— document three. it's a very sad moment- _ document three. it's a very sad moment- it's — document three. it's a very sad moment. it's going _ document three. it's a very sad

moment. it's going to - document three. it's a very sad moment. it's going to be - document three. it's a very sad moment. it's going to be one l document three. it's a very sad | moment. it's going to be one of document three. it's a very sad - moment. it's going to be one of the shadows over the ceremony. boo mark it's a very sad moment. he’s shadows over the ceremony. boo mark it's a very sad moment.— it's a very sad moment. he's rushing u . it's a very sad moment. he's rushing up afterward- _ it's a very sad moment. he's rushing up afterward. they _ it's a very sad moment. he's rushing up afterward. they can't _ it's a very sad moment. he's rushing up afterward. they can't stay - it's a very sad moment. he's rushing up afterward. they can't stay the - up afterward. they can't stay the night _ up afterward. they can't stay the night and — up afterward. they can't stay the night and stay for meal afterwards. he doesn't— night and stay for meal afterwards. he doesn't want to do that. it straightening straight out. , he wanted — straightening straight out. , he wanted to— straightening straight out. , he wanted to get back for archie's birthday. — wanted to get back for archie's birthday, but he's going to get back about— birthday, but he's going to get back about eight o'clock in the evening, and no _ about eight o'clock in the evening, and no four—year—old has a birthday that late _ and no four—year—old has a birthday that late so— and no four—year—old has a birthday that late. so he could have waited a little bit _ that late. so he could have waited a little bit longer.— little bit longer. otherwise, it's auoin to little bit longer. otherwise, it's going to be _ little bit longer. otherwise, it's going to be a — little bit longer. otherwise, it's going to be a very _ little bit longer. otherwise, it's going to be a very celebratory i little bit longer. otherwise, it's. going to be a very celebratory day. 0therwise going to be a very celebratory day. otherwise it's going to be very cemetery. otherwise it's going to be very cemetery-— otherwise it's going to be very cemete . ., ,, ., ., cemetery. thank you for “oining me. and as we said. * cemetery. thank you forjoining me. and as we said, preparations - cemetery. thank you forjoining me. and as we said, preparations are - and as we said, preparations are still taking place. there will be more tomorrow out of that big day, nancy, on saturday.— more tomorrow out of that big day, nancy, on saturday. thanks for that of sta on nancy, on saturday. thanks for that of stay on westminster. _ nancy, on saturday. thanks for that of stay on westminster. now - nancy, on saturday. thanks for that of stay on westminster. now going | nancy, on saturday. thanks for that i of stay on westminster. now going to remind you of the date. it is may the 4th today. there“s remind you of the date. it is may the 4th today. there's a reason i'm doing that. this is also known as star wars day. and hollywood is paying tribute to one of the series“ biggest stars.

carrie fisher, who played princess leia in the films, is being honoured with a posthumous star on the hollywood walk of fame. she died in 2016 at the age of 60, and fans and co—stars have been calling for her to be given a star of her own for a few years. there is some controversy though, after a row erupted between fisher's daughter, and carrie“s siblings, who say they weren't invited to the ceremony. live now to journalist and carrie fisherfan, chris panella. chris, thank you for talking to us. so i hear that on a scale of one to ten, as far as fans go, you are and 11. tell us, what is it about carrie fisher that makes you such a big fan? is at her? is that the role that she paid placement is both? i think it's both. i think everyone knows her from star wars think it's both. i think everyone knows herfrom star wars and think it's both. i think everyone knows her from star wars and she think it's both. i think everyone knows herfrom star wars and she is kind of the heart and soul of that saga and of the original trilogy. layer as a character is very iconic. but i think beyond that, carrie is well known for being kind of one of

hollywood's greatest brightest stars, coming from a family of previous hollywood stars but also being a mental health advocate. and reallyjust being kind of this generous and open minded person in her writing and in the play she“s written, the novels she has written. she has always been someone who is a celebrity is thought to be very transparent and honest, and talked about her own struggles that other people can relate to in a very humorous way. so i think as a celebrity, she feels like somebody who you want to support and someone who you want to support and someone who you want to support and someone who you want to read the works of and be a fan of, beyond her acting roles. . ., . and be a fan of, beyond her acting roles. ,, ._ , , and be a fan of, beyond her acting roles. ,, , , . ~' roles. stay with us, chris. thank ou for roles. stay with us, chris. thank you for getting _ roles. stay with us, chris. thank you for getting your— roles. stay with us, chris. thank you for getting your thoughts i roles. stay with us, chris. thank you for getting your thoughts on j you for getting your thoughts on carrie fisher. stay with us here on bbc news as we are talking about how carrie fisher will be honoured with a star at the iconic hollywood walk

of fame and during her star wars fan. do stay with us here on bbc news. we continue with more coverage. and remember, you can find all of our stories on our website at bbc news. thanks for watching. now we have just been talking about the fact that carrie fisher is getting a huge honour. and chris panella, who is a superfan, isjoining us to talk about this. chris, you mentioned why she was so important to you. let's talk about why this day is so important. may the 4th, is this the perfect day for her to be getting that star? i this the perfect day for her to be getting that star?— this the perfect day for her to be getting that star? i think it is the perfect day- _ getting that star? i think it is the perfect day- l _ getting that star? i think it is the perfect day. i think _ getting that star? i think it is the perfect day. i think a lot - getting that star? i think it is the perfect day. i think a lot of fans | perfect day. i think a lot of fans would say that it has been a long time coming. she is the only one at that original trilogy to not have a star on the hollywood walk of fame. and i think that there has been a

lot of conversations about making sure that she gets that honour as a hollywood legend. and i think star wars day, may the 4th, is the perfect day to do that, perfect day to honour her, and honour her legacy both in star wars and beyond it. i suppose one of the really interesting things about star wars is just the fact that it is still so popular after all these years. that's a real staying power. why do you think that is because mark that's a great question. i think that's a great question. i think that there are so many of them, first off. and i think so many generations have seen them. you have the original trilogy in the late 70s and early 80s. that has its own generation of fans. then you have the prequel trilogy in the late 90s and the early to thousands. that has its own generation of millennial fountains. and of course, the newest trilogy as well, the tv shows. so i think that every kind of generation has had a star wars to watch and to

become their star wars. but i also think that star wars is something you show people in your life as well. star wars fans love to kind of show the films to their friends and families. for me personally, my first films were the original trilogy that my family showed me. and so star wars still has not staying in part because fans remain fans and then they like to show the films and television shows and novels to the people in their lives and share the stories with them. fans remain fans. i think you are quite right there. and you are a living example of that, aren't you? thank you so much chris forjoining us and sharing your passion as carrie fisher gets this great honour to her legacy. thank you for your time. . ~' ,, the businessman sir richard branson is known for his promotional stunts and generally positive outlook — but he's told the bbc he feared he would lose his whole empire during the covid pandemic. speaking to amol rajan, sir richard said he personally lost

around £1.5 billion in that period, and that the problems left him depressed for the first time in his life. hi. oh, yes! he's had one of the most colourful careers in business — from creating virgin records to setting up a transatlantic airline. from his new venture in the cruise line business...to space travel. sir richard branson has been a survivor, but the pandemic left him fighting for his empire from his caribbean island. how much did you lose through the pandemic? did you lose a lot of money personally in trying to save your companies? so, the answer is yes. i mean, obviously it cost us a big percentage of our net worth, maybe a billion and a half. and yeah, so, there was a time where it really looked like we were going to lose everything. we had 50, 60 planes all on the ground and the health clubs all closed, the hotels all closed. and the worst would have been 60,000 people out on the streets. but personally, i was fortunate in that...

..0ur kids managed to get to the island and our grandkids got to the island. and so although i experienced maybe a couple of months of what people must feel when they're pretty low, and i'd never experienced that before my life... do you mean that for the first time in your life you were depressed? yeah, i was certainly... certainly a little depressed. your reputation took a bit of a hit during that early phase in the pandemic because senior members of your team had written to the government saying that they needed hundreds of millions of pounds in a government loan to save the company and save your airline. and yet there was coverage, people saying, hang on, branson is a billionaire. he lives on an island in the caribbean. you know, surely he can find the money? i'd never really had any coverage quite as painful as that. really? and it's complicated, so it's difficult to explain to people when everybody“s hurting. i mean, there were pretty well no families that weren't hurting.

but what we were concerned to do was to try to get government support, not gifts from government, but underwriting loans. in the earlier days of his career, sir richard used glamour and publicity stunts as part of virgin's marketing. when you look back at some of those campaigns, does some of that stuff make you wince? or do you just think it was fit for the time? i think it would... it would make me wince if...if i felt that the women would be...were uncomfortable at all. i don't think that i ever made anybody feel uncomfortable. it was... it was just in those days... in those days, it made them smile. you know, like kate moss, for instance, she laughed, she knew what was coming. but today, obviously, you know, iwould... you would... i think people would feel uncomfortable with something like that. so, it's changed. now at 72, sir richard says he discusses succession planning with his family, but he's still in control of the virgin group and he's still as competitive as ever. it's not checkmate yet.

amol rajan, bbc news, miami. you can see the full interview with sir richard branson tonight at seven on bbc two, and it's available now on bbc iplayer. and now let's get the weather. hello there. we've seen some warm hazy sunshine today. we've also seen the first signs of change. we're going to find that stronger easterly wind that developed being replaced by a southerly breeze as this weather front moves its way northwards. that's been bringing rain in from the south—west, and that will push northwards across mainly the western side of the uk overnight, up into scotland later on. and following on from that cloud and rain, well, southern parts of the uk will see some showers as well. there will be a lot of cloud around overnight, so for some parts of the country, temperatures could remain in double figures. a little bit chillier in scotland, where the north—west of scotland may stay dry tomorrow with some sunshine. other parts of the country seeing some cloud and rain.

the rain elsewhere will be followed by brightening skies. some sunshine breaking through the cloud which will lead to more showers that could be heavy and thundery. the far south of england should see more sunshine later in the day as that gentle southerly breeze develops. but we've still got a chillier, stronger wind blowing in off the north sea to north—eastern scotland. so temperatures in aberdeen only ten degrees. should be warmer than today, though, in the north—east of england, and our top temperatures will be around 17—18 in the sunshine between those showers. now, heading into the coronation weekend, and we're blowing away any colder air, replacing it with a breeze from the south or south—west, bringing quite a warm air mass but bringing cloud and some rain. so there is rain in the forecast, and on saturday we'll see that cloud and rain arriving in the south—west and south wales very early in the day and this patchy rain, mostly light, moving northwards across england and wales. scotland and northern ireland seeing some sunshine, but also a few sharp showers. 0ur temperatures are evening out

a bit, so 16 degrees for the coronation in london, the same as the temperature in glasgow. that wetter weather that does develop moves away after dark out into the north sea, and then we await the arrival of this wet weather coming in for monday. but for sunday, looks like it will be a drier day. maybe not completely dry, could be a few showers, more especially for the northern half of the uk, but there will be some sunshine around as well. it may be a warmer day, too, with those temperatures probably reaching 19 or even 20 degrees across the midlands and the south—east of england before we see wetter weather overnight into monday.

i“m christian fraser, and this is the context. you're going to see the british doing pageant, and the british do pageant like nobody else. so what you will see frankly will be jaw—dropping. william looked very handsome, but catherine is so much prettier in real life than how you see her on tv. to get a good view — _ because if if you're going to come, you want to be on the front row, don't you, really? _ i'm sure charles will be looking out for us. - our history and heritage comes to life, if you come to britain — but you have to come to britain to experience it.