The UK week in pictures: State opening of Parliament, 'Wagatha Christie', and Aguero

'The National' selects the most striking photos from across Britain over the past week

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  On Monday finishing touches were made to displays as part of a festival of flowers at Salisbury Cathedral. Hundreds of flower arrangers will be mounting 127 individual exhibits throughout the cathedral in honour of the Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee. PA

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  Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer makes a statement at Labour Party headquarters in London on Monday. Sir Keir has said he will do the "right thing" and step down if he is fined by police for breaking Covid regulations rules at Labour Party offices in Durham last year. PA

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  Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (R) looks on as the The Imperial State Crown (L) is placed beside him in the House of Lords Chamber during the State Opening of Parliament at the Houses of Parliament, in London, on May 10, 2022. - Queen Elizabeth II missed Tuesday's ceremonial opening of Britain's parliament, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson tries to reinvigorate his faltering government by unveiling its plans for the coming year. (Photo by Alastair Grant / POOL / AFP)

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  Four-month-old Spectacled bear cub twins come out to play in their enclosure at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm in Somerset on Tuesday. The Andean bears, the only bear species native to South America, are slowly venturing out from their secluded cubbing den. PA

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  Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, lays flowers at the official opening of the Glade of Light memorial in Manchester on Tuesday. The memorial commemorates the victims of the May 2017 terrorist attack at Manchester Arena. AFP

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  Coleen Rooney leaves the High Court in London on Tuesday. Footballers' wives Ms Rooney and Rebekah Vardy are facing each other in court at the opening of their 'Wagatha Christie' libel trial over a social media post. EPA

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  Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson boards a plane at London Stansted airport on Wednesday, before a visit to Finland and Sweden. AFP

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  On Wednesday, Prince Charles shook hands and posed for selfies with members of the public in Walworth in south London during a visit to JD Sports shop. AFP

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  A Goldeneye duck swims in the rain on Wednesday at Slimbridge wetlands, Gloucestershire. PA

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  Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, meets Laura Molloy and her 10-month-old son Saul Molloy as she take part in a "Roots of Empathy" session during a visit on Wednesday to St John's Primary School in Port Glasgow, Scotland. Reuters

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  A cleaner works on a platform at Liverpool Street station in London during a test run of the new Elizabeth Line train service between Paddington station and Liverpool Street on Wednesday. AFP

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  The sun rises over Coquet Island on Thursday. The island sits 1.2 km off the Northumberland coast near Amble, and at this time of year becomes home to more than 35,000 sea birds including puffins and terns and home to a large amount of seals. PA

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  Boris Johnson straightens his tie before chairing a cabinet meeting at a pottery in Stoke-on-Trent on Thursday. Reuters

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  Court artist Elizabeth Cook draws a picture outside the Royal Courts Of Justice in London on Thursday, of Coleen Rooney's barrister David Sherborne questioning Rebekah Vardy as she gives evidence during the high-profile libel battle. PA

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  On Friday former Manchester City star Sergio Aguero attended the unveiling of his statue outside the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the club's first Premier League title. PA

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  Queen Elizabeth was joined by Prince Edward and Sophie, right, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, as they sat in the Royal Box at the Royal Windsor Horse Show on Friday. PA

This week, Prince Charles attended the state opening of parliament in place of Queen Elizabeth II, whose health problems forced her to miss the event for the first time in almost 60 years. The high-profile libel trial between footballers' wives Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney, which has been nicknamed 'Wagatha Christie', began in London, and a statue of former Manchester City star Sergio Aguero was unveiled to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the club's first Premier League title.