Major change to coronation revealed after backlash over ‘misunderstood’ plans for people to swear allegiance to King
KING Charles approved reducing “misunderstood” schemes so that people would swear allegiance to him.
The “respect of the people” will “call on all people of good will… to pay their respects” at the end of today’s coronation.
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But the hymn – devised by Lambeth Palace, the London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury – sparked fury at Buckingham Palace and among Britons, who said it sounded like an imperative .
Now, after the intervention of veteran broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, a friend of King Charles, the homage has been renewed as an “invitation” for people to “sponsor”.
Congregation members and home followers will be invited to say, “I swear that I will be truly loyal to Your Majesty, as well as to your heirs and successors according to the law.
“So help me God.”
Mr Dimbleby told the BBC how King Charles would have hated the original order of veneration.
He explained: “I can’t think of anything that he [Charles] would be more disgusted, he never wanted to be revered…
“As far as I know, he’s never wanted anyone to pay his respects, except in mocking terms as a joke.”
Dimbleby – who blamed the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby for “strong good news” for the decision – stressed that it could have been the result of a “miscommunication”.
He added: “I think it’s a good idea, and rather a bad piece of advice, because its effect is to allow people to say, ‘I won’t pay any respects’.”
When the homage was announced, it sparked a backlash.
A Sun poll found 53% of Britons would not take part.
Meanwhile, Baron Jones of Moulsecoomb, the former deputy mayor of London’s Green Party, said: “To ask us to show our allegiance may seem like an odd request as so many of us think. that the monarchy is an obsolete institution in need of drastic reform.”
The heads of Lambeth Palace insist they want the reverence to be a “loud cry” in support of the King and have been agreed through consultations with the Government and the Royal Family.
It was understood that it was an attempt to expand access and participation in the ceremony, not an imperative.
A palace insider told The Sun: “The Archbishop of Canterbury has ignored the matter.”
Lambeth Palace was forced to give an explanation on Monday that it was an “invitation” not an order.
The archbishop will now say: “I now invite those who wish to support to do so, with a moment of private reflection, by joining in saying ‘God save King Charles’ at the end, or…
“For those who have words before them, recite them.”
The order of service also no longer includes the title Respect for Everyone.
The archbishop then said “God save the King” while the congregation joined in by saying, “God save King Charles. Long live King Charles. May the King live forever.”
The coronation will take place over about two hours according to ancient tradition – some dating back to 1065 – which will see Charles being anointed and crowned in 1661 by St Edward.
The service will end around 1pm before members of the royal family begin the 1.4-mile march back to Buckingham Palace.
The King, Queen, Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children will ride in a 260-year-old, 4-ton, Georgia-era Gold State Coach.
Charles was the first monarch to ascend the throne in England since his grandfather King George VI on 12 May 1937.
He was the 40th king to be crowned at Westminster Abbey, with the first believed to have been Harold Godwinson in 1065.
Like his beloved mother, Charles also broke with tradition.
Driven by a desire for a stripped monarchy, the King shied away from the lavish trappings of wealth seen in his own mother’s £1.57million ceremony.
The guest list has been reduced to just 2,000, compared with the Queen’s 8,250, and the length of the service has been significantly reduced.
Even the dress code was different, with the King choosing to wear military uniform instead of wearing silk stockings and breeches as before.
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