MILLIONS of people around the world will be asked to put out a “great cry” of allegiance to King Charles as part of the “modernisation” of the coronation service.
The words and actions of the coronation service were decided by Lambeth Palace, the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, in close consultation with the King and the UK Government.
They will ask “all persons of goodwill in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of the other realms and the territories, to make their homage, in heart and voice, to their undoubted King, defender of all”.
The order of service will read: “All who so desire, in the abbey, and elsewhere, say together: “All: I swear that I will pay true allegiance to your majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.”
The vocal pledge has been termed a “Homage of the People”. It is supposed to replace the traditional “Homage of Peers” in which a long line of hereditary aristocrats knelt and made a pledge to the monarch in person.
It is unclear how many people will actually participate in the cry. Polling has suggested that half of Scots have no plans to watch or celebrate the coronation at all, and elsewhere showing that 72% of people north of the Border just don't care.
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Graham Smith, the CEO of campaign group Republic, said the calls for a pledge of allegiance looked "like a spectacular misjudgement".
National columnist Ruth Wishart added: "Swear allegiance to a hereditary monarchy? What fresh hell is this?"
The new Homage of the People was introduced to allow “a chorus of millions of voices” to put out a “great cry around the nation and around the world of support for the King”, Lambeth Palace said.
It will be followed by the playing of a fanfare.
The Archbishop of Canterbury (above) will then proclaim “God Save The King”, with all asked to respond: “God Save King Charles. Long Live King Charles. May The King live forever.”
A spokesperson for Lambeth Palace said: “The Homage of the People is particularly exciting because that’s brand new.
“That’s something that we can share in because of technological advances, so not just the people in the abbey, but people who are online, on television, who are listening, and who are gathered in parks, at big screens and churches.
“Our hope is at that point, when the Archbishop invites people to join in, that people wherever they are, if they’re watching at home on their own, watching the telly, will say it out loud – this sense of a great cry around the nation and around the world of support for the King.”
The words printed in the service are for “everyone to share in”, the spokesperson said.
Before the Homage of the People, the Archbishop of Canterbury will pay homage representing the Church of England, followed by the Prince of Wales – performing what is the only “Homage of Royal Blood”.
William (above) will kneel before the monarch, place his hands between his father’s and vow to be his “liege man of life and limb”.
He will say: “I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God.”
The symbolic act means the heir to the throne, as “liege man” to the King, has a mutual obligation to the monarch.
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In the past, other dukes of royal blood would pay homage, but this time, with only William taking part from the royal family, it removes the need for the controversial Dukes of Sussex and York to undertake this role.
The removal of the homages of hereditary peers also has the benefit of helping to reduce the length of the service, which is now two hours instead of around three as it was at the late Queen’s coronation.
William will also enter the coronation theatre earlier in the ceremony in the investiture segment and help clothe the King in the robe royal, also known as the mantle, ahead of the crowning.
William will join others to lift the “robe of righteousness” on to his father. This is supposed to represent what the King, as sovereign, has been given by God.
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