People in the UK are urged to pledge allegiance to King Charles during the coronation
Anti-royalists are outraged by the fact that at King Charles III’s coronation, all British citizens will be required to pledge loyalty to the monarch—an oath hitherto reserved for British nobles.
On Saturday, the office of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby announced that he would be forgoing the customary “Homage of Peers” at the upcoming coronation ceremony on May 6 at Westminster Abbey. This is the part of the ceremony where members of the nobility traditionally kneel before the king and pledge allegiance to him.
Instead, there will be a “Homage of the People” in which the archbishop will urge all subjects of the United Kingdom and other countries whose monarch is King Charles to pledge allegiance to their monarch.
“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 archbishop will say.
The following will appear in the order of service for those who wish to participate: “All who so desire, in the abbey, and elsewhere, say together: I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.”
Canadian politicians take an oath of fealty to the British queen when they assume office, as do their British counterparts.
During interviews with British media on Sunday, a number of elected officials stated they want to take the new oath during the coronation.
It has been called “offensive, tone deaf, and a gesture that holds the people in contempt” because the monarchy intends to have the populace vow fealty to the king during the coronation.
Speaking for the group Republic, which supports the overthrow of the British monarchy, spokesman Graham Smith stated, “In a democracy it is the head of state who should be swearing allegiance to the people, not the other way around.”
There will be a march against monarchy this next Saturday.
The palace wants to modernize the centuries-old event, and one way they plan to do so is by introducing a new oath that better reflects the variety of the country.
Charles’ mother, Elizabeth II, was the last monarch to be crowned 70 years ago.