For the first time in history, the public will be given an active role in the coronation…reports Asian Lite News
Millions of people will be asked to say a pledge of allegiance to the King when he is crowned on Saturday.
For the first time in history, the public will be given an active role in the coronation, with the Archbishop of Canterbury calling on those watching or listening to the event to take part in a “great cry around the nation and around the world of support for the King”.
The new Homage of the People will replace the traditional Homage of Peers, where a line of hereditary peers knelt to make a pledge to the newly coronated monarch in person.
During the service, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, 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.”
There will then be a fanfare, after which Mr Welby will say: “God Save The King”, with all asked to respond: “God Save King Charles. Long Live King Charles. May The King live forever.”
A spokesman 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, Welby will perform the Homage of Royal Blood, where Prince William will kneel before his father, place his hand’s between the monarch’s, and say he will 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.”
It represents a mutual obligation they have to each other.
It is hoped the removal of the Homage of Peers will reduce the length of the service, which is expected to be around two hours.
