‘King Harry’: Piers Morgan blasts swearing of allegiance move

Piers Morgan says the move to invite the public to swear allegiance to the monarch has the potential to be a disaster.

Piers Morgan has blasted the controversial move to invite the public to swear allegiance to the monarch while watching the coronation as a major “misstep” that would be disastrous if Prince Harry or Prince Andrew ever took the throne by default.

The outspoken TV commentator told Sky News host Paul Murray he didn’t mind swearing allegiance to King Charles, but took issue with the inclusion of the monarch’s “heirs and successors” in the oath.

The oath of allegiance needs to be reworded to take out heirs such as Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, Piers Morgan says. Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

“I don’t mind professing allegiance to a new King who’s been at his mother’s side for 60 years or so.

“I do have a problem with the rest of that sentence, that we have to profess undying allegiance to the heirs and successors.

“Now, just think about that for a moment. Should a series of tragedies befall the top tier of the royal family, God forbid, we would actually end up potentially with King Andrew - Prince Andrew - or King Harry and Queen Meghan.

“I’m sorry, I’m not professing allegiance to any of that lot.”

The public will be given an active role in the ceremony for the first time, with people around the world set to be asked to swear allegiance to the King.

The coronation’s order of service will read: “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.”

Morgan said he would have preferred it if King Charles had instead professed his allegiance to the British people.

He told Murray that Prince Harry would be receiving an icy reception from other royals when he attends the coronation on May 6 as most are not talking to him.

Morgan said the Sussexes would use Prince Harry’s appearance at the coronation as “currency” to make more money from their royal connections.

“My question is - what are you doing there? you spent the last three years trashing the royal family, naming them in your book.

“You’ve trashed the monarchy as an institution, you’ve called it as being effectively run by a bunch of callous racists

“Why are you there at the coronation of your father who you have exposed to ridicule and humiliation in your Netflix series, in podcasts, in books?

“Why are you rocking up now to the biggest royal event of your lifetime?

“We know the answer - he will have been directed by his wife.

“I hate to be cynical about it but I think that’s the only reason he is here and if I was a member of the royal family, I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him, frankly.”

Piers Morgan told the Sky New host that the coronation procession would be twice as big as that of the Queen’s funeral and three times as big as the Platinum Jubilee .

He said it would be hard for King Charles to emulate the extraordinary popularity of his mother but that the future of the monarchy — in light of growing republican sentiment in Australia and other Commonwealth nations — was the more serious issue at stake.

Watch Piers Morgan Uncensored Tuesday to Friday 11pm AEST on Sky News Australia

Originally published as ‘King Harry’: Piers Morgan blasts swearing of allegiance move