Australians at home will be urged to pledge to king by Church of England chief during ceremony
Australian and Commonwealth defence attaches and senior military leaders have received a video lesson in how to cheer King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Australians sitting at home will be urged to pledge homage to the King in one of a series of fresh aspects of Saturday’s coronation inside Westminster Abbey.
The coronation service, “Called to Serve”, will also reference other religious faiths, with the King to pray aloud reflecting his duty and privilege to serve all communities.
In newly written wording, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will also explain the Church of England, of which Charles is now head, will foster an environment where “people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely”.
For the first time some of the regalia items will be presented by peers of different faiths: Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism, and at the end of the service the King will receive and acknowledge a spoken greeting delivered in unison by representatives from Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Buddhist communities.
While the heir Prince William will pay fealty, kneeling and kissing the King on behalf of other peers, there will be a Homage of the People for those at home watching on television, to also pledge allegiance to the King.
The couple shared a photo, taken about a year ago in the Norfolk countryside, to their social media accounts on Sunday that simply said “12 years”, followed by a red love heart emoji.
While it appeared to be business as usual for the royal duo, who shortly before the weekend were filmed abseiling in Wales with the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team, Prince Harry is planning a whirlwind fly-in, fly-out trip from California to attend his father’s coronation.
He will arrive on Friday, May 5 – without his wife Meghan Markle – and stay for the coronation service on May 6, but is expected to fly out that same day.
Meanwhile, Australian defence attaches have received a video lesson in how to cheer the King, and Queen Camilla, when they greet their return to Buckingham Palace after their coronation procession in the three centuries old Gold State Coach on Saturday. “At the end of the procession at Buckingham Palace we will be partaking in three cheers to the King,’’ Brigadier Grant Mason, head of the Australian Defence staff in the UK told The Australian. As well, 40 members of the Australian Federation Guard will march in the coronation procession and will be “right up the front of the procession”, said Brigadier Mason, adding “I think it’s a very serious reflection on the importance of the Commonwealth and what it means to King Charles”.
Two Australian military members – one from the navy and one from the air force – will have the special honour of marching beside the King and Queen, who will be travelling in the Gold State Coach back to the palace.
Other elements of the ceremony continued falling into place with the finishing of the four coronation robes by seamstresses. The King will wear the King’s Robe of State and the King’s Robe of Estate, both worn by King George VI in 1937. The Queen will wear Queen Elizabeth’s Robe of State, but for her estate (departure) a specially commissioned robe has been made.
The Stone of Scone, a historic symbol of Scottish nationhood, arrived in London from Scotland on the weekend, to continue the tradition of being under the coronation chair during the crowning of British monarchs.
Additional reporting: Angelica Snowden
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