FOR the first time, members of the country’s religious communities will actively participate in the coronation of a monarch.
The coronation of King Charles III will take place at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday (6). During the ceremony, the King will be crowned alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort.
According to the order of service released by the office of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, non-Christian peers and community leaders will take part in the ceremony in an effort to recognise how Britain’s modern society has changed since the late Queen was crowned.
Among the group will be faith leaders and representatives from the Jewish, Sunni and Shia Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Bahai and Zoroastrian communities.
They will also be seen right away since they will be taking part in a number of processions into Westminster Abbey that will end with the arrival of the King and Queen Consort.
When King Charles III is crowned the next week, the Celtic languages of the UK will also take the stage for the first time.
For many years, Charles has worked to emphasise and appreciate the diversity that has progressively grown inside the UK over his lifetime.
When Queen Elizabeth was hailed monarch during her 1953 coronation, Britain was in the grip of post-war austerity, and would soon see thousands of citizens from the Empire travel to the UK to replenish the workforce, from the NHS to public transport.
In his first Christmas broadcast as monarch, Charles recognised the work of other faiths during the cost-of-living crisis, saying: “Our churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and gurdwaras, have once again united in feeding the hungry, providing love and support throughout the year.”
The nation has transformed as a result of the cultures and beliefs introduced by immigrants from Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean.
Lord Kamall, a British-born Muslim, will give the King the Armill, and Baroness Gillian Merron, who oversaw the Board of Deputies of British Jews for more than six years, will give the King the regal robe.
Leaders and delegates from the Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, and Buddhist communities will greet the King in unity at the conclusion of the coronation.
The group consists of Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thera, the leader of the country’s Buddhists, the head monk of the London Buddhist Vihara, and the Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain.
Muslim Aliya Azam is an Interfaith co-ordinator at the Al-Khoei Foundation which organises several events encouraging people of different religions to interact.
Another is Lord Singh of Wimbledon, a well-known Sikh and cross-bench lord in the House of Lords.
Radha Mohan das, a Hindu representative based at the Bhaktivedanta Manor Temple, a mock-Tudor Hertfordshire mansion in 78 acres, donated by former Beatle George Harrison whose spiritual journey led him to spend time in India with other Beatles.
The final member is Sir Ephraim Mirvis, only the 11th Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth since the office was introduced in 1704. He was installed in September 2013 during a ceremony attended by Charles when he was Prince of Wales.
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