‘The Archbishop of Canterbury has gone off-piste on this one’: Furious royal aides fear public backlash over ‘Homage of the People’ oath is casting a cloud over King Charles’ Coronation amid claims Lambeth Palace ‘misunderstood’ the much-derided plans
- The Office of Justin Welby had invited the public to offer their ‘true allegiance’
- But it sparked anger from republicans who called it ‘offensive and tone-deaf’
Furious royal aides fear the backlash over the invitation for people to swear allegiance to King Charles is casting a cloud over the Coronation, it is reported.
Officials were forced to leap into action over the weekend after the office for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, called millions of citizens to ‘pay homage’ to the new monarch.
Lambeth Palace quickly had to clarify the ‘Homage of the People’ was an ‘invitation’ for people to vocally offer their ‘true allegiance’ to the monarch and his heirs, rather than an ‘expectation or request’.
Republican groups had jumped on the announcement, calling it ‘ an offensive and tone-deaf gesture that holds the people in contempt’.
And the backlash from what is believed to have been an attempt to make the historic ceremony more accessible has caused consternation at Buckingham Palace, according to reports.
King Charles III and the Archbishop of Canterbury shake hands at Windsor Castle in April. Royal aides fear the backlash over the invitation for people to swear allegiance to the monarch is casting a cloud over the Coronation
The backlash from what is believed to have been an attempt to make the historic ceremony more accessible by the Archbishop of Canterbury (pictured) has caused consternation at Buckingham Palace, according to reports
The 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.’
READ MORE HERE: Call for millions to take part in ‘Homage of the People’ to King Charles at the coronation sparks backlash as republicans brand it ‘offensive and tone-deaf gesture’
Royal insiders are understood to be less than impressed with the unsuccessful attempt to get the public more involved.
The Sun quotes one source as saying: ‘The Archbishop of Canterbury has gone off-piste on this one.’
MailOnline has contacted Buckingham Palace and Lambeth Palace for comment.
Speaking after the backlash began on Sunday, a representative for Lambeth Palace said: ‘The Homage of the People is particularly exciting because that’s brand new.
‘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.’
While it was clear there is no diktat whatsoever to do so, both Buckingham Palace and Lambeth Palace were clearly taken aback yesterday by the strength of feeling the invitation provoked, however.
Many felt their well-meant rallying cry played into the hands of Republicans and critics of the ceremony generally, sparking an outpouring of comment and criticism on social media.
Labour MP Clive Lewis told the Guardian that he thought the proposed oath would be ‘either unwelcome or ignored by many’.
Republic, the anti-monarchist organisation, said it was ‘an offensive and tone-deaf gesture that holds the people in contempt’.
But Transport Secretary Mark Harper told Sky News he would be swearing the oath and said MPs already pledge allegiance to His Majesty.
He said the coronation would be a ‘fantastic opportunity’ and a ‘great showcase for Britain around the world’.
On Sunday night a Lambeth Palace source clarified that the invitation was very much optional and simply an opportunity for people to join in should they so wish.
They said: ‘This is very much an invitation rather than an expectation or request, as you can see from the Archbishop’s introduction to the homage.
Royal insiders are understood to be less than impressed with the unsuccessful attempt to get the public more involved in the ceremony. Pictured: King Charles III
The 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’
‘It’s simply an opportunity offered by the Archbishop so that, unlike previous Coronations, those who wish to join in with the words being spoken by the Abbey congregation could do so in a very simple way.
‘For those who do want to take part, some will want to say all the words of the homage; some might just want to say ‘God Save The King’ at the end; others might just want to it to be a moment of private reflection. ‘
They added: ‘We live in a wonderfully diverse society with many different perspectives and beliefs, and it’s quite right that people decide for themselves how they relate to this moment.
‘Much like the National Anthem, it’s for people to join in if that feels right for them.
‘For those who may wish to join in, we hope it’s a moment of joy and celebration – both in the Abbey, and in homes around the country and beyond.’
Source: Read Full Article
