(CNN) The Church of England has changed the wording of its call to the public to be loyal to King Charles. CoronationContinued A General regression.
Breaking with coronation tradition, British and Commonwealth citizens around the world were initially invited to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the new monarch and his “heirs and successors”.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, who approved the new liturgy, proposed plans to involve the public in the ceremony as a democratic initiative.
But following public criticism, the archbishop will now give people the option of saying “God save King Charles” rather than giving them the full Pledge of Allegiance.
According to a revised text of the coronation service published by Lambeth Palace on Saturday, the archbishop will say: “I now invite those who wish to give their support to do so by joining in a moment of personal reflection. At the end ‘God save King Charles’ or, for those who have words before them, say them in full.” .”
The full pledge reads: “I swear to give true allegiance to your majesty and to your heirs and successors in law. So help me, God.”
In an earlier version of the speech, published in April, the archbishop “calls upon all persons of good will in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and other parts and territories to heartily worship the Voice, their undoubted King, Protector of all.”
An earlier version was described as “ill-advised” by Jonathan Dimbleby, a veteran broadcaster and key friend of the King.
“I can’t think of anything he was more obnoxious than he was. He never wanted to be respected. As far as I know, he never wanted to be respected, except as a joke,” Dimbleby told BBC radio. 4’s “Today” show on Friday.
Subscribe to CNN’s Royal NewsA weekly dispatch about the royal family, what they do in public and what goes on behind palace walls.
