King Charles does not want ‘abhorrent’ pledge of allegiance during coronation, friend reveals
A friend of King Charles suggested the new monarch would be horrified by the public pledging allegiance to him.
Broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, a close friend of the King, said the idea was “ill advised” and not something the monarch would have wanted.
“I can’t think of anything he would find more abhorrent,” Mr Dimbleby told the Today Programme.
“He’s never wanted to be revered. He’s never wanted anyone to pay homage to him except in mock terms as a joke.”
He added: “He wants, I think, to feel the people will share in the event and I don’t quite know how this might have happened.”
Lambeth Palace announced the new Homage of the People was introduced to allow “a chorus of millions of voices” to be “enabled for the first time in history to participate in this solemn and joyful moment.”
The Archbishop will call upon “all persons of goodwill in The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of the other Realms and the Territories to make their homage, in heart and voice, to their undoubted King, defender of all”.
Mr Dimbleby said it seems the initiative has come from the Archbishop “who is strongly evangelical.”
“I think it was well-intentioned, but rather ill-advised,” he added.
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