One Aspect Of King Charles' Oath On The Bible Broke Royal Tradition

May 08, 2023

King Charles III acceded the British throne on Sept. 8, 2022, the same day his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, passed in Balmoral. While it is not necessary for a monarch to be crowned in order to become king, the coronation ceremony is a formality and a state occasion. This means that while Charles may offer his views, at the end of the day, full control of the guest list and other details are with the government as it is footing the bill.

The last time a coronation took place was Elizabeth’s on June 2, 1953, at Westminster Abbey, the setting for every coronation since 1066. It was also the first time the ceremony had ever been televised. An estimated 27 million people in the United Kingdom and millions more around the world watched as the sixth queen of England was crowned. She and her husband, Prince Philip, rode the exquisitely decorated Gold State Coach from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey pulled by eight horses.

Elizabeth donned an intricately designed gown embroidered with the emblems of the UK and the Commonwealth in gold and silver thread for the ceremony that lasted almost three hours. The event comprised six parts: the recognition, the oath, the anointing, the investiture and crowning, the enthronement and the homage. The affair was witnessed first-hand by 8,251 guests, including a young Charles.

On May 6, 2023, Charles celebrated his own coronation at Westminster Abbey, further marking his time as king. His wife, Camilla, had been referred to as Queen Consort since Elizabeth’s passing, but her title changed to Queen Camilla following the coronation. The ceremony was marked by the royal family as well as plenty of brilliantly talented guests. 

One historic moment from the day was when Charles undertook the oath, which featured a modern change to its verbiage.

While Charles was already technically king prior to May 6, 2023, holding a coronation is customary. According to the Associated Press, “There is no legal requirement for a coronation, and other European monarchies have done away with the ceremonies.”

Buckingham Palace’s assurance that the ceremony would be “rooted in longstanding traditions” but would also “reflect the monarch's role today and look towards the future,” had intensified talk that Charles would make some substantial changes to better reflect a modern monarchy.

Many traditions were maintained for the 2023 ceremony. Among them was the use of the Gold State Coach, which was extensively refurbished for the queen's Platinum Jubilee in early 2022 and has been used in every coronation since George IV’s in 1821. The elaborate horse-drawn carriage boasts intricate gilded carvings of cherubs and tritons, painted panels, and an interior lined with velvet and satin. The coach is so heavy it has to be pulled by at least eight horses, and even then, only at the pace of a walk.

While a coronation is no doubt an event that conveys grace, elegance and tradition, it is also a fun and joyous occasion for the royal family and everyone in the Commonwealth. According to the Evening Standard, a life-size chocolate bust of Charles was created over the course of four weeks, using more than 3.7 gallons of melted Celebrations chocolate and weighing more than 51 pounds. It was embellished with mini candy bars. Celebrations senior brand manager Emily Owen said, “What better way to celebrate this moment in British history than immortalizing HM King Charles III using the nation’s ultimate sharing treat.”

Camilla was by Charles' side while he was formally crowned with St Edward's Crown during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey in London. And while Elizabeth had stated that she wished Camilla would be called Queen Consort following Charles’ accession, Buckingham Palace used “Queen Camilla” on the coronation invitations. After Charles’ six-part coronation ceremony was complete, Camilla was similarly crowned.

Prince William played a key role in the coronation as the Stole Royal and assisted in putting the royal robes on King Charles before he was crowned. His wife, Princess Catherine, was also in attendance alongside their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. As a page boy, George became the first future king to have held an official role during a coronation. Prince Harry attended the ceremony solo without his wife Meghan Markle, and sat three rows behind his brother William during the service. 

Charles’ coronation concert was held the day after, on May 7, 2023, at Windsor Castle. It was filled with “global music icons” and “contemporary stars,” including Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Nicole Scherzinger, Olly Murs and Take That. The Coronation Choir, which consists of 300 singers from diverse backgrounds, also performed. Other notable stars who attended the event include Dame Joan Collins and Tom Cruise, with Sir Tom Jones joining in via video message.

The Coronation Big Lunch also took place on May 7, 2023. Neighbors and community members were “invited to share food and fun together.” The Big Help Out took place the following day, in which people were encouraged to volunteer and do their part to support their local areas.

Although rain dampened the day slightly, Charles’ coronation went off without a hitch and is sure to go down in history as one of the most memorable royal ceremonies in modern times.

It was predicted that Charles' coronation would break with tradition in various ways, but one aspect, in particular, stood out. During the segment of the ceremony where the monarch reads an oath, some phrasing was changed to reflect the diversity of the United Kingdom in today's age. In the lead-up to the coronation, Archbishop Justin Welby told the BBC, as reported by The Telegraph, the service would be "deeply Christian" but "also representative of the people of this land,” in reference to the modern diversity of Britain. He added:

“What there is, is a deep sense – both of reflecting our tradition but also reflecting the fact that we’re infinitely more diverse than we were in 1953.” 

During the oath portion of the coronation, questions posed to the king were asked, to which he responded by placing his hand on a bible as he replied. A poignant photo from the segment was shared by the royal family's official social media account, as they commented on the historic change to the oath. Alongside a photo of the king during his ceremony, the caption said:

"His Majesty swears upon a Bible to govern the people with justice and mercy, and to uphold the Anglican Church of England and the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. For the first time at a Coronation, His Majesty also prays for grace to be ‘a blessing to all… of every faith and belief’."

Fans pointed out how "emotional" Charles looked, and how his thoughts must have been with his mother on the day. Many others wrote, "Long live the king."  

Did you watch the historic coronation? What do you think about the monarchy modernizing aspects of the ceremony to fit in with today's age? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to any royal family fans you know!