King Charles will find public swearing allegiance to him ‘abhorrent’, says trusted friend

ok.co.uk:

King Charles will find the Homage of the People “abhorrent”, according to his friend, Jonathan Dimbleby.The broadcaster got to know Charles after writing his official biography in the 1990s and said his “thespian” side means he has been closely involved in the performance side of the Coronation, for which OK!

has published an hour-by-hour guide. But the presenter branded the invitation to the public to swear allegiance to the King during the Coronation ceremony, which will also include Queen Consort Camilla, “ill advised”.The writer told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I can think of nothing that he would find more abhorrent. “He’s never wanted to be revered, he’s never wanted – so as far as I know – to have anyone pay homage to him except in mock terms as a joke.

And Jonathan continued: “He wants, I think, to feel that people will share in the event and I don’t quite know how this might have happened. “I don’t know for certain but it would seem to me that this was an initiative by the archbishop, who as we know is strongly evangelical, who thought it would be a good thing to give everyone a chance to pay that homage. “I think it was well intentioned and rather ill-advised.” The ceremony is designed to be more inclusive and less archaic, Royal expert Jenny Bond exclusively told OK!

Lambeth Palace last week announced the modern addition to the ceremony, which replaces the Homage of the Peers, but said the liturgy – the words and actions of the service – had been created in consultation with the King, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the Government.