King Charles’ upcoming coronation ceremony in May has been mired in controversy following a reported dispute with the English Church over the monarch’s requests for more diversity. As per reports by The Mail on Sunday, the disagreement has even led to a delay in the publication of the coronation’s order of service.
Sources suggest that King Charles is eager to highlight non-Christian faiths more prominently in the event to make it more inclusive. However, his requests have been met with hesitation and resistance from church officials who claim that they go against centuries-old canon law that prohibits non-Christian faiths from reading prayers at the coronation service.
This development comes just weeks after Mail on Sunday reported on a meeting at Lambeth Palace where attendees were informed that the coronation order of service would be published before Easter. Allegedly, this has not happened yet due to the dispute between the monarch and the clergy.
A source close to the matter revealed that “the meeting was conducted with scrupulous regard for the range of opinion among Anglican clergy.” Despite the setback, it is worth noting that King Charles’ requests for more diversity come as no surprise to royal enthusiasts. The future monarch has long expressed his desire to be an inclusive king and even expressed his intention to be known as “Defender of Faith” instead of “Defender of the Faith” around 30 years ago.
It remains to be seen how the dispute between King Charles and the English Church will be resolved. However, the monarch’s efforts to make the coronation ceremony more diverse and inclusive is a positive step towards embracing different faiths and cultures, and could set a precedent for future royal events.