Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think this homage to the King will go badly wrong?

559 replies

MRex · 30/04/2023 06:40

According to BBC news: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65435426

There are hopes that people will say out loud: "I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God."

The Archbishop of Canterbury will then proclaim "God save the King", with all asked to respond: "God save King Charles. Long live King Charles. May the King live forever."

This is surely madness. Asking everyone in the Abbey - sure. People crowding nearby might be swayed to say "Hail the King" or something similarly short. But hoping for video footage of crowds in parks and pubs shouting a great long sentence that most don't fully buy into, then doing it again and with "live forever"! Does Charles really think he's liked that much? Is he? It doesn't seem very British at all, and seems destined to be a mess of people saying random stuff loudly.

The new photos were taken in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace

Coronation: Public asked to swear allegiance to King Charles

The pledge is among several changes to the service, which will incorporate female clergy and other faiths.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65435426

OP posts:
Thread gallery
17
Xenia · 30/04/2023 06:42

I think they might have been better just leaving thing as they were for the previous monarch.

I have already been exercised by what I think is called an Oxford comma before the "and" which I really don't think should be there.

TooMuchStuffArghhh · 30/04/2023 06:43

Fuck that, pile of shite.

GooseberryCinnamonYogurt · 30/04/2023 06:43

TooMuchStuffArghhh · 30/04/2023 06:43

Fuck that, pile of shite.

Yeah exactly

AuntieMarys · 30/04/2023 06:47

TooMuchStuffArghhh · 30/04/2023 06:43

Fuck that, pile of shite.

My thoughts exactly. I'm not a medieval peasant

YukoandHiro · 30/04/2023 06:47

@Xenia you're right, that's no place for an Oxford comma (which used correctly I'm a big fan of)

strawberryfluff · 30/04/2023 06:47

They are asking anyone who wants to to say it. It's a church service, for those who belive in it. I don't so I won't be saying it, but to me it's just like having a church service televised and asking people who want to to join in!

AlexandraMarch · 30/04/2023 06:50

LOLLLLLLLL

Vegetus · 30/04/2023 06:55

It's such an odd thing a good majority of the British public will bow to a man who just happened to fall out of the right vagina at the right time.

Get rid of 'em.

londonrach · 30/04/2023 06:55

There's limited interest where I am in the coronation so don't think anyone do this and why would you. Strange idea

anon12345anon · 30/04/2023 06:57

AuntieMarys · 30/04/2023 06:47

My thoughts exactly. I'm not a medieval peasant

Show quote history

GrinGrinGrin

bozzabollix · 30/04/2023 06:58

The people slavishly devoted enough to be there will say it, the rest of us will groan or swear.

That level of blind devotion to someone elevated through an accident of birth is just embarrassing. We should be past that.

CoozudBoyuPuak · 30/04/2023 06:58

TooMuchStuffArghhh · 30/04/2023 06:43

Fuck that, pile of shite.

Precisely

Cooknook · 30/04/2023 07:01

It's just tradition, its been part of coronations for hundreds of years. Its not like its going to be monitored or enforced is it.

OchreDandelion · 30/04/2023 07:10

Cooknook · 30/04/2023 07:01

It's just tradition, its been part of coronations for hundreds of years. Its not like its going to be monitored or enforced is it.

Asking everyone to say it is not tradition, it is actually new - they have added it this time. I am surprised they have done so as it does seem a recipe for disaster.

Original poster
MRex · 30/04/2023 07:12

Cooknook · 30/04/2023 07:01

It's just tradition, its been part of coronations for hundreds of years. Its not like its going to be monitored or enforced is it.

It has not been part of any previous coronation, it's a new idea. Peers would swear allegiance, but nobody ever thought it was a good idea to ask the general public to start reciting lengthy sentences in unison. If you wanted them to sing God Save the King, then at least people have some idea what to do. This is somewhat different.

OP posts:
CoozudBoyuPuak · 30/04/2023 07:13

The wording will be because it's a direct quote from the words, which Handel immortalised in the coronation anthem for George II but which has been used since long before that

Zadok the priest
And Nathan the prophet
Anointed Solomon king
And all the people
Rejoiced, and said
God save the king
Long live the king
May the king live forever
Alleluia, amen.

This is a paraphrase/ condensation of 1 King 1 34-45 but these words have been used in british (and previously english prior to britaim being a thing) coronations for well ove a thousand years. If you're going to have a coronation you might as well use these traditional words somewhere but it's more appropriate to just have a choir singing them in an anthem rather than expecting ordinary people to buy into the grovelling.

Cooknook · 30/04/2023 07:14

OchreDandelion · 30/04/2023 07:10

Asking everyone to say it is not tradition, it is actually new - they have added it this time. I am surprised they have done so as it does seem a recipe for disaster.

Show quote history

Homage of peers has been the same for hundreds of years, this is just adapting as its televised round the globe and online I suppose. Again though the pertinent part is that no one has to if they don't want to so not sure of the fuss

Italiancitizenship · 30/04/2023 07:16

The order of service will read: "All who so desire, in the Abbey, and elsewhere, say together: I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God."

All who so desire - that will be nobody then. I think the royal family are deluded.

Scabbyknackers · 30/04/2023 07:19

In the church, ok. Asking the public is not reading the room at all. Some keen monarchists might be happy to but showing a series of them vowing their allegiance to not only him but whoever comes next isn't an honest reflection of the UK's relationship with the monarchy. It certainly doesn't show that he considers his 'subjects' with much respect or esteem. I think it would be braver and more appropriate to either be more balanced and accept we are no longer medieval serfs, or at least go for something a lot less over egged. Maybe just 'God save the king!'

00100001 · 30/04/2023 07:21

Italiancitizenship · 30/04/2023 07:16

The order of service will read: "All who so desire, in the Abbey, and elsewhere, say together: I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God."

All who so desire - that will be nobody then. I think the royal family are deluded.

Of course more than 0 people will do this.
🙄

KellyJonesLeatherTrousers · 30/04/2023 07:23

I’m washing my hair that day.

GhostOfABanana · 30/04/2023 07:25

Sounds very 'Pledge of Allegiance-y'

Yuck

Emotionalstorm · 30/04/2023 07:25

I like having a royal family but I still don't think I'll say the words.

Outdamnspot23 · 30/04/2023 07:26

I think it’s quite cheeky of Charles when we had 70 years of “Long live our noble Queen” to want an upgrade to “May the king live forever!”

Wonder what William is thinking about all this… 😆

Idontgiveagriffindamn · 30/04/2023 07:26

Of course they’ll get people saying this - the same people that are travelling to London for the coronation or attending a public party for it.
That’s where they’ll be getting this montage you refer to from not some random person in the street who has no interest in it what so ever.
I am that random person by the way. Only positive for me is the extra paid day off on Monday.