What is the Coronation Oath? King Charles words in full
King Charles is set to take an oath when he is crowned at his coronation.
The Coronation is set to last quite some time and the oath is set to only take up a fraction of the event.
What is the Coronation Oath?
As part of the coronation the monarch takes oaths as he is made the King.
The Archbishop of Canterbury will ask Charles a series of questions relating to governing the realms and territories and of he is willing to take the oath.
The Archbishop will ask at the beginning of the service: “Your Majesty, the Church established by law, whose settlement you will swear to maintain, is committed to the true profession of the Gospel, and, in so doing, will seek to foster an environment in which people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely.
“The Coronation Oath has stood for centuries and is enshrined in law. Are you willing to take the Oath?”
At the end of the oath, King Charles will say: “I Charles do solemnly and sincerely in the presence of God profess, testify, and declare that I am a faithful Protestant, and that I will, according to the true intent of the enactments which secure the Protestant succession to the Throne, uphold and maintain the said enactments to the best of my powers according to law.”
How many oaths will King Charles take at his coronation?
King Charles III will take three oaths at the beginning of his coronation.
The first is a pledge to uphold the laws of the land, the second is about ruling with justice and mercy.
While the third, which is a bit more complicated, is about religion.
Has the Coronation Oath changed?
Yes, the Coronation Oath has slightly changed.
The change relates to the first oath.
In 1953, the Queen promised to “govern the peoples of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon, and of my possessions and the other territories.”
Pakistan became a republic in 1956 as well as the Union of South Africa in 1961.
The realms and territories will be referred to collectively rather than individually as the late Queen did.