Why They’ve Introduced New Inclusive Language As More Crown Critics Emerge

Topline

Charles’ coronation oath will feature a new pledge, created by the Archbishop of Canterbury, to make the United Kingdom welcoming for all faiths, a break from tradition, and also a possible response to a more pluralistic UK eyeing the royals with more skepticism and scorn.

King Charles III will be formally crowned on May 6. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

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Key Facts

The British monarch has been known as “defender of the faith” since the 16th century, referring to the Church of England after the country’s split from Catholicism, but in an increasingly diverse United Kingdom, Charles has long spoke of a desire to protect all faiths.

Before Charles assumes this title, he will recite a new pledge authored by the Archbishop of Canterbury promising “to seek to foster an environment in which people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely.”

The coronation ceremony will also see participation from representatives of various faiths for the first time, including Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh religious leaders.

Four members from the House of Lords—one Jew, Muslim, Hindu and Sikh—will hand Charles objects of the royal regalia, one of the key procedures at the coronation ceremony.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak—the first U.K. leader of Indian descent and a practicing Hindu—is set to read a Bible verse at the coronation.

The updated pledge has been considered an attempt to modernize the monarchy and the centuries-old coronation traditions, particularly as anti-monarchy sentiment has risen among British youth and former colonies of the United Kingdom have moved to cut ties with the crown in recent years.

Big Number

80%. That’s how much of the United Kingdom identified as Christian during Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, though according to 2021 U.K. census data just 46% of people in England and Wales now say they are Christian, while 37% have no religion and 6.5% are Muslim.

Key Background

“Defender of the Faith” is one of the titles that has been assumed by British monarchs since Henry VIII was bestowed with the title by Pope Leo X in the 16th century. Shortly after, Henry broke from Catholicism and established the Church of England, of which British monarchs are the supreme governor, but held onto the defender title. As Britain has become more diverse, the monarchy has spoken of a desire to be inclusive of more than just English protestantism. Charles said in a 1994 documentary he would rather be “defender of faith” instead of the faith, reflecting a desire to protect all religions in the United Kingdom. He later clarified these remarks in 2015, stating he would not want to change the traditional title of “defender of the faith” but would still act to protect all faiths. He pointed to Queen Elizabeth II’s 2012 remarks, in which she said “the Church has a duty to protect the free practice of all faiths in this country.”

Chief Critics

Recent efforts to make the monarchy more inclusive come amid rising anti-monarchy and anti-colonial sentiment in an increasingly diverse country. Protesters from anti-monarchy organizations are set to hold demonstrations this weekend during the coronation ceremonies. Charles has already faced protests—and many signs that say “Not My King”—at his public engagements throughout his reign. Favorability of the monarchy has dropped significantly: The National Centre for Social Research found in April record-low approval of the monarchy with just 29% of respondents deeming it “very important,” the lowest percentage since it started collecting data 40 years ago. Barbados removed Elizabeth II as head of state in 2021, and after her death in 2022, more nations including Australia and several in the Caribbean expressed interest in becoming independent of the monarchy—particularly the latter, where protesters demand reparations for the United Kingdom’s history of slavery.

Surprising Fact

In another new addition to the coronation ceremony, King Charles’ subjects will be asked to recite a pledge of allegiance to the King from wherever they are watching the coronation—known as a “homage of the people,” which organizers hope will form a “chorus of millions”—for the first time. Some anti-monarchists consider the gesture unnecessary and tone-deaf.