At this point in the service, people around the UK are invited to pledge allegiance to the newly crowned King – a new innovation that was met with some skepticism and controversy when it was unveiled in the weeks before the service.
The Archbishop of Canterbury swears fealty first, before Prince William kneels before his father to give his own homage.
In previous coronations, these two moments were followed by royal dukes and other peers also pledging allegiance to the monarch — but this has been scrapped for Charles’ coronation, according to the Church of England's liturgy.
Instead, for the first time, the Archbishop invites the general public watching and listening to the ceremony in both the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth to pledge their own allegiance to the king.
A public backlash: When those plans were unveiled, it caused some controversy around the country – and the Church of England has changed the wording of its invitation following the response.
In keeping with a revised text of the liturgy for the coronation service, published Saturday by Lambeth Palace, the archbishop said: “I now invite those who wish to offer their support to do so, with a moment of private reflection, by joining in saying ‘God save King Charles’ at the end, or, for those with the words before them, to recite them in full.”
The full pledge reads: “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 earlier version had been described as “ill-advised” by Jonathan Dimbleby, a veteran broadcaster and prominent friend of the King.
“I can think of nothing that he would find more abhorrent. He’s never wanted to be revered. He’s never wanted, so far as I know, to have anyone pay homage to him except in mock terms as a joke,” Dimbleby told BBC Radio 4’s “Today” program on Friday.