When King Charles enters Westminster Abbey for his coronation on May 6 he will be preceded by the Cross of Wales, a silver processional cross made for the Church in Wales containing two relics of the True Cross. These were given to him by Pope Francis. It is a mute witness not only to the friendly relationship between the King and the Pope but to the reality that the monarchy is grounded in Christianity and to the fundamentally Christian nature of the coronation itself.
The monarch is the head of state of the United Kingdom, but he is something more; he will be a consecrated king, sealed with the oil of chrism. And sacral kingship is very old indeed. In the Old Testament we find that, as the anthem at the service reminds us, “Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed Solomon king.” It is asking a great deal of any human being to follow the kingship of Solomon, but the character of this part of the ceremony quite consciously follows the precedent in scripture. The oil itself is richly symbolic. And, following the late Queen’s example, King Charles’s anointing will not be televised. Some things are sacred yet.
His Majesty is a committed Christian and a conscientious head of the Church of England. Yet he famously declared, 30 years ago, that he wanted to be a defender of faith as well as of the Faith. Catholics have always regarded the title with some reserve. But in its larger application, the title is a worthy one for monarchs to bear, for it reminds them that they are Christian kings or queens, with a duty to uphold Christianity. That does not mean indifference to other faiths, but it does mean that the sovereign must take seriously this element of his role
The Coronation Oath since 1688 has required the monarch to profess the Protestant faith and to secure the Protestant succession. Few Catholics would object to this promise as it was fulfilled by the late Queen. She combined a sincere devotion to the Church of England (Scotland is different) with an equally sincere friendship with other Christian denominations, including the Catholic Church. Indeed the coronation ceremony itself is directed by the Duke of Norfolk, the country’s premier lay Catholic.
Other faiths will of course be represented at the cere-mony, as is appropriate in a country where the Prime Minister is a Hindu and the First Minister of Scotland a Muslim.
The archbishop of Canterbury has said that the coronation will be “deeply Christian” and “representative of the people of this land”. But it is striking that the representatives of non-Christian faiths themselves respect the Christian character of the service.
There is one aspect of the coronation which is problematic from a Catholic perspective. The Queen Consort will also be crowned. Many people will recall that her position derives in part from her relationship with the King when they were both married to other people, causing pain to their respective spouses. Andrew Parker Bowles, Her Majesty’s first husband, is a Catholic himself.
Still, monarchs have not invariably been associated with exemplary marital behaviour; the origins of the Church of England make that clear. And the good works of the King and his wife in supporting vulnerable communities, encouraging care for the environment and, not least through the Prince’s Trust, helping young people learn skills and self-respect, speak for their commitment to the common good as well as practical Christian charity.
Catholics will welcome a robust affirmation of the King’s Christian faith over the course of his reign. The very fact that the late Queen was so firm in her own faith and so conscientious in its practice – she never missed church on a Sunday – was an example for others. It would be heartening if younger members of the Royal Family were equally committed. The King, in his first Christmas address to the Commonwealth, spoke of his own faith; we hope he will continue to do so, and not just in public pronouncements.
The King can raise the issue of the global persecution of Christians, including in Commonwealth countries, in his private dealings with politicians; indeed, he is ideally placed to do so. And by virtue of his efforts over many years to promote greater understanding of Islam, he is in a position to address Muslim heads of government in particular about it. That really would be to defend the faith.
His Majesty faces many challenges in his role as monarch. As Catholics, we should pray for him – of that there is no doubt. Vivat!
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.