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Privacy NoticePrince William is reportedly contemplating a groundbreaking move that could redefine the British monarchy and its traditions, according to insiders. The future King is said to be considering the idea of scrapping the religious oaths taken at the coronation ceremony, which could lead to a monumental shift in the monarchy’s relationship with the Church of England. In a significant departure from tradition last year, during King Charles’ coronation, Prince William was the sole member of the Royal family to participate in the Homage of Royal Blood, pledging himself as his father’s “liege man of life and limb”. This marked a change from previous ceremonies where all Royal dukes were involved.
The Prince of Wales is reportedly considering the shift
(Image: Getty Images)
King Charles had already introduced a more inclusive ceremony by incorporating elements from various faiths, reflecting the UK’s diverse religious fabric. The Mail on Sunday has sparked discussions with its report that “William is toying with the idea of abolishing the religious oaths of the Coronation potentially leading to the disestablishment of the Church of England.” This potential move stands in stark contrast to King Charles’ devout beliefs; he holds the titles of Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Currently, the coronation ceremony, deeply rooted in Christian tradition, requires the monarch to swear to uphold the Church of England and ensure a Protestant line of succession, reports the Mirror.
The Prince of Wales had a big role to play in the Coronation
(Image: Getty)
During the solemn ceremony, Charles was asked: “Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law? “Will you maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in England? And will you preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of England, and to the Churches there committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges as by law do or shall appertain to them or any of them?”
Prince William made his homage to his father at the Coronation
(Image: Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
In response, the King pledged to “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.” The monarch has been the head of the Church of England since Henry VIII’s reformation in 1534, with every Anglican monarch holding the title of Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Since 1689, the Church of England has remained the state religion.
The Prince of Wales will be King one day
(Image: Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 202)
However, William’s thoughts on excluding religion from his coronation could lead to the church being disestablished, meaning it would no longer be the official religion. The 2021 census revealed that for the first time, less than half of the population in England and Wales identified as Christian. This has led some campaigners to question whether it is still fitting for the monarch to remain head of the church. Stephen Evans from the National Secular Society labelled it “absurd” that a monarch maintains this position. However, the authority of the Church of England and the monarchy have mutually reinforced each other for centuries. If William were to break this tradition, it could pose challenges for both institutions’ future, especially the monarchy, which relies heavily on stability and continuity of tradition.Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnPrince WilliamKate MiddletonWilliam and KateRoyal Family
