Swearing allegiance to King Charles III will be ‘individual choice,’ says Foreign Secretary James Cleverly

Swearing allegiance to the King will be an “individual choice,” a Cabinet minister stressed on Tuesday.

Ahead of the Coronation on Saturday, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly emphasised that no-one would be forced to take such an oath.

Asked about the decision to open up making the oath to the general public, rather than just peers, Mr Cleverly told Sky News: “It’s an individual choice.

“There is a very generous invitation to expand what has traditionally been quite an exclusive function which is just for members of the House of Lords to swear allegiance to the new Monarch.

“Actually, the King has decided to open this up, to give everyone the opportunity to, no-one is forced to, no-one has to, no-one is going to be checking.

“If you want to do it, and I will, great if you don’t want to do it fine.”

Charles’s coronation will include the first Homage of the People - a modern addition to the ancient ceremony that will see people across the UK and overseas realms invited to swear an oath of allegiance to the new King.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will call upon “all persons of goodwill in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of the other realms and the territories to make their homage, in heart and voice, to their undoubted King, defender of all”.

The order of service will read: “All who so desire, in the abbey, and elsewhere, say together:

“All: I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.”

It will be followed by the playing of a fanfare.

The Archbishop will then proclaim “God Save The King”, with all asked to respond: “God Save King Charles. Long live King Charles. May the King live for ever.”

Lambeth Palace said it was hoped the significant change to the historic service will result in a “great cry around the nation and around the world of support for the King” from those watching on television, online or gathered in the open air at big screens.

It replaces the traditional Homage of Peers in which a long line of hereditary peers knelt and made a pledge to the monarch in person.

But sources say a public backlash against the move — with a Sun poll yesterday showing 53 per cent will not join in — has not gone down well behind Palace walls.

It is understood it was meant to be an attempt to widen access and engagement to the ceremony, and was not an order.

Lambeth Palace was forced to issue a clarification on Monday.

A Lambeth Palace spokesman stressed that the homage is “very much an invitation rather than an expectation or request”.

People might join in if that feels right for them as they would take part in the national anthem.

He added: “It’s simply an opportunity offered by the Archbishop so that, unlike previous coronations, those who wish to join in with the words being spoken by the Abbey congregation could do so in a very simple way.

“For those who do want to take part, some will want to say all the words of the homage; some might just want to say ‘God Save The King’ at the end; others might just want it to be a moment of private reflection.”

He added: “For those who may wish to join in with the homage, we hope it’s a moment of joy and celebration - both in the abbey, and in homes around the country and beyond.”

The liturgy - the words and actions of the coronation service - has been revealed after it was chosen in consultation with the King, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Government.

The plans to ask the public to pledge their allegiance to the King during the coronation have been branded “offensive, tone deaf and a gesture that holds the people in contempt” by pressure group Republic.