Conjecture - as the reaction to the oath liturgy in the coronation service becomes adverse, a friend of the King is persuaded/decides to intervene publically by claiming the King had nothing to do with the oath liturgy, thus silently passing the blame to the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Fact - 29/4/23 Lambeth Palace publishes the Liturgy for the Coronation of HM King Charles III, commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury and "produced in close consultation with His Majesty The King". The Liturgy includes "The homage of peers has been replaced by a Homage of the People: those watching and listening at home and elsewhere will be invited to make their homage by sharing in the same words – a chorus of millions of voices enabled for the first time in history to participate in this solemn and joyful moment."
Fact - 30/4/23 The news of the Homage of the People draws some negative comments, (e.g. as reported via the Express UK newspaper website) with the Express reporting that "The Palace said it was hoped the new addition to the service will result in a 'great cry around the nation and around the world of support for the King' "
Fact 3/5/23 The BBC reports that "While reading out the oath, the archbishop 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: "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 oath will be followed by the sound of a fanfare. The Archbishop of Canterbury will then proclaim: 'God Save The King', and those willing will be asked to respond: 'God Save King Charles. Long live King Charles. May the King live forever.' The same BBC article says that speaking to BBC News,that the oath was "an invitation; it's not a command. In every Anglican service, every Christian service, it is normal for congregations to participate. It's an invitation - so if you want to join in at this point, by all means do so. If you don't want to, that's fine. There's no drama to it."
Fact 5/5/23 The Telegraph newspaper website reports that Jonathan Dimbleby, the king's friend and biographer, commenting on the pledge of allegiance would likely be considered "abhorrent", by the King and that the king had "never wanted to be revered. I can think of nothing that he would find more abhorrent. He has never wanted to be revered. He has never wanted, so far as I know, to have anyone paying homage to him except in mock terms as a joke."
6/5/23 Fact - Post post update - According to the ITVX website there has been a change to the wording of the people's oath. The wording was as immediately below, so
"All who so desire, in the Abbey, and elsewhere, say together: I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God."
Now the wording is "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.”
