King to become first monarch to pray aloud at coronation

Lambeth Palace said the personal prayer was a ‘powerful’ new part of the ancient ceremony.
The King at Elizabeth II’s funeral (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
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Laura Elston29 April 2023

The King will become the first monarch to pray aloud in front of a coronation congregation in a “powerful” new addition to the service.

A special personal prayer has been written for Charles to say during the May 6 ceremony – one of many new firsts for historic occasion.

The words will reflect the “loving service” theme of the liturgy and were inspired in part by the popular hymn I Vow To Thee My Country.

Charles will pray that he may be “a blessing” to all God’s children “of every faith and conviction”.

A spokesperson for Lambeth Palace said: “This will be another powerful moment.

“For the first time, the monarch will pray aloud in front of the coronation congregation, which in this case includes the many millions watching in the United Kingdom and around the world.”

The Duke of Sussex described his father Charles as “deeply religious” in his memoir Spare, revealing how the King “prayed every night”.

Charles, as monarch, is Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

He spoke of himself as a “committed Anglican Christian” during a reception for faith leaders last September.

It is not known who wrote the prayer, as living authors of prayers are not traditionally disclosed in Church of England liturgies.

The word were also inspired by biblical language from Galatians 5 in the New Testament.

The prayer reads:

God of compassion and mercywhose Son was sent not to be served but to serve,give grace that I may find in thy service perfect freedomand in that freedom knowledge of thy truth.Grant that I may be a blessing to all thy children, of every faith and conviction,that together we may discover the ways of gentlenessand be led into the paths of peace. through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

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