‘How I prepared to bless King Charles at his coronation’
By 
Mike Royal2023-05-16T15:45:00
What was it like to pronounce a blessing over King Charles III in front of a global audience of millions? Bishop Mike Royal writes about the unforgettable moment inside Westminster Abbey, and how he narrowly avoided a coughing fit!
The coronation of their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla was an important moment in the life of the nation. It was one in which I was privileged to play a small part.
The ceremony was evidence of how the religious and ecumenical landscape has changed beyond recognition since the last coronation 70 years ago. At the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, the Roman Catholic Cardinal remained outside Westminster Cathedral. In 2023 Cardinal Nichols stood alongside Protestant and Pentecostal leaders like me, and blessed the new king.
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