50 volunteers were chosen to perform these very specific functions during the ceremony. Among them, a former intelligence officer and a farmer.
A week before the coronation of King Charles III, Buckingham unveils the list of 50 people chosen to fulfill honorary functions on D-Day. Handpicked, these individuals will participate in the Westminster Abbey ceremony through very specific tasks, such as carrying a flag, a scepter or handing a glove to the monarch.
As reported The Independentwhich unveils this list in its entirety, the various participants are divided into seven categories: the procession that will enter the abbey, the procession of the king and queen consort Camilla, the procession that will carry the accessories of the latter, the one that will will wear those of the king, those who will present these accessories to monarchs…
Nobles and ennobled
All members chosen to take on these active roles are nobles or representatives of the Church. Some are commoners who have been ennobled. In particular Elizabeth Manningham-Buller, former director general of MI5, the intelligence service responsible for the internal security of the United Kingdom. Raised to the rank of baroness in 2008, she will be responsible for carrying the baton of Saint Edward.
Floella Benjamin, former presenter of children’s programs made baroness in 2010, will be responsible for carrying the scepter adorned with a dove of the sovereign.
“To have been chosen to carry (this scepter), which represents spirituality, fairness and mercy, is very symbolic for me,” she said, as reported Sky News.
“(All of these values) are the ones I believe in and it sends a clear message that diversity and inclusion are respected.”
Inherited roles
Another profile that stands out is that of Francis Dymoke. The family of this former accountant turned farmer inherited the title of King’s champion (literally, “the king’s champion”) for 34 generations, as reported Sky News.
The role of King’s championduring coronations, is to stand on horseback in Westminster in order to challenge to a duel anyone who opposes the accession to the throne of the new monarch. The Independent specifies that this folklore will not be observed on May 6, and that Francis Dymoke will stick to carrying the royal standard.
Applications to participate in these services were open until February 3, and hundreds of volunteers had come forward. But not everyone could claim it: the right to play a part in the coronation of a British monarch is obtained only by property or heredity.
