The Spurs, which were made in One thousand, six hundred and sixty-one for the Coronation of King Charles II, as a symbol of courage in battle, were presented to The King by the Lord Great Chamberlain. The Archbishop declared: “Receive these spurs, symbols of military honour and chivalry: May you be a brave advocate for those in need.”
The Byzantine Chant Ensemble then sang words from Psalms 72 and 20. During the ancient chant the Lord President of the Council, The Right Honourable Penny Mordaunt MP – who until now had been bearing the Sword of State before His Majesty on the Sacrarium – exchanged the Sword of State for the Jewelled Sword of Offering. She then presented it to the Archbishop, who held it before the Altar and prayed: “Hear our prayers, O Lord, we beseech thee, and so direct and support thy servant King Charles, that he may not bear the Sword in vain; but may use it as the minister of God to resist evil and defend the good, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
The Archbishop returned the sword to the Lord President of the Council, who carried it to The King and placed it in his right hand. The Archbishop then declared: “Receive this kingly Sword: may it be to you and all who witness these things, a sign and symbol not of judgement, but of justice; not of might, but of mercy.”
The King rose and the sword was clipped onto the girdle after which he once more sat, and the Archbishop prayed: “With this sword do justice, stop the growth of iniquity, protect the holy Church of God and all people of goodwill, help and defend widows and orphans, restore the things that are gone to decay, maintain the things that are restored, punish and reform what is amiss, and confirm what is in good order: that doing these things you may be glorious in all virtue; and so faithfully serve our Lord Jesus Christ in this life, that you may reign for ever with him in the life which is to come. Amen.”
The King once more stood, the sword was unclipped and, as is ancient tradition, The King surrendered it to the Dean of Westminster who placed it on the Altar. The sword was redeemed from the Altar by the Lord President of the Council, who placed the redemption money – a bag of newly minted coins bearing His Majesty’s effigy – on the alms dish, held by the Dean. The Keeper of the Jewel House unsheathed the sword and handed it to the Lord President of the Council, who thereafter bore it before His Majesty.
The Armills were presented to The King by the Lord Kamall, a Peer from the Muslim faith in fulfilment of His Majesty’s desire that all the principal faiths of the United Kingdom be given places of honour on his Coronation Day. The King put his hand on the Armills while the Archbishop declared: “Receive the Bracelets of sincerity and wisdom, tokens of the Lord’s protection embracing you on every side.”
The Robe Royal, imbued with symbolism of the British Isles, was then brought from the Shrine to The King by The Baroness Merron, a Peer from the Jewish faith. Concurrently the Stole, made for this Coronation by the Worshipful Company of Girdlers, was brought from the Shrine by the Groom of the Robes. The King stood, stepped down onto the Cosmati Pavement and was vested with the Stole by The Prince of Wales. The Robe was handed to the Bishops of Durham and Bath and Wells, who vested The King, assisted by the Prince of Wales who fastened the Robe’s clasp. The King returned to sit in The Coronation Chair. The Archbishop then declared: “Receive this Robe. May the Lord clothe you with the robe of righteousness, and with the garments of salvation.”
The Orb was then brought forward by the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and Metropolitan, who handed the Orb to the Archbishop, who placed it in The King’s right hand and declared: “Receive this Orb, set under the Cross, and remember always the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our God, and of his Christ.” The Orb was then returned to the Altar.
The Ring was then presented to The King by The Lord Patel KT, a Peer from the Hindu faith. The King put his hand on the Ring, while the Archbishop declared: “Receive this Ring, a symbol of kingly dignity, and a sign of the covenant sworn this day between God and King, King and people.”
The Glove was then presented to The King by The Lord Singh of Wimbledon, a Peer from the Sikh faith. The King put the Glove on his right hand, while the Archbishop declared: “Receive this glove, that you may hold authority with gentleness and grace; trusting not in your own power but in the mercy of God.”
The Sceptre with Cross and the Sceptre with Dove were then brought forward by the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Archbishop of Wales. The Archbishop then placed them in The King’s right and left hands respectively, saying: “Receive the Royal Sceptre, the ensign of kingly power and justice; and the Rod of equity and mercy, a symbol of covenant and peace. May the Spirit of the Lord who anointed Jesus at his baptism, so anoint you this day, that you might exercise authority with wisdom, and direct your counsels with grace; that by your service and ministry to all your people, justice and mercy may be seen in all the earth.”
This concluded the presentation of the Regalia. The King remained seated in the Chair of St Edward, holding the Sceptres.