BRITISH ROYALS WANTED THE PEOPLE OF BRITAIN TO SWEAR LOYALTY TO KING CHARLES

Somebody thought it would be a good idea to get Britons to swear loyalty to about-to-be-crowned King Charles. The thinking was that it would be something to create a unifying spirit among the commonwealth. The Archbishop of Canterbury suggested everybody watching Saturday’s coronation, live and in their homes, would say together the following words as they scroll on the TV: “I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.” Meanwhile, back here in the 21st century, the reaction was swift and negative:
– A morning TV show poll found 86% of the people would refuse to say it.
– One anti-monarchy organization called Republic noted, “In a democracy it is the head of state who should swear allegiance to us. This is an offensive and tone-deaf gesture that holds the people in contempt.”
– An internet poster commented, “This sounds ridiculously like something the people of North Korea would do to Kim Jong-Un.”
* Also, like Game of Thrones, everybody would simultaneously “bend the knee.”
* Donald Trump wrote: “Hey, send me a copy of that tremendous oath, since you’re not using it.”
* This is a great idea, in a Spanish Inquisition sort-of-way.
* Swear loyalty to the king? Are the Vikings planning to invade again?
* The Archbishop of Canterbury later blamed the idea on “blue sky thinking” from the R&D department, and said he’d put the idea on the backburner and maybe circle back to it at a later date when he’s feeling the synergy.
* I’m sure Charles is going, “Thanks a lot, Archie, you’ve been a big help. Lose my number.”