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Dickie Arbiter

ByDickie Arbiter , ROYAL EXPERT

Opinion

It’s no surprise that King Charles plans to accommodate the Chief Rabbi

The King has repeatedly stated his desire to be defender of all faiths

October 27, 2022 14:11
Charles and GettyImages-179191743
Britain's Prince Charles (R) meets Lord Jonathan Sacks (C) and his successor Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (L) before Mirvis was formally inducted as 11th Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the UK and the Commonwealth at a ceremony at the St John's Wood Synagogue in north London on Spetember 1, 2013. AFP Photo / POOL / STEFAN ROUSSEAU (Photo credit should read STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
1 min read

For those of us watching the decisions of the King in the build-up to his coronation next year, it came as no surprise to learn about His Majesty's plans to accommodate the Chief Rabbi to allow him to attend the coronation.

The plans, whereby Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and his wife will stay with the King and Queen Consort at Clarence House the night before the coronation will allow them to attend the auspicious occasion without breaking the laws of Shabbat.

This gracious accommodation by the king will mean for the Chief Rabbi it's a short walk across St. James's Park to Westminster Abbey, and he doesn't have to break any of the Sabbath regulations.

The king has put his money where his mouth is. While he is constitutionally obliged to be Defender of the Faith, he's also defending other faiths. He'll almost certainly plan to invite other denominations into Westminster Abbey, recognising our modern, multicultural society.