King to become first monarch to pray aloud at coronation

The King will become the first monarch to pray aloud in front of a coronation congregation in a “powerful” new addition to the service.

A special personal prayer has been written for Charles to say during the May 6 ceremony – one of many new firsts for historic occasion.

Charles will pray that he may be “a blessing” to all God’s children “of every faith and conviction”.

A spokesperson for Lambeth Palace said: “This will be another powerful moment.

“For the first time, the monarch will pray aloud in front of the coronation congregation, which in this case includes the many millions watching in the United Kingdom and around the world.”

The Duke of Sussex described his father Charles as “deeply religious” in his memoir Spare, revealing how the King “prayed every night”.

He spoke of himself as a “committed Anglican Christian” during a reception for faith leaders last September.

It is not known who wrote the prayer, as living authors of prayers are not traditionally disclosed in Church of England liturgies.

The word were also inspired by biblical language from Galatians 5 in the New Testament.

The prayer reads:

God of compassion and mercy

whose Son was sent not to be served but to serve,

give grace that I may find in thy service perfect freedom

and in that freedom knowledge of thy truth.

Grant that I may be a blessing to all thy children, of every faith and conviction,

that together we may discover the ways of gentleness

and be led into the paths of peace. through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.