Baroness Benjamin says inclusion for King's
coronation shows he's embracing diversity
Former television presenter Baroness Benjamin has
praised King Charles for his coronation selection, saying her inclusion for the
historic event shows he is embracing diversity
Baroness Floella Benjamin says her inclusion in King
Charles coronation shows he is embracing diversity
BySean
McPolin
13:04, 29
Apr 2023
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/baroness-benjamin-says-inclusion-kings-29845963
King
Charles is "embracing" diversity and inclusion with his coronation,
Baroness Benjamin has said.
Floella
Benjamin will carry the sceptre with the dove through Westminster Abbey next
weekend when the King is crowned.
She is part
of group which will carry historic items, including crowns, sceptres, rings,
rod and the orb in the procession, while others will present them to the King
and Queen.
Baroness
Benjamin, who made her name presenting children's television programmes, said
the decision to include her is a "clear message" the King is
embracing diversity and inclusion.
She said:
“I feel honoured and privileged to be part of the historic coronation ceremony,
the Telegraph reports.
“To be
selected to carry the Sovereign’s sceptre with dove, which represents spirituality,
equity and mercy, is for me very symbolic as it’s everything I stand for and
sends out a clear message that diversity and inclusion is being embraced."
Other
taking part in the ceremony on May 6 ceremony are Lord Hastings; Delaval
Astley, a former actor who for two years played Cameron Fraser in The Archers;
and Baroness Manningham-Buller, the former director-general of MI5, who will
carry St Edward’s Staff.
It is a big
difference to Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953, which had all white men
performing these roles, with the majority of them being aristocrats who had
inherited their titles.
On
Thursday, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau announced he will attend after
doubts were raised about his presence.
He will be
among 2,000 in Westminster Abbey watching the two-hour service, which will
begin with the ceremonial processions.
Petty
Officer Amy Taylor will become the first woman to carry the Sword of Offering
into the Abbey. She was chosen to represent servicemen and women as a Royal
Navy Petty Officer, in tribute to His Majesty’s military career.
James
Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, defended the decision to allow Han Zheng, the
architect of China’s crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, to
attend.
He insisted
the UK had no influence over which representative a country chooses to send.
The honour
of carrying St Edward’s Crown has gone to General Sir Gordon Messenger, former
vice-chief of defence staff, who is now the governor of the Tower of London,
while Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, a former nurse recently appointed to the Order of
Merit alongside Lady Benjamin, will carry the orb, a symbol of the sovereign’s
power.
Baroness
Amos will join the Archbishop of Canterbury in participating in the Act of
Recognition at the beginning of the service, when the King is presented to the
congregation.
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