29 April 2023 , 12:04
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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.
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“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."
The Baroness will carry the sceptre with the dove through Westminster Abbey (Rochdale Observer)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.
The decision was announced just nine days before the coronation, when the King and Queen will be crowned.
The former television presenter will be apart of the ceremony next weekend (Michael Melia / Avalon)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.
Baroness Benjamin says she feels "honoured and privileged" to be a part of the event (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)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.
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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.
The Baroness will be one of 2,000+ at Westminster Abbey to be watching the ceremony (AFP via Getty Images)They will be joined by Christopher Finney, who became the youngest serviceman to receive the George Cross after saving lives during a friendly-fire incident in Iraq when he was only 18, and Lady Elish Angiolini, Scotland’s first female Lord Advocate.
A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said: “Those undertaking the historic roles were chosen to recognise, thank and represent the nation due to their significant service, and include representatives from Orders of Chivalry, the military and wider public life.”
The Rt Rev Lord Chartres, who will carry the Queen Consort's ring, added: “The ceremonies of the Coronation are ancient but they have been freshly interpreted for our contemporary world.”