(CNN) The Church of England has changed the wording of its invitation to the public to swear allegiance to King Charles during his coronation, following public backlash.
The Archbishop of Canterbury will now give people the option to just say “God save King Charles” instead of taking the full pledge of allegiance.
The move follows widespread criticism of the proposed pledge. In a recent online poll for ITV’s Good Morning Britain, 86.5% of more than 164,000 respondents said they would not recite the pledge, while a prominent friend of the king had called the earlier wording “unwise”.
According to a revised text of the liturgy for the coronation service released by Lambeth Palace on Saturday, the Archbishop of Canterbury will say:
“I now invite those who wish to offer their support to do so with a moment of private reflection by saying ‘God save King Charles’ at the end or, for those with the words in front of you, reciting them in full. “
The full pledge reads: “I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty and Your heirs and successors according to the law. So help me God.”
In an earlier version of the text, published in April, the Archbishop was to “call upon all persons of goodwill in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and in the other kingdoms and territories to pay homage of heart and voice to their undisputed King, the Defender of All.” .”
The earlier version had been called “imprudent” by a prominent friend of the king.
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