Baroness Merron says coronation role ‘an honour beyond anything I could ever imagined’

Former Board of Deputies chief executive Baroness Merron has said it will be “an honour beyond anything I could ever imagined” to formally represent one of four non-Christian faiths in the ceremony to crown King Charles III.

Baroness Merron will be carrying one of the coronation robes to the King as the representative of Judaism in Saturday’s ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

One of four peers who will for the first time represent non-Christian faiths at a coronation, Labour life peer Merron told Jewish News:”This is an honour beyond anything I could ever have imagined. I feel humbled to be making history in a Coronation ceremony that will validate Britain as a ‘community of communities’.

“In his Coronation, HRH King Charles III will demonstrate his commitment to protect the space for faith and its practise through religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs.

“Through my part in this, I hope to do the Jewish community proud.”

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis will also play a significant role in the ceremony for his good friend Charles.

At the end of the coronation service, there will be a procession out of the Abbey. Mirvis will walk with eight faith leaders in front of Charles and Camilla.

Mirvis explained:”We will stand in a line, the king will come in his full regalia and in his historic 16th-century crown, which is only worn at coronations, and he will stand in front of us. We will give him a blessing in unionism, a pair of blessings.”

In a move designed not to put Mirvis in a compromising position, with the service taking place on Shabbat, there will be no microphones used in the service.

While Orthodox Halacha forbids Jews to enter a church because it is considered a house of “idol worship” the teachings around “mishum eiva” [on account of hatred) are used to allow the Chief Rabbi to accept invitations from the Royal Family.

Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl has also been invited to the coronation.