King Charles has always prided himself on being an environmentalist and an activist for climate change ever since the 70s. This has come through in his coronation plans. Indeed Queen Camilla has decided to re-use a previous crown for her coronation instead of having a new one made.
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After releasing the coronation invite on the Royal Family’s Instagram page, people have noticed certain details on it that don’t make King Charles look good. Any move that the King or Queen make is carefully watched by fans and experts, making it hard for small details to be missed, like when a medal to Queen Camilla had the wrong title on it.
King Charles’ coronation invite puts nature at the forefront
King Charles decided to put his love of nature and sustainability at the forefront of his coronation invite. The invitation was designed by Andrew Jamieson, an artist and illustrator.
The invitation is decorated with flowers, foliage, wildlife as well as King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coat of arms. Finally, the Green Man is at the bottom. The Green Man is an ancient folkloric symbol of rebirth.
King Charles’ coronation invite is a ‘shame’ to some
As always when it comes to the Royal Family, there are mixed reactions to the coronation invite. Indeed many people are displeased with the King’s choice to have the Green Man represented on his coronation invitation.
Former Mumford and Sons band member Winston Marshall has accused the King of having Pagan symbols and that it is a ‘shame.’ Marshall tweeted:
Why is the Jolly Green Giant more prominent on the Coronation invite than any Christian symbols?
Why is the Jolly Green Giant more prominent on the Coronation invite than any Christian symbols?
— Winston Marshall (@MrWinMarshall) April 5, 2023
He’s the head of the church. Has he forgotten the first commandment?
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me”
This is paganism. Shame https://t.co/FeKN1Y5TUB
He’s the head of the church. Has he forgotten the first commandment? ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me’.
This is paganism. Shame.
King Charles’ coronation invite is loved by some
However, people have pointed out that the Green Man has a deep history. Tory MP Zac Goldsmith said that including the Green Man was a ‘beautiful’ depiction of ‘God’s creation.’ Goldsmith also explained that the Green Man can be found in many churches.
When the Royal Family tweeted the invite, they offered the following explanation:
Designed by Andrew Jamieson, the invitation features the Green Man, an ancient figure from British folklore, symbolic of spring and rebirth, to celebrate the new reign.
Green Man is one of the most ancient symbols of all, and appears on countless churches across the land and beyond.
— Zac Goldsmith (@ZacGoldsmith) April 6, 2023
It is a symbol, among other things, of our relationship with the natural world (or in Christian terms, God’s creation). This is beautiful https://t.co/fln8XwcdkL
While the official royal website explained that the Green Man is a ‘figure from British folklore.’
Central to the design is the motif of the Green Man, an ancient figure from British folklore, symbolic of spring and rebirth, to celebrate the new reign.
The shape of the Green Man, crowned in natural foliage, is formed of leaves of oak, ivy and hawthorn, and the emblematic flowers of the United Kingdom.
Sources used:
Express: ‘King Charles embroiled in Paganism row over his Green Man Coronation invite’
Wikipedia: ‘Green Man’
