A Coronation with Celtic Languages

The coronation of King Charles III is due to take place this weekend, and is the first to take place in 70 years.

This is a customary ceremony celebrating the beginning of a new reign, even though he has been monarch since the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The formal ceremony is due to commence on Saturday 6^th May at 11am BST, in which the world will see the new sovereign crowned alongside his wife, Queen Consort Camilla.

Interestingly, the new King has made a few changes to the coronation traditions, one being the use of language within the ceremony.

What changes in language are being made to the ceremony?

For the first time in history, the following languages are due to be used within the coronation ceremony:

• Welsh
• Scottish Gaelic
• Irish

This is a step in the right direction, however does not include all of the surviving Celtic languages, such as Cornish and Manx.

Does King Charles III speak any of these Celtic languages?

As a young man, King Charles III studied Welsh at Aberystwyth University with Welsh nationalist Dr. Edward Millward. According to The National newspaper, Charles’s tutor became a close friend, and he became the first English Prince of Wales that actually spoke Welsh in 668 years.

However, it has been noted that while he does speak some Welsh, he is not completely fluent in the language.

How will the Welsh language be involved within the ceremony?

Sir Bryn Terfel and the choir of Westminster Abbey will sing the “Coronation Kyrie,” written by Professor Paul Mealor of St. Asaph. This will be the first coronation in which music was performed in the Welsh language.

The words to this prayer include; “Arglwydd, trugarha. Crist, trugarha. Arglwydd, trugarha” – which translates as “Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy”.

The King’s coronation procession will also be led by the Cross of Wales. The King of Wales presented the cross to the Church of Wales; it is crafted from local resources such Welsh slate, recycled wood, and silver from the Royal Mint.

How will the Scottish Gaelic language be involved within the ceremony?

According to a representative from Lambeth Palace, a hymn named ‘Veni Creator’ is due to be sung as part of the ceremony. This “ancient hymn” has been used in “coronation services since the 14th century” and that it is also sung during the ordination of bishops and deacons.

“For the first time, we will hear this sung in the traditional languages of the nations of the United Kingdom: English, Welsh, Scots Gaelic and Irish Gaelic.” This is how the Scottish Gaelic verse will proceed:

Fada bhuain iomain ar namh

Agus builich sa bhad do ghras

O, treoraich sinn, a Cheannaird ard

Bho bhuaidh gach beud agus cradh

Which translates in to English as:

Anoint and cheer our soiled face

With the abundance of thy grace

Keep far our foes, give peace at home

Where thou art guide, no ill can come

How will the Irish language be involved within the ceremony?

Following the Scottish Gaelic verse within the hymn, ‘Veni Creator’, the following verse will be sung in the traditional language of Northern Ireland:

Go dti dhiot gurb aithnid duinn

an tAthair, Mhac, a Spioraid, a run,

Tu leo an Triur i neinphearsa

Creidimis ionaibh tre bhiotha na mbeatha.

The above verse will then be repeated in English, this translates as:

Praise to thy eternal merit,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Teach us to know the Father, Son,

And thee, of both, to be but One.

That, through the ages all along,

This may be our endless song:

Praise to thy eternal merit, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

A moment in history

The use of the four traditional languages of the United Kingdom within the coronation is definitely something to be remembered for many years to come. These languages are classed as endangered, as very few people from these countries use these languages to communicate nowadays.

According to The Annual Population Survey:

• 29.1% of people aged 3 or over were able to speak Welsh fluently (approximately 880,000 people).
• Just over 1% (58,000 people) of the population aged 3 and over in Scotland were able to speak Scottish Gaelic.
• Just under 40% of the population of Ireland (1,761,420 people) could speak Irish. However, only 1.7% (73,308 people) actually claimed they spoke Irish daily, down 3,382 people from 2011.

Through the use of these languages at one of the UK’s biggest moments in history, it provides the opportunity for them to be seen and heard for the first time in years on a worldwide scale.

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Photo by Chris Boland