THE Prince of Wales was the only member of The Royal Family to be a liege man of life and limb at the coronation of King Charles III.
Here is everything you need to know about the historic role.
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What is a liege man of life and limb?
A liege man of life and lamb is a person who has sworn, unconditional loyalty to a monarch.
Prince William was the only royal to kneel in allegiance to his father, the newly crowned King Charles III at his coronation on May 6.
He placed the official sash around his father’s shoulders before the King’s attendants placed the Robe of Righteousness around him.
Following the official crowning of the new monarch, William kneeled down and said: “I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you, and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb.
“So help me God.”
King Charles had requested a stripped-down service in comparison with the previous coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
The Sunday Times reported that the royal dukes no longer were required to kneel down before the monarch and pay homage to him at the ceremony.
This meant that Prince Andrew and Prince Harry will play no formal role in the coronation.
Who has held this title before Prince William?
Prince Phillip swore to be Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s liege man of life and limb at her coronation in 1953.
This was confirmed by the Royal Family on its official Instagram page.
Sharing an old photo of Queen and Prince Philip, the caption read: “The Duke was a devoted consort (companion to the Sovereign) for almost 70 years, from Her Majesty’s Accession in 1952 until his death.”
“At The Queen’s Coronation in 1953, The Duke of Edinburgh swore to be Her Majesty’s liege man of life and limb.”
“He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know”, – The Queen said in 1997 paying a tribute to Prince Philip.
