Charles III: Sikh peer hands over Coronation gloves to King

London: At King Charles III's Coronation, Lord Indarjit Singh, the British Sikh peer, handed over a key item of the regalia to King. It was as part of the multi-faith approach of the ceremony, otherwise Christian, at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday, PTI reported.

The 90-year-old Singh walked up to the altar before handing over the Coronation Glove, which is a demonstration of the Sovereign as an advocate and challenger for the protection and honour of the people. The event also reminds us of holding power, symbolised in the royal Sceptre, gently in a gloved hand.

Before the ceremony, Lord Singh had said, "It's a great honour for myself, but much more for the wider Sikh community, in this country, in India and further afield wherever Sikhs are across the globe. It's a recognition of the King's view of inclusivity."

"It is something like the story of the three kings [from the Bible], now it's been inflated by faith inflation to four people bearing gifts," said Mr Singh, on a light-hearted note.

"As far as the procession goes, that is fairly usual and normal. It's always there on a Commonwealth Day service. The unusual element is the presentation of the gifts; that we go in turn to the King who is seated on a throne on a platform and offer him - in my case, it will be the Coronation Glove," he explains.

Singh, who is the founder of the Network of Singh Organisations (NSO) and was honoured with a CBE by the late Queen Elizabeth II for services to interfaith harmony, has known Charles personally for many years. The duo have discussed their shared views on respect for all religions and the importance of religious harmony.

Fifty-six-year-old Lord Sayed Kamal represented the Muslim faith and presented the Armills or a pair of bracelets, and Lord Narendra Babubhai Patel, 84, represented the Hindu faith and handed over the Sovereign's Ring. Then Baroness Gillian Merron, 64, who is Jewish, carried the Robe Royal to the King.