Lord Indarjit Singh is a British Sikh peer who handed over a key piece of regalia to King Charles III during his Coronation on Saturday (May 6) at Westminster Abbey in London, symbolising the multi-faith note struck at the traditionally Christian ceremony, news agency PTI reported. The 90-year-old peer was part of a procession of peers who walked up to the altar before handing over the Coronation Glove, which represents the Sovereign as advocate and challenger for the people's protection and honour. It also has a secondary meaning as a reminder of power, represented by the royal Sceptre held gently in a gloved hand.
Lord Singh said in an interview with PTI ahead of the ceremony: "It's a great honour for myself, but it's even more so for the larger Sikh community in this country, in India, and everywhere else there are Sikhs. It reflects the King's view of inclusivity."
Lord Syed Kamall, 56, of Indo-Guyanese descent, represented the Muslim faith and handed over the Armills or a pair of bracelets, and Lord Narendra Babubhai Patel, 84, represented the Hindu faith and handed over the Sovereign's Ring. The Jewish Baroness Gillian Merron, 64, carried the Robe Royal to the King.
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"It's like the story of the three kings [from the Bible], but it's been inflated by faith inflation to four people bearing gifts," Singh added.
"As far as the procession is concerned, that is fairly typical and normal. On a Commonwealth Day service, it is always present. The unusual aspect is the presentation of the gifts, in which we each go to the King, who is seated on a throne on a platform, and offer him a gift - in my case, the Coronation Glove," he explains.
Singh, the founder of the Network of Singh Organisations (NSO) and recipient of the late Queen Elizabeth II's CBE for services to interfaith harmony, has known Charles for many years. The two have discussed their shared views on religious tolerance and the importance of religious harmony.