The May 6 Coronation Procession in London is led by the Silver Cross of Wales. Two special gifts from the Vatican have now been incorporated into it. Pope Francis (86) has King Charles III. (74) given two splinters for his coronation, said to come from the cross on which the Bible says Jesus Christ was crucified. The British monarch is the secular head of the Anglican Church.
As the “Daily Mail” shows, among other things, the small pieces formed into a cross were inserted into the Cross of Wales. The relics are one centimeter and five millimeters in size. Set behind a rose crystal gemstone, they can only be seen up close. At the coronation of Charles III. They will play a special role: The Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, will bless the cross at a service in the north Welsh town of Llandudno on the morning of May 6th. It will then be taken to the British capital. Charles was Prince of Wales before taking office as King and had presented the Cross to the Church of Wales on its centenary. In November 2022, he personally put a leopard’s head on it as a royal mark. Archbishop John rejoiced at the crucifixion, stressing: “We are also pleased that its first use will be to lead Their Majesties into Westminster Abbey at the coronation service.”
The Cross of Wales is made from recycled silver bullion from the Royal Mint in South Wales, a Welsh felled wood shaft and a Welsh slate stand. On the back of the cross are words from Saint David’s last sermon in Welsh. They mean, “Be cheerful. Keep the faith. Do the little things.”
