On 25 March 2024, Baroness Scott, Minister for Faith, at a ceremony at the House of Commons awarded nine faith leaders and representatives who had actively contributed to official events for the King Charles Coronation in May last year with a Coronation Medal. At the awards ceremony, Baroness Scott spoke of the King’s pluralism and how it was necessary in the diverse demographics of today’s United Kingdom.
One of the recipients of the Coronation Medal was Dr Mehool H Sanghrajka MBE. Managing Trustee of the Institute of Jainology (IoJ).
On May 5, 2023, a Coronation Medal to commemorate the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III was announced. The headline eligibility for the Medal included all those within the usual scope of Jubilee Medal criteria, as well as all those who had actively contributed to the planning and delivery of the Coronation.
His Majesty has spent much of his working life supporting and celebrating other faiths in this country and throughout the Commonwealth. In line with his wishes, all major faiths and beliefs were represented at the Coronation, while those who played an active role in the procession were eligible for a Coronation Medal.
Following the presentation, faith leaders held an informal discussion on the importance of interfaith and were keen to emphasise the many commonalities between faiths. Faith leaders also sent their prayers to His Majesty and Catherine, Princess of Wales, for a full and swift recovery following their recent diagnoses.
The other eight Recipients of the Coronation Medal were:
- Dr Aliya Azam MBE, Al Khoei Foundation
- Visakha Dasi, President of Bhaktivedanta Manor ISKCON Centre
- Mr Malcolm Deboo, President, Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe
- Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis KBE, Chief Rabbi
- Dr Wendi Momen MBE, National Spiritual Assembly member of the UK Bahá’í community
- The Ven Bogoda Seelawimala, Head Priest of the London Buddhist Vihara
- Rt Hon Lord Indarjit Singh of Wimbledon CBE, Director, Network of Sikh Organisations
- Sir Mufti Hamid Patel CBE, Chief Executive, Star Academies, was awarded a medal but was not present at the ceremony.
Coronation Medal Details:
The Medals are made of nickel silver. It features a crowned effigy of King Charles III and the Queen Consort facing left. The reverse shows the Royal Cypher CIIIR surmounted by the Tudor Crown, a laurel wreath, and the date of the coronation.
The medals were issued by Worcestershire Medal Service (the approved manufacturers of all insignia issued by St James’s Palace), with the effigy on the obverse face modelled by Martin Jennings, a British sculptor. The reverse was designed by Phil McDermott of the Worcestershire Medal Service.
Posted 30 April 2024
