by Andrew Halloway.
The BBC has claimed that a ‘Harmony Summit’ hosted by King Charles at Highgrove “shone a light on his beliefs”. Attending were representatives of indigenous peoples – the ‘Earth Elders’ – along with “environmentalists, climate campaigners, organic farmers, herbalists, educators, crafts people and philanthropists”.
The BBC’s reporter implied that Charles is polytheistic, but to me it was simply about his well-known passion for the environment. Simon Sadinsky, Executive Director for Education at The King’s Foundation, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the first ever Harmony Summit with our partners the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance and the Earth Elders – and what better setting to do this than Highgrove, where the King first showcased his principles of sustainability and organics.”
Charles may rightly be criticised for his participation in a ‘fire ceremony’ where the circle of participants rotated around a fire and a ring of flowers, led by an ‘Earth Elder’ who honoured Mother Earth. But even Charles’s late mother, a devout Christian, was deeply respectful of other people’s genuinely held religious beliefs. He also has a difficult job, being responsible for leading a multi-faith Britain as well as being Head of the Church of England. Perhaps he has been too careful to acknowledge other faiths in his Christmas and Easter broadcasts – yet has also referenced his own allegiance to Anglicanism and mentioned his belief in “our Saviour”.
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