Should the next coronation be Christian, secular or multi–faith? This report analyses new research about what the public actually thinks.

This report examines those arguments, drawing on the first extensive study of what the British people think about the coronation. Interviewing over 2,000 respondents – including a substantial sample of non–religious respondents and an additional booster sample for religious minority groups, who play such a key role in this debate – it reveals just what the British public think about and want from the next coronation. Do they think it is meaningful or meaningless? Do they feel alienated or excluded by it? And do they think it should be Christian, secular or multi–faith?

Combining the findings from this research with arguments from the coronation’s history – paying particular attention to how it has changed over the centuries and what it actually symbolises – the report argues that the next coronation should retain its Christian basis and foundation, but should be modified within this existing framework in order to reflect the changed nature of society.

The data tables from the June 2015 ComRes poll on attitudes to the next Coronation can be found here.

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