BLESSING CEREMONY FOR HM KING CHARLES III AT LONDON BUDDHIST VIHARA

A Buddhist Blessing Ceremony for the newly crowned King Charles III was held at the London Buddhist Vihara Shrine Room on Friday 19 May 2023.

A number of monks from different Buddhist traditions were invited to perform chanting.
H.M.The King Charles III was represented by the Chief of the Royal Household, Vice Admiral Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt, KCVO.

The welcome speech by Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thero, Head of the London Buddhist Vihara and Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain was followed by a speech by Dr. Desmond Biddulph, President of The Buddhist Society.

Next item in the programme was chanting by Buddhist monks of various Buddhist traditions.
Monks from Chithurst Cittaviveka Buddhist Monastery chanted the English translation of Karaniya Metta Sutta. Next, the resident monks at the London Buddhist Vihara chanted the Maha Mangala Sutta.

Blessing by the monks from London Fo Guang Shan Temple was followed by chanting of the Lotus Sutra by Rev. Prof Kemmyo Taira Sato of the Peace Pagoda at Battersea Park, London in Japanese tradition.

Ven. Seelawimala Nayaka Thero presented a memento of a Buddha statue to the Chief Guest to be handed over to King Charles III on behalf of the Buddhist community.

After the events in the Shrine Room, the Chief Guest and the visitors were entertained to a reception at the main hall.