Mystery behind why the ‘grim reaper’ was at Charles’s coronation is finally solved
The identity of the mysterious ‘Grim Reaper’ seen briefly lurking in the background during King Charles’ coronation has finally been revealed.
A clip of the sceptre-wielding figure, clad in a hooded black robe, was the source of much speculation throughout the weekend after going viral on Twitter.
Many viewers at home were left wondering who the ghostly silhouette could belong to, with many people joking that the Grim Reaper himself was paying Westminster Abbey a visit.
But the identity of the ghostly apparition has been revealed after the Abbey was contacted by Newsweek magazine.
They revealed that the person people saw walking in the background was only a verger, a member of the Abbey’s community who does not belong to the clergy but assists with religious services.
A verger is sometimes seen carrying a rod before a bishop or dean as a symbol of office, which explains its scythe-like instrument.
In a recent job vacancy advert for a verger at Ripon Cathedral, the clergy said they were looking for someone to be ‘involved in the presentation and maintenance of the Cathedral’.
Main duties and responsibilities included ‘ensuring effective communication’, ‘assisting with the effective management of all events, liturgical and secular in the Cathedral, ‘with the proper care, preparation and maintenance of all items used in services’, as well as many more tasks.
Other viral moments from throughout the coronation included American popstar Katy Perry looking extremely lost as she struggled to locate her seat in the abbey, Penny Mordaunt’s sword-wielding antics and Prince Louis’ facial expressions as the five-year-old royal struggled to sit still during the ceremony.
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