With only a month to go until the coronation, Buckingham Palace has launched decorative official invitations for the historic day with themes that reference King Charles’ love of sustainability and nature. However, a motif that appeared on the invitation caused a backlash among royal fans.
The invitation, which was designed by artist and illustrator Andrew Jamieson, features a variety of flowers, foliage, wildlife, the coat of arms of Charles and Queen Camilla, and the folkloric figure called the Green Man.
Many royal fans saw the ancient folkloric character and questioned its relevance and symbolic meaning.
Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith said it is a “beautiful” symbol representing “God’s creation”.
However, others were not as positive as former Mumford and Sons band member Winston Marshall described it as paganism and said it was a “disgrace”.
The musician tweeted: “Why is the jolly green giant more prominent in the coronation invitation than any Christian symbol?
“He is the head of the church. Has he forgotten the first commandment? ‘You can not have others gods in front of me’.
“This is paganism. Shame.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Goldsmith added that the Green Man symbol “appears in countless churches across the country and beyond.”
The Green Man is said to symbolize rebirth and represents the cycle of new growth each spring.
The symbolic figure is found in many cultures around the world and is a popular name for pubs in Britain.
The Royal Family’s Twitter account said: “Designed by Andrew Jamieson, the invitation features the Green Man, an ancient figure from British folklore, a symbol of spring and rebirth, to celebrate the new reign.”
Meanwhile, the official royal website explains the inclusion of the Green Man: “The central element of the design is the Green Man motif, an ancient figure from British folklore, a symbol of spring and rebirth, to celebrate the new reign.
“The shape of the Green Man, crowned with natural foliage, is made up of oak leaves, ivy and hawthorn, and the emblematic flowers of the United Kingdom.”
Buckingham Palace has not commented on the dispute.