Oaths of Allegiance
An updated briefing paper on oaths of allegiance taken by senior office holders in the UK. This includes the Parliamentary Oath taken by MPs and peers and the judicial oath taken by judges.
Oaths of allegiance in the United Kingdom are promises to be loyal to the Monarch, as well as to their heirs and successors.
Oaths of allegiance are sworn in various contexts, including at the beginning of a Parliament, when government ministers assume office, and when individuals join the Armed Forces.
The standard wording of the oath of allegiance in the UK is as set out in section 2 of the Promissory Oaths Act 1868:
I [insert name] do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.
In a parliamentary context, the oath of allegiance is known as the Parliamentary Oath, while in a judicial context it forms part of what is called the judicial oath. UK Ministers of the Crown and members of the Scottish and Welsh Governments also take the official oath (also known as the oath of office).
Other oaths taken in the UK – particularly in Northern Ireland – do not include a reference to the Monarch.
This research briefing looks at the following oaths:
- The Parliamentary Oath taken by MPs and peers
- The Privy Council Oath taken by Privy Counsellors (advisers to the King)
- The official oath taken by certain Ministers of the Crown and members of the Scottish and Welsh Governments
- The statutory Lord Chancellor’s Oath and non-statutory Law Officers’ oath
- The oath of allegiance taken by members of the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments
- The oath of allegiance taken, and pledge made, by new British citizens
- The oath of allegiance taken by Church of England clergy
- Homage made by bishops and archbishops
- The judicial oath taken by certain judges and other judicial office holders
- Declarations made by police constables in different parts of the UK
- The oath of allegiance taken by members of the Armed Forces
- Oaths taken in other Commonwealth realms, Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies
If any of the office holders listed above are unwilling to swear the oath, then by law they can instead make solemn affirmation.