The Prince and Princess of Wales have been at Canterbury Cathedral today to attend the enthronement of the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally – the first woman to take on the role
The Prince and Princess of Wales have attended the historic enthronement of the new Archbishop of Canterbury today. The couple, on behalf of the King, joined a 2,000-strong congregation this afternoon at Canterbury Cathedral to see Dame Sarah Mullally installed as the first-ever female to become the most senior archbishop in the Church of England.
It is customary for the heir to the throne to be at the installation rather than the monarch. On arrival, William and Kate, wearing a Suzannah grey coat and a large Juliette Botterill hat that she held on to in windy weather, were greeted at the doors of the cathedral by Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Lady Colgrain.
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They then were greeted by the Dean of Canterbury, Very Reverend David Monteith, and introduced to members of the cathedral’s clergy. As the congregation, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer stood, the Waleses processed side-by-side through the Nave to their front row seats in the Quire, while a royal fanfare sounded. William and Kate have no active role in the service, but watched as members of the congregation.
The ceremony features a mandate – a legal instruction – from the King, which will be read by Principal Registrar of the Province of Canterbury, Darren Oliver, giving the monarch’s instruction to install Dame Sarah Mullally as the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Before her enthronement, on Sunday, the new Archbishop arrived at Canterbury Cathedral following a 87-mile pilgrimage ahead of her installation. As well as being the first woman to hold the role, Dame Sarah is the first Archbishop of Canterbury in modern history to undertake the pilgrimage.
Alongside her husband Eamonn, she set off from St Paul’s Cathedral in London last Tuesday afternoon, enjoying mild weather and bright sunshine for the first steps of her journey to Canterbury Cathedral.
Before William and Kate’s attendance at the ceremony today, the Prince of Wales hoped he could “draw a line in the sand” when it comes to questions about his faith.
Unlike the King or his late grandmother Elizabeth II, William, 43, is not known to be a regular churchgoer or a devout Christian. It had led to questions about his personal faith, especially as he will be Supreme Governor of the Church of England and known as ‘Defender of the Faith’ when he becomes King.
There had also been speculation that William may consider not taking on the formal role held by the country’s monarchs since Henry VIII. However, sources close to the future King have spoken out about his “quiet faith” and “commitment to the Church of England”.
One told The Sunday Times: “This week is an opportunity to be very clear in people’s minds, when he walks into Canterbury Cathedral, of where he stands. For him, it is a drawing of a line in the sand of where he’s at, and it’s really important that it [the question over his commitment to the Church] is cleared up.
“His feeling is, ‘I might not be at church every day, but I believe in it, I want to support it and this is an important aspect of my role and the next role, and I will take it very seriously, in my own way’.”
William was baptised at just six weeks old and had his confirmation aged 14 – just weeks before the untimely death of his mother, Princess Diana in 1997.
An aide to the Prince of Wales added: “The Prince of Wales’s commitment to the Church of England is sometimes quieter than people expect, and for that reason it is not always fully understood.
“Those who know him well recognise that his connection to the Church, and to the sense of duty that comes with it, runs deep and is grounded in something personal and sincere. Faith, service and responsibility are themes that have long shaped the role he will one day inherit, and they are things he approaches in his own thoughtful way.”
William and his wife Kate have already met the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah, 63, when they had an audience with her at Lambeth Palace last month.
At the time, it was understood the visit reflected the importance the prince and princess place on faith and that the couple want to build a strong working relationship with the senior cleric, who like William is an Aston Villa fan. Dame Sarah replaced the Right Rev Justin Welby, who resigned in November 2024 after 11 years in the job.
A source close to Dame Sarah said: “We would love the (future) supreme governor to be at church every Sunday, but one has to be practical around the fact that they are a couple with young children.”
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