The Prince of Wales is regarded as contemplating whether or not turning into King mechanically requires him to turn into Supreme Governor of the Church.
It’s a formal position that monarchs have held because the time of Henry VIII.
The query was raised in a brand new biography of King Charles by Robert Hardman who writes: “It’s no secret that [William] doesn’t share the King’s sense of the non secular, not to mention the late Queen’s unshakeable devotion to the Anglican church.”
A Palace supply provides: “He doesn’t go to church each Sunday, however then nor do the massive majority of the nation. He would possibly go at Christmas and Easter however that’s it.
“He very a lot respects the establishments however he isn’t instinctively snug in a religion setting.”
William, 41, was confirmed into the Anglican religion when he was 14. The late Queen was a religious Christian, with a deep sense of non secular obligation, who attended church on a weekly foundation.
King Charles has at all times been a common churchgoer.
The revelation about William comes at a time when church membership has plummeted from round 30% of the inhabitants a technology in the past, a current Church Statistics report discovered.
If figures hold falling membership is anticipated to hit simply 8.4% by subsequent 12 months.
In 2022 the common weekly church attendance at Church of England providers was 654,000, a drop of 228,000 folks since 2009.
The sovereign holds the title “Defender of the Religion and Supreme Governor of the Church of England”.
In his coronation oath William – and his son George after him – could be anticipated to swear to take care of the Church.
The brand new e book additionally reveals that William already has plans for his personal coronation which he intends to final round an hour and 10 minutes.
In response to an aide, William is more likely to favour a “critical and pragmatic” method. He’s additionally unlikely to make “numerous speeches” and is instinctively cautious of wading into controversy.
If there may be one factor more likely to irritate King Charles, Hardman writes, it’s royal watchers claiming he will likely be a “caretaker King” till Prince William takes over.
Queen Camilla’s sister, Annabel Elliott, says: “I don’t see that in any respect, understanding we’ll see fairly just a few adjustments.”
