The Prince of Wales is set to reaffirm his commitment to the Church of England ahead of his future role as King, with aides describing his faith as 'quieter' but deeply personal. William will attend the enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury this week, marking a significant step in strengthening his ties to the Church.
Unlike his father, King Charles, and the late Queen Elizabeth II, the 43-year-old is not a regular churchgoer, attending mostly on family and formal occasions. An aide told The Sunday Times that William is keen to 'build a strong and meaningful bond' with the Church before becoming its supreme governor.
A source close to the prince said: '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.' The source added that William feels, '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.'
William has met with the new Archbishop, Dame Sarah Mullally, and the Princess of Wales, discussing the Church’s role over tea and cake. The two have reportedly bonded over their mutual support for Aston Villa football club. A royal aide noted that William's conversation with the archbishop reflected his 'genuine interest' in the Church as a 'guardian of a distinctive and ancient English spiritual tradition.'
