Prince William to ‘draw a line in the sand’ on questions over his commitment to Church of England
Prince William is restoring his commitment to the Church of England and his “quieter” approach to faith ahead of his future role as King.
The Prince of Wales is set to attend the enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury this week and met Dame Sarah Mullally for tea in a bid to “draw a line in the sand” on the issue.
His father was King Charles II and the late Queen Elizabeth II. Unlike Elizabeth, the 43-year-old man does not attend church regularly and mostly attends family and official events, an aide tells. Sunday Times He said he was eager to “establish a strong and meaningful connection” with the church before becoming supreme governor.
An aide to William told the newspaper: “The Prince of Wales’s commitment to the Church of England is sometimes quieter than people expect and so is not always fully understood.
“Those who know him well know that his connection to the Church and the sense of duty that comes with it is deep and rooted in something personal and intimate. Faith, service and responsibility are themes that have long shaped the role he will one day take on, and they are things he approaches with his own thoughtful approach.”
“He understands that at a time when institutions can only be viewed from a social or cultural perspective, the Church’s role goes beyond that. It is not only part of the nation’s heritage, but also a living expression of faith based on prayer, compassion, and faith in grace and salvation.”
The aide added that the prince plans to approach the relationship as his “true self” and understands the role he will inherit from his father.
A source close to the prince said: “This week, when he walks into Canterbury Cathedral, is an opportunity to make it very clear in people’s minds where he stands. For him, it’s a line being drawn in the sand of where he stands, and that’s really important.” [the question over his commitment to the Church] cleared.
“His feeling is, ‘I may not be at church every day, but I believe in it, I want to support it, and that’s an important aspect of me and my next role, and I’m going to take it very seriously in my own way.'”
Prince William was baptized at six weeks old and baptized at 14 but failed to establish a significant relationship with Lambeth Palace.
But former NHS chief nursing officer Dame Mullally offered the future king a new opportunity, believing the pair had bonded over their mutual support of the Aston Villa football team.
Both he and the Princess of Wales met with the new Archbishop last month and discussed the role of the church over tea and cake.
A royal aide said: “The Prince recently had a warm and meaningful conversation with the new archbishop, which reflects his genuine interest not only in the work of the Church but also in his role as guardian of a distinct and ancient British spiritual tradition that remains relevant to contemporary life.”
A source close to Dame Mullally said she was “delighted” that the Welsh would be taking part in her installation and that the relationship that had developed was “wonderful”.
We would love to [future] The source said the high prefect should be in church every Sunday, but had to be practical about the fact that they were a couple with young children.
