A former Chaplain to the late Queen suggests that Prince William may not be allowed to abandon the Church of England, despite lacking signs of a vibrant Christian faith. Robert Hardman, author of “The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy,” speculates in his book that William might not follow his father’s and grandmother’s path to become the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
Dr. Gavin Ashenden, the former Chaplain to The Queen, acknowledges the speculation but emphasizes the complexity of constitutional arrangements and the difficulty of disestablishing the Church of England. Ashenden suggests that William either accepts the role as part of the monarchy’s burden or steps aside, acknowledging the discomfort the prince appears to have with Christianity.
Ashenden notes that unpicking the present arrangements would be resource-intensive and complex, proposing that a referendum for a republic might be a simpler solution. However, he highlights that William’s discomfort with Christianity is reflective of a broader trend in Europe but expresses his belief that not knowing one’s purpose as a human being is not a virtue. The Supreme Governor title has been associated with British monarchs since King Henry VIII’s break from the Roman Catholic Church in the 1530s.
