I'm not a church regular but I do believe, says William as he defends his 'quiet faith'
The Prince of Wales has revealed his commitment to the Church of England and his 'quiet faith' in a move aimed at clarifying his role as future king and head of the Church.
William's devotion to the Christian faith has long been questioned as he is not a regular churchgoer nor as devout as his father, King Charles or the late Queen Elizabeth.
Now, days before he attends the Archbishop of Canterbury's enthronement, William has for the first time confirmed his wish to forge 'a strong and meaningful bond with the Church and its leadership'.
A source close to the prince 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 [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 seriously, in my own way.'
The Prince will attend the installation of Dame Sarah Mullally on Wednesday with the Princess of Wales, on behalf of the King.
It is protocol for the heir to attend, rather than the monarch.
The Prince of Wales has revealed his commitment to the Church of England and his 'quiet faith'. His devotion to the Christian faith has long been questioned as he is not a regular churchgoer nor as devout as his father, King Charles or the late Queen Elizabeth
William enjoys attending services at significant times of the year, such as Christmas and Easter. Pictured: Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk
An aide to William said: '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.'
However, the prince, who was baptised as a baby and confirmed at the age of 14, was once reported to have been 'embarrassed by certain aspects' of religion.
Royal biographer Robert Hardman, writing in The Mail on Sunday in 2024, responded to speculation that the Princess of Wales's cancer diagnosis had prompted a split between the couple on the subject.
Kate, it was said, had become more interested in faith since her diagnosis that year.
But Hardman wrote that William was not likely to 'suddenly become a regular worshipper or feign enthusiasm for something that he does not feel personally'.
It comes after speculation that William could become the first British monarch in five centuries to break official ties with the Church of England by not taking on the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England when he eventually becomes king.
William greatly admires and respects the church and enjoys attending services at significant times of the year, such as Christmas and Easter.
William was confirmed into the Anglican faith in 1997, when he was 14. The revelation about William's quiet faith comes at a time when Christianity is already under threat from public apathy, particularly among the younger generation. Pictured: A young Prince William with his mother Diana and cousin Peter Philips on their way to an Easter service
But he feels he is no different to the average Briton in that he is not a regular worshipper.
And that has led to speculation as to whether he may consider not taking on the formal role that British monarchs have held since the time of Henry VIII.
Hardman previously wrote: 'In royal circles, it is no secret that he does not share the King's sense of the spiritual, let alone the late Queen's unshakeable devotion to the Anglican church.'
William, 41, was confirmed into the Anglican faith in 1997, when he was 14, but is understood to only attend a 'handful' of services each year, mainly connected with official engagements or on special occasions in the Christian calendar, as well as weddings and christenings.
The late Queen Elizabeth was a devout Christian, with a deep sense of religious duty, who attended church on a weekly basis.
King Charles, despite his interest in other faiths, particularly Islam, has always been a regular churchgoer.
The revelation about William comes at a time when Christianity is already under threat from public apathy, particularly among the younger generation.
UK church membership has plummeted from around 30 per cent of the population a generation ago, a recent Church Statistics report found.
