Prince and Princess of Wales attend historic enthronement

The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the historic enthronement of the new Archbishop of Canterbury. 

Following the resignation of the previous Archbishop, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Elisabeth Mullally DBE was appointed as the new senior church figure and later elected by the College of Canons in 2025. A date was set for the following spring for a service which would formally begin her ministry.

Speaking to the BBC this week, Dame Sarah said,

I am going to be the Archbishop because of the experiences that I have had, whether as a nurse or as a priest or as a bishop. And I continue to make my commitment to do all I can to ensure that the Church becomes safer.

On Wednesday, the Anglican Church gathered for a historic service which would see the first woman holding the role of most senior cleric in the Church’s 1,400-year history installed, formally known as an enthronement, with the presence of the British heir to the throne. It has been customary for the heir to attend the significant ceremony which affirms the new Archbishop as one of the only two Primates of All England.

The day started with around 2,000 people in the congregation filling one of the oldest churches in the land, with at least 32 provinces (member churches) of the Anglican Communion represented. The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and the Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch, were in attendance, alongside other leading figures from the Government and Parliament. Representatives from the Holy See, as well as leaders of the Roman Catholic Church across the British Isles, the Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches, and other major Christian denominations, were also present.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were tasked with representing King Charles at the service, who himself serves as Supreme Governor of the Church of England. William and Catherine, who recently met with Dame Sarah last month in what was described as “building a strong working relationship”, arrived in front of the West Door and were greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Lady Colgrain. The Princess was dressed in a grey coat from Suzannah paired with a wide-brimmed hat by Juliette Botterill.

Once inside, the Prince and Princess greeted the assembled clergy who awaited their arrival. A Royal Fanfare was then sounded by the Onyx Brass as the Dean and Lord Lieutenant escorted the royal couple down the aisle and to their seats. They were the very last to arrive, and proceedings began shortly after.

Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

The service saw Dame Sarah, who was wearing the cope (outer cloak) and mitre, which were previously commissioned when she was first consecrated as a Bishop, using her pastoral staff to hit the West Door three times in a tradition that makes the incoming Archbishop seek permission to enter. The service also included a “mandate” from King Charles, read by the Principal Registrar of the Province of Canterbury, which is the monarch’s legal instruction to install Dame Sarah as the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

Following hymns and readings, Dame Sarah was then “enthroned” first as Archbishop of Canterbury in the Quire and then in the ancient chair of Saint Augustine, as a sign of her role as Primate of All England and ‘primus inter pares’ (first among equals) of the Anglican Communion. After being enthroned in the Chair of Saint Augustine, Archbishop Sarah was presented with a Compass Rose, the symbol of the Anglican Communion, by the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Right Reverend Anthony Poggo. The new Archbishop was also presented with the pastoral ring given to Archbishop Michael Ramsey by Pope Paul VI in 1966, and has been specially fitted for her by the Crown Jeweller.

Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

At the conclusion of the service, the Archbishop paid homage to the Prince and Princess with a bow as the royal couple then joined her in the departing procession. Before leaving, William and Catherine had the opportunity to speak with the senior cleric, who then walked through the Christ Church Gate and prayed a joint blessing on the city and the diocese.