The Prince and Princess of Wales have been at Canterbury Cathedral today to attend the enthronement of the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally – the first woman to take on the role
15:18, 25 Mar 2026Updated 17:27, 25 Mar 2026
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at Canterbury Cathedral today (Image: PA)
The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the historic enthronement of the new Archbishop of Canterbury today. The couple, on behalf of the King, joined a 2,000-strong congregation this afternoon at Canterbury Cathedral to see Dame Sarah Mullally installed as the first-ever female to become the most senior archbishop in the Church of England.
It is customary for the heir to the throne to be at the installation rather than the monarch. On arrival, William and Kate, wearing a Suzannah grey coat and a large Juliette Botterill hat that she held on to in windy weather, were greeted at the doors of the cathedral by Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Lady Colgrain.
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The Prince and Princess of Wales at Canterbury Cathedral today for the enthronement of the new Archbishop of Canterbury(Image: PA)
They then were greeted by the Dean of Canterbury, the Very Reverend David Monteith, and introduced to members of the cathedral’s clergy. As the congregation, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer stood, the Waleses processed side-by-side through the Nave to their front row seats in the Quire, while a royal fanfare sounded.
The Archbishop – who was a nurse before becoming ordained – also invited NHS nurses and carers working in hospitals and hospices in Canterbury to the ceremony. William and Kate had no active role in the service, but watched as members of the congregation.
When Dame Sarah was formally enthroned, applause erupted among the congregation as she smiled broadly. She was first placed into the Bishop’s Chair, which dates from 1844, and marked her installation as Archbishop of Canterbury.
She was then installed in the ancient Chair of St Augustine – dating from the early 13th century, symbolising her wider ministry across the Anglican Communion. She said: “I solemnly commit myself before you to the service of the Church of England, the Anglican Communion and the whole Church of Christ throughout the world, that together we may proclaim the Gospel of Christ who reconciles us to God and breaks down the walls that divide us.”
The couple had no active role in today’s ceremony (Image: PA)
The ceremony also featured a mandate – a legal instruction – from the King, which was read by Principal Registrar of the Province of Canterbury, Darren Oliver, giving the monarch’s instruction to install Dame Sarah as the Archbishop of Canterbury.
In her first sermon as the first woman to hold the high office of Archbishop of Canterbury in its 1,400-year history, she spoke of her hopes for peace in the Middle East.
She said: “We pray for them without ceasing, and for all those in war-torn areas of the world – in Ukraine, in Sudan, and Myanmar, that they would know God’s presence with them, just as we pray for peace to prevail.”
She also acknowledged failures on safeguarding in the church, referencing “victims and survivors” and the “pain experienced” by those harmed by “actions, inactions, and failures of those in our own Christian churches and communities”. Dame Sarah replaced the last Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, after he announced his resignation in November 2024 over failures in handling an abuse scandal.
Dame Sarah Mullally, the new Archbishop of Canterbury (Image: PA)
She then urged the congregation to visit a church, telling them: “Maybe as you are listening to me, you are thinking about your own journey. Perhaps it’s smooth, perhaps it’s hard.
“Knowing God is with you on the journey makes all the difference. I encourage you to visit a church – for a quiet prayer or for a conversation. If you want to talk, you will be heard.”
While Dame Sarah’s appointment has been welcomed by many, she has also recognised that there is not universal support for women bishops, and has pledged to “create a space where there is difference”.
She previously promised to speak out on misogyny – something she said she had experienced herself and which she said must be spoken about “so that you bring it out into the open”.
Dame Sarah is the first female Archbishop of Canterbury(Image: Getty Images)
As Dame Sarah made her way out of the cathedral, she stopped in front of the Prince and Princess of Wales and bowed her head to them as she processed through Canterbury cathedral after her enthronement. A smiling William nodded in return as he joined the congregation in applauding the new archbishop. Kate smiled broadly and clapped, and also gave a slight nod of her head.
Before her enthronement, on Sunday, the new Archbishop arrived at Canterbury Cathedral following a 87-mile pilgrimage ahead of her installation. As well as being the first woman to hold the role, Dame Sarah is the first Archbishop of Canterbury in modern history to undertake the pilgrimage.
Alongside her husband Eamonn, she set off from St Paul’s Cathedral in London last Tuesday afternoon, enjoying mild weather and bright sunshine for the first steps of her journey to Canterbury Cathedral.
William and Kate chat to Dame Sarah after the ceremony (Image: Getty Images)
Before William and Kate’s attendance at the ceremony today, the Prince of Wales hoped he could “draw a line in the sand” when it comes to questions about his faith.
Unlike the King or his late grandmother Elizabeth II, William, 43, is not known to be a regular churchgoer or a devout Christian. It had led to questions about his personal faith, especially as he will be Supreme Governor of the Church of England and known as ‘Defender of the Faith’ when he becomes King.
There had also been speculation that William may consider not taking on the formal role held by the country’s monarchs since Henry VIII. However, sources close to the future King have spoken out about his “quiet faith” and “commitment to the Church of England”.
The royal couple watch a performance of the African Choir of Norfolk(Image: PA)
One 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 it [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 very seriously, in my own way’.”
William was baptised at just six weeks old and had his confirmation aged 14 – just weeks before the untimely death of his mother, Princess Diana in 1997.
Kate sings along with a hymn(Image: PA)
Kate wore a Suzannah grey coat and a large Juliette Botterill hat(Image: PA)
An aide to the Prince of Wales added: “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. Faith, service and responsibility are themes that have long shaped the role he will one day inherit, and they are things he approaches in his own thoughtful way.”
William and his wife Kate have already met the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah, 63, when they had an audience with her at Lambeth Palace last month.
Kate held on to her large hat in the windy weather (Image: AP)
At the time, it was understood the visit reflected the importance the prince and princess place on faith and that the couple want to build a strong working relationship with the senior cleric, who like William is an Aston Villa fan. Dame Sarah replaced the Right Rev Justin Welby, who resigned in November 2024 after 11 years in the job.
A source close to Dame Sarah said: “We would love the (future) supreme governor to be at church every Sunday, but one has to be practical around the fact that they are a couple with young children.”
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