The King’s official job is to protect faith “within the multi-faith nation”, under a newly published palace definition of the monarch’s role.
The King, who is Supreme Governor of the Church of England, will “protect the space for Faith” under a redrafted job description from Buckingham Palace.
Published in the annual review of the Royal family’s finances, the Sovereign Grant report 2025-26, it changes the description of the King’s role as “Head of Nation” from last year, when he was the “Head of the Church of England and Defender of the Faith”.
This year it goes further to specify: “His Majesty is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and protects the space for Faith within the multi-faith nation.”
Before the King’s coronation, there was debate over whether the King would choose to be “Defender of Faith” in the plural, rather than “the Faith” as his Christian ancestors had been. In the event, he chose the traditional wording.
But he has made interfaith dialogue one of the cornerstones of his working life, both as Prince of Wales and now as King. He speaks regularly of the Abrahamic faiths and undertakes engagements with the Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Orthodox, and other religious communities in Britain and around the world. » | Hannah Furness | Royal Editor | Friday, June 26, 2026
When you try to be all things to all men, you are in danger of ending up being nothing to anyone!
When Queen Elizabeth II died, something great about this nation died with her.
This decision by the monarchy could well, in the long run, turn out to be yet another nail in its coffin!
The British monarchy is in a parlous state anyway, especially because of the scandal brought upon it by the former Prince Andrew, who is now known merely as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
We are supposed to be a democracy. Whether we are or not is, of course, very debatable indeed. As far as I am concerned, this country doesn’t measure up. Far too many things happen without the consent of the people. This decision by the monarchy is a case in point. What do the British people feel about this momentous decision to downgrade Christianity as the nation’s faith?
Moreover, with Islam growing apace in this country, and with Muslims’ rock-solid antipathy towards homosexuality, how long will it be before King Charles goes along with the harsh punishment of queers in this nation? Does the king envisage rubber-stamping such harsh and ludicrous punishments for two men or women loving each other?
King Charles needs to start living in the real world, hard though it would be for him to do so. He needs to understand one very important thing about Islam: there is no such thing as Islam-lite. When it comes to Islam, it’s the real deal, or nothing!
With all this going on at the top of the British establishment, maybe the time has come for the British people to start giving headspace to the idea that this country might well, one day, become a republic. It was 250 years ago that Americans rejected the British king. Maybe now, 250 years later, the time has come for the British themselves to do the same! — © Mark Alexander
