The British monarch is now described rather as a protector of the “multi-faith nation,” according to a new royal report
Buckingham Palace has dropped “Defender of the Faith” from King Charles’ official job description, swapping the 500-year-old title for a vaguer pledge to safeguard religion across Britain’s “multi-faith nation,” according to the UK’s annual royal finance report.
The Sovereign Grant report for 2025-2026, released on Friday, stipulates that “His Majesty is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and protects the space for Faith within the multi-faith nation.” The wording, however, differs significantly from last year’s version describing Charles as “Head of the Church of England and Defender of the Faith.” The title, however, remains on the royal family website.
The phrase “Defender of the Faith” dates back to 1521, when Pope Leo X granted it to Henry VIII after the king positioned himself as a staunch opponent of Martin Luther’s Reformation.
The change revives a debate that has trailed Charles for three decades. As Prince of Wales in 1994, he suggested that he would rather be “defender of faith” than “defender of the Faith,” indicating he wanted to represent all religions, not just Christianity.
During his coronation in 2023, he did not change the oath in this regard, but the preface of the vow said that the Church of England “will seek to foster an environment where people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely.”
Religious messaging previously put Charles in hot water after he recorded a Ramadan greeting to British Muslims in February but would not deliver a personal Easter message, drawing accusations from Christian commentators that he was sidelining the church he formally leads. Following backlash, the royal family’s social media account posted a brief “Happy Easter” message, though Charles never made a personal address.
For comparison, Queen Elizabeth II never recorded a Ramadan message and issued only one dedicated Easter message during her rule – at the time of the 2020 Covid lockdown. She also traditionally recorded Christmas messages which mentioned other faiths beyond Christianity.
The latest amendment comes after an Ipsos poll last week put support for the monarchy at 55%, the lowest figure in decades, and down from a peak of 80% in 2012.
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