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· collected 2026-08-19 · by Stephanie Nolasco, Brie Stimson, Ashley Papa
Gavin Ashenden, Queen Elizabeth's former chaplain, has accused King Charles III of abandoning his role as "Defender of the Faith" by omitting it from this year's Sovereign Grant Annual Report. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams says the change in wording has caused controversy and would have been better handled differently. Author Christopher Andersen notes that Charles has long had an ecumenical streak, but Queen Elizabeth remained committed to her Christian beliefs until her death. Meanwhile, experts suggest that Prince William may follow his father's lead and potentially abandon the historic royal role of "Defender of the Faith" when he inherits the throne.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
King Charles III has been accused by Queen Elizabeth's former chaplain, Gavin Ashenden, of abandoning his role as "Defender of the Faith" and deserting Christians. This criticism comes after Charles replaced "Defender of the Faith" with "His Majesty is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and protects the space for Faith within the multi-faith nation" in this year's Sovereign Grant Annual Report, which was released in June. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams agrees that the change has caused controversy, saying it would have been better to leave "Defender of the Faith" in and add a phrase recognizing Britain as multi-faith. Meanwhile, Christopher Andersen notes that Charles has always had an interest in ecumenicalism, dating back to his student days at Cambridge University in the 1970s. The change is seen as significant because it marks a shift away from emphasizing Christianity specifically and towards a more inclusive approach to faith in Britain.
Written for “Prince of Wales succession plans” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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stored, so you can find it in the original.
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protects the space for Faith within the multi-faith nation
right weak and woke phrase
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no one religion has all the answers
right endorsement of ecumenism
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If he is going to have a big-tent reign, then he can't leave non-Christians standing out in the cold — he's going to have to let Muslims and Hindus and Jews and Buddhists inside.
right endorsement of inclusivity
Leaning score +0.75 for article 1177 (high confidence, 3 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-24
King Charles III was criticized by Queen Elizabeth’s former chaplain, Gavin Ashenden, recently, who claimed the monarch is "deserting Christians" and abandoned his oath as "Defender of the Faith."
asserted
monarch → criticize → Faith
This came after "Defender of the Faith" was replaced in this year’s Sovereign Grant Annual Report in June with "His Majesty is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and protects the space for Faith within the multi-faith nation."
asserted
Majesty → come → nation
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital the "new wording" has "caused considerable controversy."
asserted
wording → tell → controversy
He added that it would have been better to leave "‘Defender of the Faith’ in the text after ‘Supreme Governor of the Church of England’ and then add a phrase that recognised Britain as multi-faith which should be included.
asserted
which → add → Britain
Whoever wrote ‘protects the space for Faith within the multi-faith nation’ is no credit to the English language as this phrase is both weak and woke."
asserted
phrase → write → language
"Whoever wrote ‘protects the space for Faith within the multi-faith nation’ is no credit to the English language as this phrase is both weak and woke."
asserted
phrase → write → language
Christopher Andersen, author of the new biography "Kate!" noted that Charles has always had a "powerful ecumenical streak."
"As far back as his student days at Cambridge, Charles in the 1970s was showing a strong interest in what eastern religions had to offer, particularly Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism," he said.
And while Elizabeth was "very respectful" of other religions' customs, "she never wavered when it came to her Christian beliefs," he said.
asserted
he → note → beliefs
Andersen explained, "Charles is just a different sort of animal.
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Charles → explain → animal
The current king has long believed that no one religion has all the answers.
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religion → believe → answers
He also knows that if he is going to have a big-tent reign, then he can't leave non-Christians standing out in the cold — he's going to have to let Muslims and Hindus and Jews and Buddhists inside.
asserted
he → know → Muslims
"
And it’s not just Charles, he noted.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
"The new generation of royals isn't quite so sure about how to react to the whole ‘Defender of the Faith’ thing," Andersen said.
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Andersen → react → thing
"A particularly telling moment came when William enrolled at Eton College in 1995."
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William → come → 1995
With cameras rolling, William sat at a desk filling out enrollment papers.
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William → roll → papers
"When it came time to fill out the space marked ‘Religion,’ the future Head of the Church of England looked up at his father quizzically and asked what he should put down," Andersen emphasized.
asserted
Andersen → come → what
"If that is any indication, it is obvious that once they are king and queen, William and Kate will in all likelihood move to phase out the Defender of the Faith role altogether."
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William → move → role
Royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner called Charles a "deep thinker when it comes to religion, adding that "William is not interested in the church whilst Catherine has been a staunch Christian especially renewing her beliefs more recently during her cancer diagnosis."
Fitzwilliams, however, stressed that the Church of England shouldn’t be weakened any further.
"
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Church → call → England
Queen Elizabeth memorably compared the Church of England to an umbrella under which other faiths could flourish," he said.
uncertain
he → compare → which
It is emphatically not in the royal family's interest, especially as we are the only monarchy in Europe to have a Coronation, to weaken it further."
asserted
we → have → it
