King Charles Accused of ‘Deserting Christians’

King Charles is facing a fresh royal firestorm after critics accused him of watering down the monarchy’s Christian identity — and some experts are now warning Prince William could go even further when he takes the throne.

The controversy erupted after new wording appeared in the Sovereign Grant Annual Report, replacing the historic phrase “Defender of the Faith” with language describing Charles as the “Supreme Governor of the Church of England” who “protects the space for Faith within the multi-faith nation.”

That seemingly small change has sparked a surprisingly fierce backlash.

Gavin Ashenden, a former chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II, accused the king of “deserting Christians” and abandoning the traditional role he swore to uphold.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said the wording has caused “considerable controversy” and argued there was no need to remove the centuries-old title.

He said officials could have simply kept “Defender of the Faith” while adding language acknowledging modern Britain’s many religions.

Instead, Fitzwilliams blasted the new phrase as “weak and woke,” saying it did little to strengthen the king’s position as head of the Church of England.

The dispute highlights a dramatic difference between Charles and his late mother.

Queen Elizabeth II was famously devoted to her Christian faith throughout her 70-year reign, while also publicly respecting Britain’s other religions.

Charles has taken a much broader approach.

Christopher Andersen, author of the royal biography “Kate!,” said Charles has long been fascinated by religions beyond Christianity, including Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.

That interest stretches back decades.

In 2001, then-Prince Charles famously joined Muslims at an East London mosque during Ramadan, taking part in the breaking of the fast.

According to Andersen, Charles believes no single religion has all the answers and sees himself as monarch of an increasingly diverse country.

That philosophy could explain why his reign has emphasized religious inclusion far more openly than his mother’s did.

But the bigger question may be what happens when Prince William becomes king.

Some royal watchers believe William could dramatically reshape — or even abandon — the monarch’s traditional “Defender of the Faith” role.

Andersen pointed to one revealing moment from William’s teenage years.

When William enrolled at Eton College in 1995, cameras captured him filling out paperwork that asked for his religion. According to Andersen, the future king looked to his father and asked what he should write.

Andersen believes that moment could offer a clue about William’s future relationship with the Church of England.

He suggested William and Princess Kate may eventually move to phase out the “Defender of the Faith” role altogether once they become king and queen.

Royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner also claimed William is far less interested in organized religion than his father.

Kate, however, may be a different story.

Turner said the Princess of Wales has remained a committed Christian and has reportedly deepened her faith following her cancer battle.

That could create an unusual dynamic when the couple eventually takes the throne.

For some experts, weakening the monarchy’s ties to Christianity would be a major mistake.

Fitzwilliams warned that the Church of England is already in a fragile position and argued the royal family should be careful not to distance itself further from the institution.

He recalled Queen Elizabeth’s description of the Church of England as an “umbrella” beneath which other religions could flourish.

Britain’s monarchy also remains unique among European royal families because its coronation ceremony is deeply rooted in Christian tradition.

Charles himself was crowned at Westminster Abbey in 2023 in a ceremony filled with centuries-old religious rituals, including his anointing and crowning by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

For now, Charles remains Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

But the uproar over just a few changed words has exposed a much bigger question hanging over the monarchy:

When William eventually becomes king, will one of the crown’s oldest religious traditions survive with him?