Prince and Princess of Wales take part in historic ceremony to enthrone the first female Archbishop of Canterbury

The Prince and Princess of Wales are today attending the installation of Dame Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral in Kent.

William, 43, took part in his role as heir to the throne, according to recent tradition. 

The monarch, who is Supreme Governor of the Church of England, delegates the duty to their successor.

Kate, in a long grey fitted Suzannah coat, held onto her wide-brimmed Juliette Botterill hat amid windy weather as she and the prince were greeted outside the West Door by Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Lady Colgrain. 

The Waleses smiled and clapped along with the 2,000-strong congregation as those gathered for the historic service erupted with applause after Dame Sarah Mullally was formally enthroned.

William and Kate, who had no active role in the ceremony, listened to the first sermon by the new Archbishop, in which she spoke of her hopes for peace in the Middle East. 

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’.

While the King is head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior bishop and the spiritual leader of the Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The ceremony also featured a mandate – a legal instruction – from the King, which will be 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.

She is the first woman to be appointed Archbishop in the role’s 1,400 year history, and today’s service is her formal installation. 

Dame Sarah is the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.

William and Catherine previously met her at Lambeth Palace on February 5 and have since indicated their interest in building a warm and meaningful relationship with the most senior bishop in the church and its spiritual leader.

Upon arrival, Their Royal Highnesses were received by the Lord Lieutenant, Lady Colgrain, who then introduced them to the Dean of Canterbury, the Very Reverend Dr David Monteith.

The congregation, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, stood while the Waleses processed side-by-side through the nave to their seats in the quire, as a royal fanfare sounded.

William appeared to particularly enjoy the performance by the African Choir of Norfolk who sang and danced through the cathedral, singing the joyful acclamation Muhona in their brightly coloured dresses, with the prince smiling as the singers entered the quire.

The Prince and Princess of Wales took a few moments to speak to the new Archbishop on their way out.

Dame Sarah was welcomed into Canterbury Cathedral, amid fanfare, by schoolchildren from John Wallis Academy in Ashford.

Having walked to the Cathedral’s West Door, she knocked it three times using her pastoral staff – the traditional way for a new archbishop to seek permission to enter.

She was questioned by the schoolchildren as to why she had been sent, to which she answered: ‘I am sent as Archbishop to serve you, to proclaim the love of Christ and with you to worship and love him with heart and soul, mind and strength.’

During the ceremony, Dame Sarah placed her hand on the St John’s Bible to swear the Corporal Oath – the first time this Bible has been used in this way.

The copy of the first Benedictine hand-illuminated Bible for more than 500 years was given to the cathedral in 2023.

The Augustine Gospels, which were used between 1945 and 2013, when the last archbishop was sworn in, are said to be fragile and not easily moved.

Dame Sarah said she was ‘delighted to be with you today’ as she gave her first sermon in the role.

She told a congregation of around 2,000 people at Canterbury Cathedral: ‘Over the last week I have walked the ancient pilgrim path from St Paul’s Cathedral in London to Canterbury Cathedral.

‘Each day my heart and spirits were lifted immeasurably by the people – young and old – we encountered, even though my aching feet and limbs tell a different story.

‘As I have walked, I have been aware that I make this journey both on a personal level – as my ministry moves from being the Bishop of London to the Archbishop of Canterbury – but more significantly, I make this journey with others and in the footsteps of the past.’

Dame Sarah undertook a six-day pilgrimage by foot from London to Canterbury in preparation for her role, arriving in the Kent city on Sunday.

Crowds gathered outside the cathedral ahead of the service, with one person saying they were keen to ‘see this brilliant moment in history’.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch are also among guests in the 2,000-strong congregation inside.

Sir Keir, speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, described the position as a ‘key role in our national life’ and said he wished the new archbishop ‘every success’.

Dame Sarah said she is aware of the ‘significance of being the first female archbishop’ and paid tribute to the ‘women that have supported me in my ministry, and also the men as well’.

Wednesday’s ceremony has ‘women’s voices right the way through it’, she added.

She said: ‘There’s something about celebrating women, but also being able to say to other people, in a sense, it’s entirely possible for you to follow your dreams and what you want to do.’

Special features include five of the so-called ‘Africa Six’ – the first female Anglican bishops from across Africa – processing through the Cathedral’s nave in their robes.

And, in celebration of the contribution of female scholars, musicians and writers through the years to the Church, choral music will range from the Renaissance to contemporary, including the anthem All Shall Be Well by British composer Joanna Marsh.