Has King Charles quietly redefined one of the monarchy's oldest Christian responsibilities?
A growing controversy is unfolding after former royal chaplain Gavin Ashenden publicly accused the monarch of betraying both his Christian faith and his coronation vows following a subtle but significant change in how the King's religious role is officially described.
According to the latest Sovereign Grant Report, King Charles is now described as the "Supreme Governor of the Church of England" who "protects the space for Faith within the multi-faith nation." The updated wording replaces the previous emphasis on the monarch as "Head of the Church of England and Defender of the Faith."
While the historic title Defender of the Faith remains intact from Charles' 2023 coronation, the revised language has reignited a long-running debate about the King's vision for a religiously diverse Britain.
Ashenden, who served as chaplain to the late Queen Elizabeth II from 2008 to 2017, did not hold back.
Writing on Substack, he described the shift as "a betrayal of his office, of his Christian faith, and that of his subjects," arguing that placing all religions on an equal footing undermines the unique claims of Jesus Christ and the Gospel.
Ashenden further warned that treating all faiths as equally valid represents "an assault against the authority of Jesus" and is incompatible with historic Christian teaching.
The criticism carries particular weight because Ashenden once served inside the royal household before resigning in 2017 to speak more freely on matters of faith. He later left the Church of England and was received into the Catholic Church in 2019.
The debate also revives comments King Charles made years before becoming king, when he suggested he preferred to be seen as a defender of faith in general rather than exclusively of the Christian faith-a position that generated controversy long before his accession to the throne.
With the Church of England continuing to wrestle with questions of identity in an increasingly pluralistic society, the King's evolving approach to religion is likely to remain under close scrutiny from both supporters and critics.
