ACCORDING to a royal aide who was quoted widely last week, the Prince of Wales is keen to forge “a strong and meaningful” relationship with the Church.
Prince William has so far been hesitant about his religious beliefs, to the point at which many were beginning to assume that he did not have any. It is significant that he speaks of a relationship with the Church rather than of any personal conviction. Where the King is a regular churchgoer, William has always been more distant. Perhaps he was put off by Eton chapel.
The degree to which the reigning monarch is a genuine Christian believer is probably irrelevant, so long as he or she is prepared to accept that their function is primarily symbolic. We have had plenty of less than perfect monarchs, and probably some sceptical ones; but they have been prepared to stand for the nation in its Christian embodiment. They are, after all, anointed, as well as crowned, which gives them biblical, even messianic, overtones as “the Lord’s anointed”. This is expressed most poignantly in the Royal Maundy service, at which the Maundy gifts represent Christ’s washing of the disciples’ feet at the Last Supper.
Though something of royal mystique remains, there is a higher expectation today that members of the Royal Family will be “relatable”. Prince William seems to have decided that the time has come when he needs to make some positive Christian affirmation. After all, no one knows how long it will be before he is anointed and crowned.
“Vocation” is a slippery word at the best of times. Many of those called by God in the Bible have no great desire to be called. Yet, in the event, they do live out the will of God, one way or another. Our present-day culture deludes us into thinking that we can and should be whatever we wish to be. The reality is that we are shaped by our circumstances: the call to be who we are comes as much from without as within. It is heartening that Prince William — a reluctant prince, perhaps — now describes his faith as reflecting his “authentic self”.
The monarchy remains popular enough, at least for now, in spite of the scandals of the former Prince Andrew and the evident discontent of Prince Harry. I suspect that even harder than the vocation to kingship is that of being the “spare” heir. But the Christian gospel goes some way towards evening up the score. The party is prepared not for the obedient son, but for the prodigal. Our present King still provides for his wayward brother, and, perhaps, in time, Prince William will find a way to extend goodwill towards Harry and Meghan. That would be a royal, and a Christian, gesture. Let’s see.
