The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the ceremony for Dame Sarah Mullally’s installation as Archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral in Kent today.

Prince William, aged 43, represented the King at the event, following a modern tradition.

In the Church of England, the monarch, as Supreme Governor, typically delegates this responsibility to the heir.

Princess Kate donned a long, tailored grey coat by Suzannah and struggled to keep her wide-brimmed Juliette Botterill hat in place due to the gusty weather. The couple was welcomed at the West Door by Lady Colgrain, the Lord Lieutenant of Kent.

As Dame Sarah Mullally was officially enthroned, the Waleses joined the 2,000 attendees in applause, smiling and clapping along with the congregation during the historic service.

Though they had no formal duties in the ceremony, William and Kate attentively listened to the new Archbishop’s inaugural sermon, in which she expressed her aspirations 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’.

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive for the start of the ceremony today 

The Prince and Princess of Wales are pictured during the ceremony to install Dame Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during the Enthronement Ceremony installing Dame Sarah Mullally

The Princess of Wales had to hold her hat again when she left the cathedral as the wind almost lifted it off her head

Heir to the throne William has not been known for his Christian beliefs and is not a regular churchgoer, but will one day be crowned and anointed in holy oil – ‘the conferment of God’s grace upon a ruler’ – as monarch at his coronation.

Three days ahead of Dame Sarah’s installation, an aide to the 43-year-old prince sought to draw a line under debate on William’s stance on religion by saying he had a ‘quieter’ commitment to the Church of England.

The aide added: ‘He understands the importance of the role he will inherit and is committed to carrying it forward with sincerity, authenticity and a clear sense of purpose.’

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.

Dame Sarah Mullally speaks during the Enthronement Ceremony installing her as the 106th Archbishop

Dr David Monteith (front) leads the Prince and Princess of Wales as they arrive for the Enthronement Ceremony

Kate wore a long grey fitted Suzannah coat and a wide-brimmed Juliette Botterill hat

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 gave a small curtsey to Kate and was seen laughing as she responded to remarks made by William.

At one point, Dame Sarah placed her hand on her heart as she continued talking to the couple.

Dame Sarah Mullally is pictured seated in the Chair of St Augustine

Members of the clergy arrive for the Enthronement Ceremony installing Dame Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury

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

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.

The Primates of the Anglican Communion arrive ahead of the Enthronement Ceremony

The Prince and Princess will take a few moments to speak to the new Archbishop on their way out

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.