Royal author Robert Hardman, in his upcoming book on King Charles III, questions Prince William's suitability for the position due to his perceived lack of spirituality. The tradition dictates that the King of England becomes the head of the country's Church, a practice dating back to King Henry VIII in the 1530s.
Hardman argues in an excerpt that Prince William "does not share the King’s sense of the spiritual, let alone the late Queen’s unshakeable devotion to the Anglican church." According to a senior palace figure cited by the biographer, "His father is very spiritual and happy to talk about faith, but the Prince is not. He doesn't go to church every Sunday, but then nor do the large majority of the country. He might go at Christmas and Easter, but that's it."
"He very much respects the institutions, but he is not instinctively comfortable in a faith environment," the figure added.
King Charles has openly expressed his devotion to faith in various speeches since assuming the throne. On the contrary, Prince William has refrained from discussing his beliefs publicly since emerging as the heir to the throne.
His last public appearance at a church was on Christmas Day, attending St. Mary Magdalene in Sandringham with his wife Kate Middleton and their three children. Consequently, should Prince William ascend to the throne, not upholding the title during his potential coronation is expected to be one of the notable changes he brings to his reign.
