Charlie not my darling

I wish the Prince of Wales a happy 60th birthday but note with alarm this report from The Christian Institute.

'Prince Charles will embrace ‘multiculturalism’ when he becomes King by dropping “the” from the historic title “Defender of the Faith”, press reports say.

The title has been given to each English monarch since Henry VIII in 1521. Although it was first given by the Pope, it quickly developed to reflect the monarch’s status as Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

Several years ago the Prince of Wales controversially floated the idea of taking the title “Defender of the Faiths [plural]” but according to reports in today’s press has now settled on “Defender of Faith”.

A senior source told the Daily Telegraph: “There have been lots of discussions. He would like to be known as the Defender of Faith which is a subtle but hugely symbolic shift.” '

I write as a strong monarchist and convinced antidisestablishmentarian. I do not see anything subtle or merely symbolic in this proposed change of title. If accepted it means the end of the establishment of the Church of England. The next monarch will not be swearing to uphold and defend reformed Protestant Christianity as the true faith. Defender of Faith is as meaningful as defender of hope or of love. It means nothing at all unless the object of the faith concerned is specified. Charles is clearly stating he does not believe that the Christian faith is true in any exclusive sense. If he is saying he is not qualified to be Defender of the Faith, I am left wondering if he is qualified to be king.

Now to those who have doubted his fitness to be king, I have always argued he fulfils the only two constitutional requirements. He is the legitimate eldest son of the monarch. He is not Roman Catholic. But being Supreme Governor of the Church of England is part of the package deal that is our monarchy. If Charles only wants part of the package, do I want him as king? Would half a loaf of monarchy be better than no bread? Our present constitutional settlement has lasted 320 years to date. I fear it may not outlast our present Queen.

God save the Queen!