Prince William has sparked controversy with a somewhat lukewarm endorsement of the Church of England, which he will one day govern, after it was revealed he has a ‘quiet faith’.

However, if the Future King is in need of a spiritual boost, he need look no further for inspiration than his wife and sister-in-law Meghan Markle who have both leaned into their religious beliefs to manage some of life’s greatest obstacles.

The Princess of Wales reportedly used her faith as a tool while she navigated her cancer diagnosis, while King Charles also used his relationship with the church to manage his respective health battle.

Meanwhile, prior to meeting Prince Harry and converting into the Church of England, Meghan Markle, who was raised Protestant, would gather her Suits co-stars for a prayer circle before filming.

According to Meghan’s old school friend Ninaki Priddy, it was God who got the Duchess of Sussex through her ‘darkest moments’.

It comes as the Prince of Wales has revealed his commitment to the Church of England, despite not being a regular churchgoer.

Days before attending the Archbishop of Canterbury’s enthronement, William for the first time confirmed his wish to forge ‘a strong and meaningful bond with the Church and its leadership’.

While the British monarch is required to be an Anglican to serve as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, other members of the Firm are not bound to a particular religion.

1. Meghan Markle 

Raised as a protestant who attended a Catholic school, Meghan’s faith is said to be a key part of her life, with the Duchess even routinely gathering her Suits castmates for a ‘prayer circle’ before they began filming.  

‘She used to gather the cast and crew of Suits for a prayer circle before starting work,’ they claimed. ‘Her invocations on set were never about a specific theology.

‘Instead, she wanted to bring everyone together during moments of transition or difficulty.’

Writing in Finding Freedom, royal authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand reveal that although the Duchess’ family was not overly religious, she was raised with an ‘awareness of God’. 

Her mother, Doria Ragland, was brought up Protestant and her father Thomas Markle became a confirmed member of the Episcopal Church at the age of 14, but Meghan attended a Catholic school for educational reasons.

According to Thomas, Meghan was not christened as a child because he and Doria did not share the same faith.

While studying at Northwestern, one of Meghan’s best friends came from a Christian family and the pair would reportedly ‘often pray together while at school’.

Close friend Ninaki told Mr Scobie and Ms Durand: ‘Part of what helped Meghan get through this difficult time was her faith.

‘Her relationship with God and with her church is extremely important to her. That’s something most people do not know about her. It plays a central role in her life, as an individual, as a woman.’

In 2018, Meghan underwent a ‘beautiful’ baptism into the Church of England ahead of her royal wedding.

A further source claimed: ‘It’s prayer and conversations with God that have gotten her through the darkest moments.

‘That’s something that plays a significant role in her life and her relationship with Harry. The two have been on a journey of faith together.’

2. The Princess of Wales 

When Kate was diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, she reportedly turned more to her faith to manage her health battle and became ‘more interested’ in religion. 

The princess, who announced her diagnosis to the world in March 2024, was said to have become ‘rather more interested in questions of faith as a result of her condition’, according to royal author Robert Hardman. 

‘I would say that things are more hopeful there,’ one church-goer friend of the Waleses family told Mr Hardman in his book, King Charles III.

Meanwhile, according to royal expert Ian Pelham, her illness ‘strengthened Kate’s values with her Christian faith by talking to friends who have strong religious values’.

Mr Turner told Fox News Digital that these conversations had ‘impacted positively on her recovery’. 

‘It doesn’t surprise me that she is more interested in faith,” she said. “The power of faith can never be underestimated in overcoming challenging times and I hope [it] has given her immense solace,’ added Helena Chard. 

In line with her growing interest in religion, Kate has been pictured on occasion wearing a crucifix, including during a visit to Sandringham to view the floral tributes left following the death of the late Queen in 2022. 

She had worn the pendant on several occasions before, including in happier times at Trooping the Colour in 2019, which she attend with Prince William and their three children. 

The pendant features a diamond ‘bail’ – the part of the necklace that attaches a pendant to the chain.

3. The Prince of Wales 

For several years, there has been heightened speculation that William could be the first British monarch in five centuries to break official ties with the Church of England by not taking on the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England when he eventually becomes King. 

‘He (William) is a modern young man,’ a source previously told Mr Hardman. 

‘I think he gets embarrassed by certain aspects of ceremonial and religion.’

Meanwhile, a senior Palace figure said: ‘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.’

William, 41, was confirmed into the Anglican faith in 1997, when he was 14, but is understood to only attend a ‘handful’ of services each year, mainly connected with official engagements or on special occasions in the Christian calendar, as well as weddings and christenings.

However, ahead of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s enthronement, a source close to the prince recently told The Sunday Times that it is ‘really important’ to clarify William’s stance on religion.

They added: ‘His feeling is, ‘I might not be at church every day, but I believe in it, I want to support it, and this is an important aspect of my role and the next role, and I will take it seriously, in my own way.’

An aide to William said: ‘The Prince of Wales’s commitment to the Church of England is sometimes quieter than people expect, and for that reason it is not always fully understood.

‘Those who know him well recognise that his connection to the Church, and to the sense of duty that comes with it, runs deep and is grounded in something personal and sincere.’

4. King Charles

A regular churchgoer, King Charles has embraced his role as a modern monarch and spoken openly about his interest in other religions.

Despite holding the traditional title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Charles has presented himself as a ‘defender of all faiths’, and frequently hosted faith leaders and activists at Buckingham Palace. 

Before he was officially crowned, the royal delivered a speech in 2022 in which he emphasised the need to protect other religions, later addressing this directly during his coronation.

When the King’s Coronation arrived in May 2023, the event included a procession of faith leaders. 

In his first address to the nation upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II he spoke of his responsibility to the Church of England.

When he was diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, Charles too reportedly relied on his faith as a source of comfort.

Shortly after the news of his illness broke, the King was pictured walking to St Mary Magdalene Church for a Sunday service.

5. Queen Elizabeth II 

Throughout her life, Queen Elizabeth II held her Christian faith dear after first attending church with her parents, the Queen Mother and King George VI, as a child – and she once said her religion was ‘an inspiration and anchor’ during her reign.

The Monarch’s dedication to her religion no doubt helped her through some of the most difficult times in her life – particularly after the loss of her husband Prince Philip in April last year.

During her Christmas Day address to the nation in 2021, Her Majesty paid tribute to her late husband for his devotion to her and dedication to public service throughout his life.

Later in the speech, she spoke of how the story of Christ helped her, and many others around the world, appreciate new beginnings.

During 70 years of her reign, the Queen’s Christmas Day speeches invoked Biblical references to the story of the birth of Christ, as well as other stories including the Good Samaritan. 

As the world prepared to ring in the new Millennium in the year 2000, the Monarch used her Christmas Day address to honour the birth of Christ once more.

She said: ‘Today we are celebrating the fact that Jesus Christ was born 2,000 years ago; this is the true millennium anniversary.’

The monarch added: ‘For me, the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life.

‘I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example.’