Royal Letter - Letter Recommendatory for the See of Canterbury [2025-11-17]

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(Sgd.) Charles R

TRUSTY AND WELL-BELOVED We greet you well!

WHEREAS the Most Reverend Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Counsellor Justin Portal, by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan, did on the third day of December Two thousand and twenty-four, tender to Us his resignation of the Archbishopric of Canterbury:

AND WHEREAS, the said resignation having been duly received and accepted, in pursuance of the power conferred upon Us by Section 4 of the Bishops (Retirement) Measure 1986 We were pleased, by and with the advice of Our Privy Council, on the eighteenth day of December Two thousand and twenty-four to Declare the said Archbishopric of Canterbury to be vacant on and after the seventh day of January Two thousand and twenty-five:

AND WHEREAS the Archbishopric of Canterbury is now void:

Letter Recommendatory – Archbishopric of Canterbury

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WE LET YOU WEET that for certain considerations Us at this present moving We, of Our Princely Disposition and Zeal, being desirous to prefer unto the same Archbishopric a person meet thereunto, and considering the virtue, learning, wisdom, gravity and other good gifts wherewith the Right Reverend Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellor Dame Sarah Elisabeth Mullally, Dame Commander of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Master of Science, Master of Arts, Bishop of London, is endued, have been pleased to name and recommend her unto you to be elected and chosen into the said Archbishopric of Canterbury:

WHEREFORE We require you upon receipt hereof to proceed to your election according to the Laws and Statutes of this Our Realm and Our Congé d'Elire herewith sent you, and the same election so made to certify unto Us under your common seal.

GIVEN at Our Court at Saint James's
the 17^th day of November 2025;
In the fourth year of Our Reign

By His Majesty's Command
(Sgd.) David Lammy