Letters Patent - Mandate to the Knights, Freeholders, and Tenants of the Archbishopric of Canterbury [2026-02-04]

CHARLES THE THIRD by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories King Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the Faith To all and singular Knights Freeholders and all other tenants of the Archbishopric of Canterbury Greeting Whereas the Archiepiscopal See of Canterbury being lately vacant by the resignation of the Right Reverend Our right trusty and well beloved Counsellor Justin Portal Welby Knight Grand Cross of Our Royal Victorian Order Master of Arts lately Archbishop thereof the College of Canons of Our Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ Canterbury having desired and likewise obtained Our leave have elected the Most Reverend Our right trusty and well beloved Counsellor Sarah Elisabeth Mullally Dame Commander of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Master of Science Master of Arts to be their Archbishop and Pastor to which election and person so elected We have granted Our Royal Assent and favour and have received her homage due to Us for the said Archbishopric of Canterbury And have restored to him the Temporalities of the said Archbishopric (except all manors lands tenements and hereditaments with the appurtenances to the said Bishopric lately belonging and appertaining now in Our hands by virtue of a certain Act of Parliament made and provided in the first year of the Reign of Our Royal Predecessor Queen Elizabeth the First (if any such there may be) and in Our Exchequer remaining of record) Therefore We Command You that to the said elect as your Archbishop and Lord in everything as to the said Archbishopric appertaining you be obedient and responsible aiding and assisting as it becomes you In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent Witness Ourself at Westminster the fourth day of February in the fourth year of Our Reign

BY WARRANT UNDER THE KING’S SIGN MANUAL

FARRAR