"The Star-Spangled Banner" urges Americans to look out for the flag that waves over "the land of the free and the home of the brave." "La Marseillaise," the anthem of republican France, calls its citizens to arms. But the UK's national anthem is a prayer, urging God to "save" — grant long life to — the queen.

It's a clear sign that in Britain, the head of state, the country and faith are inextricably linked.

This week "God Save the Queen" has been ringing out across Britain as the country has marked the 70th anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth II, the longest-serving English monarch.

When Elizabeth came to the throne in 1952, Britain was still being rebuilt after the end of World War II and its heavy bombing campaigns; Winston Churchill was prime minister and the country still had an empire.

The young queen's coronation suggested a new era — as the millions of television sets purchased to watch the live broadcast of the ceremony from London's Westminster Abbey signaled.

But the coronation itself was steeped in tradition and confirmed the continuing intertwining of the monarchy and religion.

The ceremony can be traced back more than 1,000 years and involves the anointing of the monarch who commits his or herself to a life of service to God and the people through sacred promises.

One of those, to uphold the Protestant religion, is also a reminder of the religious divisions of the past.

The queen's two titles of Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England, given to her at her accession, also owe their existence to Reformation history.

Defender of the Faith was first bestowed on Henry VIII by a grateful pope for the English king's rebuttal of the teachings of Martin Luther, a title that Henry defiantly held onto even after breaking with Rome to found the Church of England. He made himself head, while his daughter, the first Elizabeth, called herself Supreme Governor of the Church of England, saying Jesus Christ was its head.

Today, the role of Supreme Governor indicates the British monarch retains a constitutional role regarding the established Church of England but does not govern or manage it.

The modern Elizabeth has left that to the bishops, although she addresses general synods and has a role as a listener and guide to her primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

But while Defender of the Faith has been over the years an inherited title and little more, Elizabeth II appears to have embraced it and made it her own, speaking out very openly in recent years about her own Christian faith and explaining how it has provided the framework of her life.

She has done this mostly through the medium of her annual Christmas message, a tradition begun by her grandfather, George V, in 1932, and continued by her father, George VI.

Her early Christmas Day broadcasts were platitudinous — the holidays as an occasion for family was a frequent theme.

In 2000, however, she spoke of the Millennium as the 2,000-year anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ, "who was destined to change the course of our history."

She went on to speak very personally and frankly about her faith: "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."

Similar sentiments have been aired at Christmas ever since.

God did get significant mention along the way.

In 1947, when she was 21 and six years from becoming queen, Elizabeth broadcast a public commitment, saying: "I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service … God help me to make good my vow."

As she planned her coronation with dress fittings, selecting music and getting the crown jewels from their display in the Tower of London, there were also sessions with then-Archbishop of Canterbury Geoffrey Fisher, who provided her with a book of special prayers — a volume she keeps to this day among her most treasured possessions.

The spiritual foundations of the British monarchy are to be found in Scripture's ideas about humility and wisdom being the great virtues of kings. Then there are the Gospels, with accounts of Jesus, the servant king, who has come to serve others.

Key passages on this theme, from the Gospels of John and Matthew, are read at a Maundy Thursday service where the queen distributes gifts to elderly people, an ancient ceremony meant to imitate Christ serving his disciples by washing their feet.

The queen also leads the nation at regular services honouring the war dead, or offering thanksgiving for her jubilees, but worship is not, for her, only a public show. She has attended church regularly throughout her life and is said to have an uncomplicated, Bible and prayer-book based faith.

That love of the Bible was something she shared with the American evangelist Billy Graham, whom she invited to preach for her on several occasions (though the close friendship the Netflix series "The Crown" suggested between them seems far-fetched).

She relies on the deans of Windsor — the clerics who run St George's Chapel, at Windsor Castle, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married — for spiritual solace.

Her husband, the late Duke of Edinburgh, and her son, Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, always displayed a more intellectual curiosity about religion, including a great interest in both other Christian denominations and other faiths.

Over the years, as Britain has become increasingly diverse, Elizabeth has expressed an increasing openness as well.

She has encouraged members of all faiths to be present at great church occasions during her reign and in the annual Commonwealth Day service held at Westminster Abbey.

She regularly meets different faith leaders, including five popes — a remarkable turnaround for a monarchy that once broke so spectacularly from Rome — though she has not gone so far as to ask other religious leaders to play any sort of role for her, such as be a chaplain.

There has been talk of disestablishment of the Church of England, even in Anglican circles, with some concern it privileges one religious group above others in an increasingly diverse nation.

Disestablishment would unravel the connection between the monarch, the Church of England and the state, which survives in Britain since the time of the Reformation.

Change would mean the removal of Church of England bishops from the House of Lords, although there has been little call for this from other faiths. Rather, they prefer representation of faith at the highest levels of the British Parliament.

But that issue of privileging seemed apparent when the queen spoke at Lambeth Palace in 2012, suggesting the Church of England might act as a sort of umbrella under which other faiths might shelter, by saying Anglicanism "has a duty to protect the free practice of all other faiths in this country."

The importance of other faiths was expressed Friday morning at the Platinum Jubilee thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral, in London, where not only leaders of Christian denominations but of other faiths were present, including Buddhists and Jews.

One major difference at today's thanksgiving service compared to previous ones for her reign's major anniversaries was the frequent references to looking after God's creation.

In the twilight years of her reign, she is coming to share Prince Charles' interest in the environment, but placing it firmly within her Christian concerns.

Attention is inevitably turning now to the next reign, with speculation about how much of an Anglican ceremony the next coronation will be.

The Church of England will undoubtedly take the lead, but just as Princess Diana's Westminster Abbey funeral combined tradition and innovation, as Commonwealth Day services have done for years, the next coronation will most likely offer that blend, too.

Charles once said he would become Defender of Faith, rather than Defender of the Faith, expressing concern that he needed to recognize the changing religious nature of Britain.

He has since retracted this, indicating he will adopt the traditional title.

Even so, he has engaged frequently with other faiths, particularly Judaism and Islam.

His interest in Islam has in part been aesthetic, with a particular appreciation for Islamic art and architecture, but he has also commented on its metaphysical, holistic view of the world and humanity's place in it, even as he has also expressed concerns about the radicalization of young people.

While this interest in Islam and an awareness of the growing population of Muslims in Britain has led to his support for Islamic organizations, such as the Centre for Islamic Studies at the University of Oxford, in more recent years he has reined back on it a little and instead become far more outspoken about the persecution of Christians in the Middle East.

The Prince of Wales has undoubtedly been innovative in his work, creating charities that work with young people, and championing the environment. But he likes tradition, too, be it church music or the Book of Common Prayer.

All signs are that his coronation will be like the man, with an innovative sheen on ancient tradition and a sincere regard for faith in diverse Britain.

• Catherine Pepinster is the author of "Defenders of the Faith - the British Monarchy, Religion and the Next Coronation," published by Hodder and Stoughton.
• First published in RNS. Republished with permission.

Camilla and her husband Prince Charles heard how the Russian invasion had ripped apart the Ukranian refugees' families and lives at home.

A spokesman said yesterday: "No one could fail to be moved by the appalling scenes of Ukrainians fleeing their homes and the duchess wanted to help in whatever way she could."

Camilla embraced Inna Prystaiko, the wife of the Ukraine ambassador, telling her that she was "praying" for her and her countrymen.

The royals were accompanied by representatives of humanitarian charities of which Charles is a patron and a supporter.

Leaving the Cathedral, the Prince of Wales accepted a "Stop Putin" sign from a small child and was moved to pay tribute to the "extraordinary bravery, generosity and fortitude of the Ukrainian community," making an impromptu speech to the crowd gathered.

In the course of the speech, Charles said his "thoughts and prayers, however inadequate they may be, are with all of you at this most critical time."

One of Charles' reasons for visiting the cathedral was to find out how he could assist in the emerging Ukrainian humanitarian crisis.

Among those he met at the Cathedral were Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family, Vadym Prystaiko, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.K. and Ukrainian relief workers and children

Nowakowski says the visit represented a "very important day" for the Ukrainian community.

"They had an opportunity to be in the cathedral to light candles and say a prayer ... they were able to meet Ukrainian volunteers who have been working very hard since the beginning of the war eight years ago, but especially in these last few days — organizing humanitarian packages, organizing rallies and being with other people.

"What I think was most meaningful for me was the Prince also encouraged a few of the humanitarian organisations that he is patron of to join us as well."

"The fact that they spent so much time reassuring and expressing their solidarity with us, it was a very important day for us."

Source

• Catholic News Service
• MarieClaire
• Image: Daily Express

The 71-year-old royal has been "so deeply struck" by the way people have demonstrated "fundamental human compassion and decency" and set differences aside to provide "vital" support to local communities.

He said at a virtual multifaith conference hosted by the Commonwealth Jewish Council: "Faith communities do such wonderful work to help those in need and their members volunteer to care for the sick, give charity to the poor and help the most vulnerable around them.

"So often they are the main providers of vital welfare, of health and educational services to all sorts of people." Read more

"As one who has been a lifelong champion of the spiritual in everyday life, to promote understanding between faiths, and who has sought to alleviate poverty and disadvantage through his charitable work, the Prince of Wales is particularly qualified to mark the canonisation which will be such a significant and joyful moment for this country," a statement from Clarence House says.

Newman, who lived from 1801 to 1890, was a prominent member of the Oxford Movement in the Anglican church.

This movement advocated reintroducing older practices into worship.

Initially an Anglican priest, Newman converted to Catholicism in 1845.

He became a Catholic priest soon after and was created a cardinal by Leo XIII in 1879.

His hymns, poetry and theology have made a global contribution to the canon of Church.

He was also known for his work with poor communities.

When he died at the age of 89, more than 15,000 people lined the streets of Birmingham for his funeral.

Newman was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in Birmingham during the pope's 2010 visit to the United Kingdom.

He will be the first English saint since the Forty Martyrs were canonized in 1970, and the first British saint since Scottish St. John Ogilvie in 1976.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who is the Archbishop of Westminster and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, says he is "delighted" Prince Charles will be at the canonisation ceremony.

"Cardinal Newman's exploration of faith, depth of personal courage, intellectual clarity and cultural sensitivity make him a deeply admired follower of Christ.

"His ministry, especially among the poor, is a permanent sign of the Church's pastoral compassion and a challenge to us all today."

While the Prince of Wales has confirmed his attendance, the British Government has yet to announce who will be representing them at the canonisation.

Source

• The Tablet
• Crux Now
• Image: Catholic World Report

His upcoming environmental project is a community-based initiative which will be launched alongside a new Sussex Royal charity in September.

Harry, the Duke of Sussex, says his first target will be eliminating single-use plastics.

He joined young leaders from 26 countries at Windsor Castle on Tuesday for a course run by world-renowned anthropologist and ethologist Dr Jane Goodall.

Sharing his frustrations in a speech at Goodall's Roots & Shoots initiative, Harry decried wasteful plastic packaging in grocery stores.

"A lot more needs to be done by companies and consumers to tackle the problem," he said.

"We need to demand change. It's a dirty habit that's become normalised.

"Gone are the days when you'd just grab ten carrots, take them home and then just give them a shave.

"People are actually buying shaved carrots in a plastic bag.

"The younger generation are saying, 'This is crazy. This doesn't make any sense at all.'"

On a personal level, he said for some years he has banned all single-use plastics, including plastic bottles, straws, and wasteful packaging such as disposable coffee cup lids, from his life and home.

"Companies need to start taking responsibility for it and they need to spend the money they've made in selling all this stuff to either start clearing [it] up or, even better, stop making it and finding alternatives," he said.

"There are alternatives."

Harry was also asked at the course what peace meant to him.

It is "To be connected to the things that matter the most, rather than being disconnected," he replied.

He said he thinks a lack of human connection has created "a lack of compassion and empathy for each other" which has in turn prompted a lack of understanding about the importance of the ecosystem.

Prince Charles has has long campaigned on the subject, warning last year that the younger generation deserved a better future than the "insanity of a damaged and destroyed world".

Source

• Telegraph
• Harpers Bazaar
• Image:ABC News

Making a plea for peace and saying "extremism and division" are not inevitable, Charles said he had been privileged to have met many people "with such inspiring faith and courage" who were battling oppression and persecution, or who have fled to escape it.

Speaking to 1000 people at an ecumenical service at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday "to celebrate the contribution of Christians in the Middle East," Charles recalled his "great joy" of meeting Sister Luma Khudher OP in October.

Saying Khudher and other Iraqi refugees are a testament to the "extraordinary power of faith," Charles explained that in 2014, as extremists advanced on the Christian town of Qaraqosh, Khudher "got behind the wheel of a minibus crammed full of her fellow Christians and drove the long and dangerous road to safety.

"Like the 100,000 other Christians who were forced from the Ninevah Plains by Daesh [Islamic State] that year, they left behind the ruins of their homes and churches, and the shattered remnants of their communities.

"The sister told me, movingly, of her return to Ninevah with her fellow sisters three years later, and of their despair at the utter destruction they found there," he said.

"But like so many others, they put their faith in God, and today the tide has turned - nearly half of those displaced having gone back to rebuild their homes and their communities."

Charles said the return of Christians to Iraq represented "the most wonderful testament to the resilience of humanity, and to the extraordinary power of faith to resist even the most brutal efforts to extinguish it."

He said that in meeting people like Khudher, he was repeatedly "deeply humbled and profoundly moved by the extraordinary grace and capacity for forgiveness that I have seen in those who have suffered so much."

"It is an act of supreme courage, of a refusal to be defined by the sin against you," he said, "of determination that love will triumph over hate."

Christians who face persecution, endure and overcome "are an inspiration to the whole church, and to all people of goodwill."

Source

• CruxNow
• VOA News
• Premier
• Image: Crux Now

"I admire and greatly respect all those of you who find it in your hearts to pray for those who persecute you and, following the example of Christ, seek forgiveness for your enemies," he said.

The Prince's message was inspired by his recent meetings with Christian Church leaders from the Middle East.

The meetings were facilitated by the international charity Aid to the Church in Need.

His message forms part of his ongoing dialogue with Church leaders in the United Kingdom.

The Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols responded, saying:

"We should deplore the persecution of any human being. And he [Charles] is right to draw attention to the fate of Christians, especially in the Middle East.

"It's also worth remembering today that people will walk through villages like Qaraqosh (in Iraq) which were destroyed by Daesh [IS] and they will celebrate again the Easter mysteries."

Charles is a longtime advocate for persecuted Christians.

He said he has "met many who have had to flee for their faith and for their life - or have somehow endured the terrifying consequences of remaining in their country".

Their plight moves and humbles him because of their "truly remarkable courage and by their selfless capacity for forgiveness, despite all that they have suffered.

"I have also heard that in the darkness there are small shafts of light, signs of resurrection and of hope that slowly but surely Christians who have had to flee from their homelands are beginning to return and to rebuild their shattered homes."

According to the Nineveh Reconstruction Committee, 37,031 Christians have returned to the Nineveh Plains over the last 12 months.

However, about four times as many are still in the Kurdish areas in northern Iraq.

They fled there after IS took over the Niniveh Plains area in 2014.

Source

• Crux Now
• The Tablet
• Image: Abouna

It will be their first meeting with Francis.

The Royals will be touring Romania, Italy, the Vatican and Austria during the end of March and beginning of April. Read more

Prince Charles recorded a video message for the launch of a report by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need.

He said that faith leaders must ensure their followers respect believers in other faiths "rather than remaining silent".

The report concludes that Christians are the "most persecuted religious minority" in the world.

It notes that Muslim countries dominate the list of places where religious freedom is most under threat.

It also argues that religious freedom is in "decline" in western countries, because of a fear of extremism and a growing belief that faith should have no place in public life.

The Prince spoke of his anguish at the plight of Christianity in the region of its birth.

"It is an indescribable tragedy that Christianity is now under such threat in the Middle East - an area where Christians have lived for 2000 years, and across which Islam spread in 700AD, with people of different faiths living together peaceably for centuries," he said.

"It seems to me that our future as a free society - both here in Britain and throughout the world - depends on recognising the crucial role played by people of faith.

"And, of course, religious faith is all the more convincing to those outside the faith when it is expressed with humility and compassion, giving space to others, whatever their beliefs."

Setting out his own suggestions to improve the situation, he said: "First and foremost, rather than remaining silent, faith leaders have, it seems to me, a responsibility to ensure that people within their own tradition respect people from other faith traditions.

"We have yet to see the full potential of faith communities working together."

He said this would require people to have both a "maturity in one's own faith" and an "essential humility".

Prince Charles emphasised the importance of his own personal Christian faith, but he also signalled that he saw his role as to "defend" followers of other faiths including Islam.

Sources

• The Telegraph
• Aid to the Church in Need
• Image: The Independent

The Prince is on record as saying that "Islam can teach us today a way of understanding and living in the world which Christianity itself is poorer for having lost".

The prospective head of the Church of England was on a visit to the Qatari capital of Doha when a royal aide confirmed he has been taking lessons in Arabic for six months.

This would enable him to read the Qur'an in its original form as well as decipher Arabic script on visits to mosques and museums.

He already speaks good French, some German, and has also had lessons in Welsh.

The news that the Prince is learning Arabic so he can undertake a deeper study of the Qur'an has led Religion News Service contributor Omid Safi to speculate on his fascination with Islam.

Safi is a professor of Islamic studies at the University of North Carolina in the United States.

Examining statements Prince Charles has made about Islam, Safi says he approaches that faith "not primarily through the lens of security threats and international crises, but rather as a body of spiritual teachings".

Safi says: "Much of his attractions to Islam actually comes from the insights of the Qur'an that come to identify the natural cosmos as a site where God is revealed and experienced."

Safi goes on to say that the Prince's deep concern for environmental crises is strongly reminiscent of the writings of contemporary Muslim philosophers, such as the Iranian scholar Seyyed Hossein Nasr.

According to Safi, Prince Charles "seems to be reiterating Nasr's view that the solution to the environmental crisis is in recovering a sense of integration, of wholeness, both inside humanity and with nature".

Sources:

Daily Mail

Religion News Service

Image: Religion News Service