The Princess of Wales put on an elegant display in a monochrome ensemble as she attended the installation of Dame Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral in Kent today.
Kate, 44, alongside Prince William, 43, witnessed the symbolic start of the archbishop of Canterbury’s public ministry in the Church of England and across the Anglican Communion.
Dame Sarah is the first female to hold the high office of Archbishop of Canterbury in its 1,400-year history.
The royal mother-of-three debuted a new £2,850 Washington Prince of Wales check Cashmere Coat from Suzannah London for the occasion.
She paired the piece with another new, standout accessory: the £690 Houndstooth Straw Boater from Juliette Millinery.
The royal mixed the old with the new, and also wore her £570 Ralph Lauren Celia Calfskin heels in black, while carrying her £4,036 Chanel Mini Classic Handbag, made of lambskin and gold-tone metal.
To accessorise, Kate donned her £7,245 Cavolfiore Earrings from Cassandra Goad, made from 18carat yellow gold with pearl and diamonds.
William took part in today’s event in his role as heir to the throne, according to recent tradition.
The Princess of Wales put on a stunning display in a new £2,850 Washington Prince of Wales check Cashmere Coat from Suzannah London as she attended the installation of Dame Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral in Kent today
The monarch, who is Supreme Governor of the Church of England, delegates the duty to their successor.
Kate held onto her wide-brimmed Juliette Botterill hat amid windy weather as she and the prince were greeted outside the West Door by Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Lady Colgrain.
William and Kate have no active role in the service, but watched as members of the congregation.
The ceremony featured a mandate – a legal instruction – from the King, read by Principal Registrar of the Province of Canterbury, Darren Oliver, giving the monarch’s instruction to install Dame Sarah as the Archbishop of Canterbury.
She is the first woman to be appointed Archbishop in the role’s 1,400 year history, and today’s service is her formal installation.
Dame Sarah is the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.
William and Catherine previously met her at Lambeth Palace on February 5 and have since indicated their interest in building a warm and meaningful relationship with the most senior bishop in the church and its spiritual leader.
Upon arrival, Their Royal Highnesses were received by the Lord Lieutenant, Lady Colgrain, who then introduced them to the Dean of Canterbury, the Very Reverend Dr David Monteith.
The mother-of-three completed her ensemble with the £690 Houndstooth Straw Boater from Juliette Millinery
The couple were then processed through the Nave and took their seats in the Quire.
The Prince and Princess took a few moments to speak to the new Archbishop on their way out.
Dame Sarah was welcomed into Canterbury Cathedral, amid fanfare, by schoolchildren from John Wallis Academy in Ashford.
Having walked to the Cathedral’s West Door, she knocked it three times using her pastoral staff – the traditional way for a new archbishop to seek permission to enter.
She was questioned by the schoolchildren as to why she had been sent, to which she answered: ‘I am sent as Archbishop to serve you, to proclaim the love of Christ and with you to worship and love him with heart and soul, mind and strength.’
During the ceremony, Dame Sarah placed her hand on the St John’s Bible to swear the Corporal Oath – the first time this Bible has been used in this way.
The copy of the first Benedictine hand-illuminated Bible for more than 500 years was given to the cathedral in 2023.
The Augustine Gospels, which were used between 1945 and 2013, when the last archbishop was sworn in, are said to be fragile and not easily moved.
Dame Sarah said she was ‘delighted to be with you today’ as she gave her first sermon in the role.
She told a congregation of around 2,000 people at Canterbury Cathedral: ‘Over the last week I have walked the ancient pilgrim path from St Paul’s Cathedral in London to Canterbury Cathedral.
‘Each day my heart and spirits were lifted immeasurably by the people – young and old – we encountered, even though my aching feet and limbs tell a different story.
‘As I have walked, I have been aware that I make this journey both on a personal level – as my ministry moves from being the Bishop of London to the Archbishop of Canterbury – but more significantly, I make this journey with others and in the footsteps of the past.’
Dame Sarah undertook a six-day pilgrimage by foot from London to Canterbury in preparation for her role, arriving in Kent city on Sunday.
Crowds gathered outside the cathedral ahead of the service, with one person saying they were keen to ‘see this brilliant moment in history’.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch were also among guests in the 2,000-strong congregation inside.
Sir Keir, speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, described the position as a ‘key role in our national life’ and said he wished the new archbishop ‘every success’.
Dame Sarah said she is aware of the ‘significance of being the first female archbishop’ and paid tribute to the ‘women that have supported me in my ministry, and also the men as well’.
Wednesday’s ceremony has ‘women’s voices right the way through it’, she added.
She said: ‘There’s something about celebrating women, but also being able to say to other people, in a sense, it’s entirely possible for you to follow your dreams and what you want to do.’
Special features included five of the so-called ‘Africa Six’ – the first female Anglican bishops from across Africa – processing through the Cathedral’s nave in their robes.
And, in celebration of the contribution of female scholars, musicians and writers through the years to the Church, choral music will range from the Renaissance to contemporary, including the anthem All Shall Be Well by British composer Joanna Marsh.
