The King’s Easter Message

[LeaningOnTheEverlastingArms]

I’ve just heard what the Supreme Governor of the Church of England said in his Easter address yesterday.

While I’m not actually surprised (which says a lot in itself) I am saddened and disgusted.

Anyone else?

I see there’s been a robust response from Gavin Ashenden on GB News and elsewhere.

edited to add a link to the message for those who haven’t yet seen / heard it.
www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2025-04-17/a-message-from-the-king-to-mark-easter

I have not heard him, but read his words on the link you kindly provided @LeaningOnTheEverlastingArms Thank you.

I am not surprised that it is a few wishy-washy and 'lovely' sentiments that do not reflect the power of the Cross and what our Lord accomplished. Nor does it reflect the suffering He endured for the sake of all human kind.

The Supreme Governer does love his rather arrogant and pompous self-awarded title of 'defender of faiths', I guess that is why he needed to include other religions that are irrelevant to the Easter message, rather than, as his Christian mother did so well during her enduring reign, uphold and practise the Faith. What hope for the Church of England?!

I rather liked it and I’ve shared it to my churches Facebook page. It isn’t con evo with a message about penal substitutionary atonement, but that isn’t the only model of the atonement in Christianity. If our king’s message encourages people to think about faith it’s all to the good.

Unfortunately the King is trying to please everyone and in doing so is not fulfilling his role as defender of the Faith. The Faith not all the faiths. It's unsurprising he's done this though, as they like to say on Mumsnet, he has 'form' for it.

Poor Charles, leave the guy alone. He can’t get it right can he? Whatever he says will offend somebody, so his comments have to be as neutral and inclusive as possible. I don’t think he shares his mother’s faith, so would it not be hypocritical for his speech to be hardline Christianity?

“whatever he says will offend somebody …”

“would it not be hypocritical for his speech to be hardline Christianity?”

I don’t think it would have been hypocritical for him to simply omit references to other faiths at the very moment in the year which is the most vital time in Christianity.

No one was expecting the Sermon on the Mount. We all know the king prefers to blandly ignore incompatibilities, particularly between Islam and Christianity.

In a particularly clumsy effort to be inclusive to those who deny the death and resurrection of our Lord, the king has trampled on the feelings of many Christians, during the precise three days of the year in which that death and resurrection is commemorated.

It’s breathtaking in its crassness.

He’s either been badly advised or else has exposed his own poor judgement yet again.

The former chaplain to his late mother was scathing in his criticism of the message, so I’m content that I’m in good company.

He's not just anyone though is he, he's the King of England and as such constitutionally has to defend the faith which is rooted in the Church of England. As @LeaningOnTheEverlastingArms says, he could have simply omitted the references to other faiths. Whether he shares his mother's faith or not is irrelevant because of his position.

Charles seems more keen not to offend Muslims than to offend Christians! Or at least that's how it is coming across, and not only this speech but in his previous recent actions involving Islam.

Gavin Ashenden has really nailed it, I think.

https://x.com/gavinashenden/status/1913121059664015397

"A serious matter of contention". Yes! Not impressed at all by the man who, by an accident of birth, has inherited a title of 'king', when he is not respectful to our King Jesus and the tortuous pain and suffering He endured and what Christians acknowledge at this time of Easter.

It says a lot about the human, Charles Mountbatten-Windsor who, of course, has the freedom to be exactly who he wants to be and he does not have to pretend to be something he is not. However, if he is not able to adhere to his job description, then perhaps he could demonstrate a little personal integrity and resign from the post?