Canada changes King Charles’s title and removes any mention of the UK

Canada has changed King Charles’s official title and removed any reference to the UK in it, it has been revealed.

The move has been hailed as ‘very significant’ in Canada which is one of the 14 countries outside Britain where Charles is Head of State.

A new government bill has revealed Canada will no longer include the phrase ‘Defender of the Faith’, and ditch the mention of the United Kingdom in his official royal title.

Richard Deacon, retired Archdeacon of the Diocese of Saskatoon, said: ‘I think it is very significant. It’s a historic departure from tradition’ it has been reported.

Annie Cullinan, director of communications for the King’s Privy Council in Canada, said: ‘As we prepare for the coronation of the new monarch, a decision was made to modernize the title to bring Canada in line with other Commonwealth countries, including Australia.’

The term ‘Defender of the Faith’ has been bestowed on every monarch since Henry VIII was first given the honour by the Pope 502 years ago.

In 1521, Pope Leo X awarded King Henry VIII the title of Defender of the Faith after he published writings challenging the Protestant Martin Luther.

Although the English church broke from the Roman Catholic church in 1534, Henry and all following monarchs in England and Britain have continued to claim this title. 

In 1994, Charles, then the Prince of Wales, said that he would rather be known as the Defender of Faith rather than the Defender of the Faith.

In a 2015 interview, he clarified that he meant it possibly to be in addition to his original title rather than replacing it. 

His new title will read: ‘Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of Canada and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.’

The late Queen was known as ‘Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.’

Claims that the King will swear an oath to be defender of all faiths at the Coronation have been dismissed.

Barbados ditched the Queen as Head of State 18 months ago and similar calls for republicanism are growing in Jamaica and Bahamas.

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