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Many months ago - it could even be a couple of years back, Prince Charles made a classic faux pas by stumbling over the Fid.Def issue. Asked by reporters whether he will, by tradition, become titular head of the Church of England by having Fid.Def embossed on all British coins (as it is now), when he eventually becomes king, he turned it into a political issue by stating that Great Britain was a country of many faiths, and therefore when that time came, he would quite happily be defender of FAITHS, but not THE faith. He was severly criticised for this.

Does anybody remember when that was? It is purely for a one-sentence aside in a book I am writing concerning public testimonials, so the date is not important, but the month and year would be helpful.

It's from a Jonathan Dimbleby extravaganza on the Prince which was probably recorded in April 1994.

Sunday Times, June 26, 1994, "Charles plans to break royal link with Church"

The Prince of Wales is planning to end the 450-year-old role of the monarch as head of the Church of England and defender of the faith. Charles believes that when he becomes king he should be a figurehead for all religions in Britain, including Roman Catholics and Muslims, and that the church should be disestablished.

The prince has said he would be happy to be seen as the ''defender of faith'' rather than ''defender of the faith,'' arguing that it is more important for people ''to believe in something'' even if it is not the established church.

''I happen to believe that the Catholic subjects of the sovereign are as important (as Protestants), not to mention the Islamic, Hindu and Zoroastrian,'' he says in a television interview to be broadcast this week.

Charles, who is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his investiture as Prince of Wales, has told friends he believes the church should be disestablished because Britain is now a multiracial, multi-faith society in which the Church of England has become a minority voice.

He maintains it is divisive for the monarch to be seen as head of such an institution when large numbers of British people practise other religions. All his subjects, he argues, should be equal and it is ''absurd'' that the monarch should be prevented from marrying a Roman Catholic.

Though Charles does not mention disestablishing the church in the 212-hour film to be broadcast on ITV on Wednesday, it is clear he wishes to provoke a debate on the roles of church and monarchy. He also risks a rift with the Queen, who is firmly in favour of the status quo.A minor edit addition, on reflecting... The title's not really his to relinquish, even after he ascends:

In 1521, [Henry VIII] dedicated his Defence of the Seven Sacraments, which earned him the title of "Defender of the Faith" (Defensor Fidei). Prior to this, his title had been "inclitissimus", meaning "most illustrious". The later title was maintained even after his break with Rome, and it is still used by the British monarch today.The title was granted by the Pope, and it's been applied to all British Monarchs since. It isn't taken or earned, it was given.

SPOT ON, SPOT! Thanks a million. I'm going to run that off on my printer right now. This has given me far, far more information than I had ever hoped for. I ploughed through more than eight hundred snippets of info. after entering defender of the faith via the Daily Mail and pressing the search engine. Unfortunate half of it was about football defenders! If, or hopefully when I finish it and get it published I'll send you a copy!

Once again, Spot, many, many thanks for your help. I mean it

Frederick wrote: Once again, Spot, many, many thanks for your help. I mean itDelighted - any time. Bear in mind that's the sensationalist Sunday Times perspective. Even so, most of it's probably close to what was being said at the time.

Frederick wrote: whether he will, by tradition, become titular head of the Church of England


I would have thought Camilla will handle the titular side of things.

R.B.