New Archbishop of Canterbury heckled during confirmation ceremony as security rush in to remove protester

The man, who appeared to be wearing religious clothing, disrupted proceedings with a bout of shouting that echoed through the building.

His words were difficult to make out, but the outburst lasted roughly ten seconds before security staff swiftly escorted him from the service.

Dame Sarah remained composed throughout the interruption, keeping her focus as the heckler raised his voice that bellowed through the Cathedral.

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, addressed the disruption directly, confirming that "full opportunity" had been given for lawful objections to be lodged against the confirmation.

None had been received, he said, meaning the ceremony would proceed as planned.

Dame Sarah has now officially become the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, stepping into history as the first woman to hold the position in the Church of England's 500-year existence.

The 63-year-old was legally confirmed in the role during this afternoon's service.

As proceedings got underway, the Archbishop-elect was guided to a single chair positioned before the Royal Commissioners.

The congregation included bishops, clergy, local schoolchildren, and representatives from across the wider Anglican Communion, all gathered to witness this landmark moment.

Dame Sarah was first announced as the chosen candidate back in October, following a vacancy of nearly a year after Justin Welby stepped down from the role.

Mr Welby resigned from his position after facing increasing pressure to stand down over his failure to report prolific child abuser John Smyth.

Before the ceremony, Dame Sarah spoke of her vision for leading the Church through what she described as "times of division and uncertainty for our fractured world."

"With God's help, I will seek to guide Christ's flock with calmness, consistency and compassion," she said.

The former Chief Nursing Officer made clear that addressing the Church's safeguarding failures would be a priority, pledging to listen to those who have been "ignored or overlooked."

"I want us to be a Church that always listens to the voices of those who have been ignored or overlooked, among them victims and survivors of church abuse who have often been let down," she said.

She also committed to making the Church "a kind and safe place that cares for everyone, especially those who are vulnerable."

Dame Sarah brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served as Bishop of London for close to a decade along with her role as Chief Nursing Officer for England.

The new Archbishop revealed she's had "encouraging" conversations with King Charles, describing him as "a great supporter of the Church of England."

The pair were photographed together on Sunday after she delivered a sermon at his Sandringham estate.

While no royals attended today's St Paul's service, the family is expected to be represented at her enthronement at Canterbury Cathedral in March.

Before then, Dame Sarah will meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and pay traditional homage to the King.

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