Prince William has been accused of being "insulting" by Queen Elizabeth II's former chaplain following claims about the heir's "quiet faith" and dedication to the Church of England.
Gavin Ashenden, who served as chaplain to the late monarch from 2008 to 2017, criticised the Prince of Wales during a radio discussion, describing the announcement as feeling "strategic" and "political."
The criticism emerges just days before William and Catherine are due to attend the enthronement of Dame Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury on Wednesday, marking a historic moment as she becomes the first woman to hold the position.
Mr Ashenden expressed his frustration with the timing and nature of William's religious declaration.
Queen's ex-chaplain hits out at Prince William's religion stance: 'I feel a bit insulted'
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"I feel a bit insulted. The thing is, Christianity, a man's religious faith, it's a matter of intense integrity, really," he said. "People die for it in places. They give their lives for it. The standards are very high."
The former royal chaplain pointed to William's track record of limited church attendance, noting the prince is known primarily for appearing at services during family occasions and formal events such as Christmas and Easter.
Mr Ashenden continued to tell LBC: "You forgive your enemies, you love your enemies. You're engaged in a crusade against evil.
"It's a big thing, and the problem is that Robert Hardman, who is the best biographer, has described William in the past as not particularly religious and beset by doubts about whether he should head up a church he doesn't attend much.
Dr Gavin Ashenden during a previous appearance on GB News
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"So, he's a really sweet man with sort of vacant ideas about God and the difficulty with this is it feels strategic, it feels political. And the trouble is I understand why they're doing that, of course, I do, but if you're a passionate Christian, frankly, it's insulting."
However, Mr Hardman himself offered a more optimistic interpretation of the prince's recent statement, writing in the Mail that while William "has not been visited by a flash of light like St Paul on the road to Damascus," his words demonstrate he "fully grasps the role and importance of the Church."
The Reverend Marcus Walker took a diplomatic stance, telling the Mail: "Elizabeth I said we should not make windows into men's souls, but wherever Prince William is on his journey, I'm sure God will find him."
Revd Walker added that William's honesty about his spiritual position was commendable, expressing hope that "there's a long time before he is Supreme Governor of the Church of England."
Queen Elizabeth II was known for her deep Christian faith
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Upon ascending to the throne following King Charles III's death, William will assume the role of Supreme Governor, serving as the ceremonial head of the Anglican Church.
His approach marks a departure from both his grandmother and father, who have spoken openly about their religious convictions.
Queen Elizabeth II frequently discussed the comfort her Christian beliefs provided, while King Charles has developed his own religious philosophy, partly influenced by his interest in faiths, including Buddhism.