Dame Sarah Mullally has made history by becoming the first female Archbishop of Canterbury to pay homage to the monarch, swearing her oath of allegiance to King Charles at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.
The ceremony, which traces its origins to the reign of Elizabeth I, saw the Archbishop formally recognise the King as Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
Photographs captured Charles shaking hands with Dame Sarah prior to the oath being administered.
The Lord Chancellor David Lammy attended the proceedings, alongside the Rt Revd Richard Jackson, Bishop of Hereford, who serves as the King's Clerk of the Closet.
The Archbishop of Canterbury and King Charles met at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday
|PA
This traditional ritual precedes Dame Sarah's formal enthronement at Canterbury Cathedral, scheduled for next month.
Following the ceremony, Lambeth Palace released a statement from Dame Sarah expressing her gratitude for the occasion.
"It was a privilege to pay homage to His Majesty The King at Buckingham Palace," she said.
"I give thanks for His Majesty's deep Christian faith, demonstrated in his life of service to our nation and the Commonwealth."
The Archbishop noted the personal significance of the moment, having previously sworn allegiance to the late Queen Elizabeth II eight years ago when she took up her position as Bishop of London.
"I am grateful for his support of the Church of England as I now begin this new ministry as the Archbishop of Canterbury," Dame Sarah added.
She has previously described Charles as a "great supporter" of the institution following what she termed "encouraging" discussions about her vision for the role.
Dame Sarah Mullally is the first female Archbishop of Canterbury in history
|PA
Dame Sarah's appointment marks a watershed moment for the Church of England, making her the first woman to hold the position of Archbishop of Canterbury in its entire history.
The role had remained vacant for approximately a year following Justin Welby's announcement that he would step down over his handling of an abuse scandal.
Her confirmation took place last month during a service at St Paul's Cathedral, where she expressed her intention to lead with "calmness, consistency and compassion" during what she described as "times of division and uncertainty for our fractured world".
Prior to her elevation, Dame Sarah served as Bishop of London for nearly a decade and previously held the position of chief nursing officer for England.
LATEST ROYAL NEWS:
She was formally announced as Archbishop-designate in October.
The private ceremony unfolded in the Chinese Dining Room at Buckingham Palace, following rituals established centuries ago.
During the proceedings, Dame Sarah knelt before the sovereign with her hands pressed together in a prayer-like position.
Charles then clasped her hands within his own as she repeated the words of homage after the Lord Chancellor.
The pair took part in a private ceremony in the Chinese Dining Room at Buckingham Palace
|PA
Upon completion of the oath, the King instructed the Lord Chancellor to issue the required Letters and Writs.
Though Charles holds the position of head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury serves as its most senior bishop and spiritual leader, extending to the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The Clerk of the Closet role, held by Bishop Jackson, dates back to the 1430s and carries a nominal annual salary of merely £7.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter