King Charles 'bold' move may cost him rare Papal honour

King Charles may have jeopardised his chances of receiving a prestigious honour from Pope Leo XIV due to his support for the appointment of Dame Sarah Mullally as the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Earlier this month, Dame Sarah made history as the first woman ever selected for the role. 

According to royal columnist Ephraim Hardcastle, this groundbreaking appointment could significantly reduce the likelihood of King Charles being granted a papal knighthood by Pope Leo, who succeeded the late Pope Francis earlier this year.

King Charles and Queen Camilla previously met with Pope Francis shortly before his passing. During the monarch's upcoming two-day visit to the Vatican, it is expected that King Charles will be named a Royal Confrater and will join Pope Leo in prayer at the Sistine Chapel.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Ephraim said: 'The King arrives in the Vatican today to receive the gift of a special chair when the Pope makes him a Royal Confrater

'The King was being considered for a papal knighthood by Pope Francis, something unprecedent since Harry VIII broke from Rome nearly 500 years ago.'

Now a spokesperson for the Church of England has weighed in on why the King was being awarded the honour of Royal Confrater. 

Speaking to the Daily Express: 'The Royal Confrater title is a tribute to His Majesty and to his own work over many decades to find common grounds between faiths and to bring people together.

 A royal source said the visit would be 'deeply significant for the King personally' as it would form part of his desire to bring communities.'