King Charles attends event as head of Church of England

King Charles on Wednesday  attended the Advent Service at Westminster Abbey in his capacity as head of the Church of England. 

The royal family shared multiple photos of the monarch attending the service with a statement: "The King has attended an Advent Service at Westminster Abbey, highlighting themes of Advent ecumenicism, and the experience of persecuted Christians."

The statement read, "The congregation included Christian leaders from across the UK and the world; members of Anglican Clergy; and representatives of other faiths and charities."

King Charles is the  supreme governor of the Church of England.

According to Reuters, the split between the Catholic Church and the Church of England was formalized in 1534, after Pope Clement VII refused to annul King Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

Henry's desire for a male heir -- and a new wife who might provide one -- was the immediate catalyst, but other factors were also at play, involving the English crown's seizure of church assets and the growth of Protestant ideas in England.