King Charles has held talks with the Archbishop of Canterbury ahead of his resignation over the John Smyth sex abuse scandal.
The King exchanged private words with Archbishop Justin Welby through intermediaries this morning.
GB News understands the King approved of the Archbishop’s resignation process.
Public words from a monarch, who is the supreme governor of the Church of England, are understood to usually be issued at the point of formal departure rather than at an Archbishop of Canterbury’s resignation.
King Charles held talks with Archbishop of Canterbury ahead of his resignation over sex abuse scandal
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A petition started by three members of the General Synod, the church’s parliament, calling for Welby to quit had reached over 10,000 signatures.
In a statement, Welby said: “The last few days have renewed my long-felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England.”
He added: “Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury.
“The Makin Review has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth.
Prince Louis’ christening was performed by Justin Welby
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“When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow.
“It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and re-traumatising period between 2013 and 2024.
“It is my duty to honour my Constitutional and church responsibilities, so exact timings will be decided once a review of necessary obligations has been completed, including those in England and in the Anglican Communion.
“I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church.
Justin Welby performed the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
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“As I step down I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse.”
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer said the victims of John Smyth were “failed very, very badly”, but would not comment directly on whether the Archbishop of Canterbury should quit.
The Prime Minister said earlier today: “Let me be clear: of what I know of the allegations, they are clearly horrific in relation to this particular case, both in their scale and their content. My thoughts, as they are in all of these issues, are with the victims here who have obviously been failed very, very badly.
“It’s a matter, in the end, for the church, but I’m not going to shy away from the fact of saying that these are horrific allegations and that my thoughts are with the victims in relation to it.”