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Charles III has become Supreme Governor of the Church of England, with the styling Defender of the Faith. But as heir to the throne, he had suggested he would be a defender of all faiths and worked hard to encourage religious tolerance.

The King met faith leaders at a reception in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace last night.

He said: “I have always thought of Britain as a community of communities. That has led me to understand that the sovereign has an additional duty – less formally recognised but to be no less diligently discharged.

“It is the duty to protect the diversity of our country, including by protecting the space for faith itself and its practice through the religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs to which our hearts and minds direct us as individuals.”

His Coronation is expected to be a deeply religious, traditional Anglican service. But, in all other aspects of his work, he is expected to continue as a voice seeking to bring people of all faiths and cultural backgrounds together.

He added: “I am a committed Anglican Christian, and at my Coronation, I will take an oath relating to the settlement of the Church of England. At my Accession, I have already solemnly given – as has every sovereign over the last 300 years – an oath which pledges to maintain and preserve the Protestant faith in Scotland.”

But he said a commitment to diversity went with his faith and his role as King. He added: “This diversity is not just enshrined in the laws of our country, it is enjoined by my own faith.As a member of the Church of England, my Christian beliefs have love at their very heart.”

King Charles had earlier met with members of faith communities at a reception at Cardiff Castle, including Mark O’Toole, the Archbishop of Cardiff.

He also met wives and mothers of victims of the 1966 Aberfan mining disaster at the gathering.

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