We Give Not To Our Princes

The King's Easter message last year, when he had good news to share about his cancer, and the then Queen's in 2020, in the throes of the pandemic, may have been the only two ever, and were certainly the only two in living memory. If you want to hear an Easter message, then do as the King will be doing and go to church. Herewith, Article XXXVII of the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion:

The King's Majesty hath the chief power in this Realm of England, and other his Dominions, unto whom the chief Government of all Estates of this Realm, whether they be Ecclesiastical or Civil, in all causes doth appertain, and is not, nor ought to be, subject to any foreign Jurisdiction.

Where we attribute to the King's Majesty the chief government, by which Titles we understand the minds of some slanderous folks to be offended; we give not to our Princes the ministering either of God's Word, or of the Sacraments, the which thing the Injunctions also lately set forth by Elizabeth our Queen do most plainly testify; but that only prerogative, which we see to have been given always to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself; that is, that they should rule all estates and degrees committed to their charge by God, whether they be Ecclesiastical or Temporal, and restrain with the civil sword the stubborn and evil-doers.

The Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this Realm of England.

The Laws of the Realm may punish Christian men with death, for heinous and grievous offences.

It is lawful for Christian men, at the commandment of the Magistrate, to wear weapons, and serve in the wars.

Working back, then, there are the formal condemnation that the Catholic Church has never made of Christian pacifism (indeed, of opposition to any war waged by the King), an insistence on capital punishment that it was notable needed to be made in 1571, a repudiation of Papal authority that in view of the first paragraph could only mean all of it, and a clarification that "we give not to our Princes the ministering either of God's Word, or of the Sacraments". Do as the King will be doing. Go to church.