Sovereign Decree on the Establishment and Regulation of the Sovereign’s Ecclesiastical Household

CONSIDERING that princes are stewards as well as rulers, and that the peace of the realm is strengthened when the Crown, by example, keeps holy things in due honour;

WHEREAS the spiritual care of the Sovereign and the Royal Family is a continuing duty of the Crown;

WHEREAS the orderly conduct of worship, pastoral counsel, and works of charity requires a constituted Ecclesiastical Household;

WHEREAS a defined structure, comprising Chaplains, a Protopresbyter, a Royal Confessor, and a Royal Almoner, promotes dignity, accountability, and continuity in religious ministration;

AND WHEREAS it is meet and proper to define the offices, duties, insignia, and governance of that Household;

NOW, THEREFORE, WE, in Our Sovereign capacity and having duly considered the advice of Our counsel, do hereby decree as follows:

Article I — Establishment of the Ecclesiastical Household

1. The Ecclesiastical Household is hereby constituted as part of the Royal Court to minister to the Kaharagian Sovereign and the Royal Family, overseeing the religious and theological dimensions of their lives.

2. The Ecclesiastical Household shall comprise Chaplains and Honorary Chaplains to the Sovereign, who shall be duly ordained clergy of the Christian faith, charged with providing worship, pastoral care, and spiritual counsel to the Sovereign and Royal Family.

3. The scale, composition, and organisation of the Ecclesiastical Household shall remain adaptable and responsive to the needs and preferences of the Sovereign.

4. Chaplains to the Sovereign shall be invested with an insignia of gold bearing the Sovereign’s monogram; Honorary Chaplains shall be invested with a similar insignia plated in silver.

Article II — The Office of Protopresbyter

1. The office of Protopresbyter of the Chapel Royal is hereby established. The Protopresbyter shall preside over the Chaplains and Honorary Chaplains, ensuring the proper fulfilment of their sacred and theological duties.

2. The Protopresbyter’s foremost responsibility is the spiritual care and ministrations to the Sovereign and the Royal Family.

3. The Protopresbyter shall promote the spiritual welfare of the wider community in coordination with other clergy and religious representatives.

4. The Protopresbyter shall maintain and advance ecumenical and interfaith relations between the Kaharagian Sovereign and other denominations and faiths, assisted by the Chaplains as required.

Article III — The Office of Royal Confessor

1. The office of Royal Confessor is hereby established. The Royal Confessor shall extend confidential spiritual counsel and sacramental guidance to members of the Royal Family.

2. While the Royal Confessor’s primary duty is to the Sovereign and the Royal Family, he or she may, at discretion, offer spiritual counsel to members of the Ecclesiastical Household as appropriate.

Article IV — The Office of Royal Almoner

1. The office of Royal Almoner is hereby established. The Royal Almoner shall administer and coordinate charitable distributions, alms, and benevolent works undertaken on behalf of the Sovereign and the Crown.

2. The Royal Almoner shall uphold and advance the principles of charity, mercy, and social responsibility within the Kaharagian monarchy.

3. The Royal Almoner shall be responsible for planning and executing observances and charitable acts associated with Maundy Thursday.

Article V — Duties of the Royal Chaplains

1. The Chaplains to the Sovereign shall provide spiritual guidance and pastoral support to the Sovereign and the Royal Family.

2. They shall conduct divine services, deliver homilies, offer counsel, and assist in charitable endeavours and community outreach undertaken under the auspices of the Crown.

Article VI — Duties of the Honorary Chaplains

1. The Honorary Chaplains to the Sovereign shall be called upon to provide spiritual guidance or conduct religious observances as circumstances require.

2. Honorary Chaplains shall be appointed in recognition of distinction in pastoral ministry, theological scholarship, or longstanding service to the Church and community.

Article VII — Appointment and Tenure

1. Appointments to the Ecclesiastical Household are made at the pleasure of the Sovereign and shall endure for the lifetime of the appointee unless otherwise determined by the Sovereign.

2. Appointees may be relieved of their duties at any time by subsequent Royal Decree at the Sovereign’s discretion.

3. Appointments are honorary and unsalaried; nevertheless, the Sovereign encourages the pursuit of further spiritual and academic formation and may extend appropriate support for theological education.

Article VIII — Dispute Resolution

1. Should disputes or grievances arise within the Ecclesiastical Household, they shall be addressed by a Mediation Council composed of senior members of the Ecclesiastical Household appointed by the Sovereign.

2. The Mediation Council shall seek reconciliation and resolution through dialogue, prayer, and the principles of the Christian faith.

Article IX — Enactment and Force

1. This Decree shall enter into force immediately upon Our signature.

2. It shall be entered into the Royal Kaharagian Gazette and published accordingly.