Church of England Archbishop who married Harry and Meghan resigns over abuse scandal

Archbishop, who married Harry and Meghan's wedding, resigns amid Church of England abuse scandal backlash.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who officiated Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, announced his resignation after the Makin Report exposed mishandling of abuse allegations within the Church of England.

The report, released Friday, detailed a long-standing cover-up of sexual abuse by former church camp operator John Smyth, who allegedly abused over 130 boys and young men across Britain and Africa.

Leading the church since 2013, Welby admitted he “wrongly believed” in 2013 that police involvement would suffice as a resolution. Following intense public pressure, he took responsibility for the prolonged trauma and indicated his departure will be scheduled after fulfilling his remaining obligations. Welby’s resignation has intensified scrutiny over the church’s response to abuse cases, raising broader questions about leadership accountability within religious institutions.