Prince Edward will formally open the Church of England’s assembly meeting instead of the Queen at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday.

The Queen usually attends the inauguration of General Synod every five years but has recently missed events due to advice from doctors. She will attend a Remembrance Service on Sunday though at the Cenotaph.

Next week’s Synod, made up of bishops, clergy and laity, marks a new term so will feature newly elected members who will be part of the assembly for five years and vote and pass legislation.

The Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, will represent the Queen and the preacher will be Archbishop Angaelos, the Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, will address the gathering, the first full in-person meeting of Synod since February 2020.

During the opening, members will discuss the gap between rich and poor in the UK and the recent review of governance structures within the Church.