Dr Williams gave his reaction to the BBC earlier today:

"My first reaction, selfishly, is just how much we're going to miss him. He's an absolutely invaluable member of pretty well any group that I've been involved with in the Anglican Church. He's a source of constant good advice, solid wisdom and experience; I shall miss him personally and officially and I shall miss him very, very deeply.

"He'll be remembered in Ireland for the enormously courageous and patience work that he's put into the business of reconciliation there, over many, many years, often very unobtrusively and great risk and I think that's perhaps the most substantial legacy he'll leave anywhere, but in the wider world of the UK and certainly in the wider world of the Anglican Communion, the legacy will be of someone who's always been a person commanding trust from very diverse people; who's never been the property of any party.

"One reason I'm probably not very popular with Robin is that I keep giving him difficult jobs to do, simply because he has such stature and commands such confidence and respect. It's a continuing tribute to the kind of person he is, and I'm sorry, Robin, for giving you these jobs, but you could say it's his own fault for the great expertise and care and patience and love that he brings for all that he's done."