The Archbishop of Canterbury has reportedly agreed to a Royal request to delay his retirement until at least 2003.

The Queen wants Dr George Carey to be at her side for her golden jubilee celebrations in two years' time, says The Times.

Dr Carey has said in the past he would make an announcement in November this year, when he is 65, about when he plans to retire.

But The Times claims the monarch has asked him to stay on until 2003 so he can oversee the spiritual side of her 50th anniversary on the throne.

The archbishop would preside over at least one service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

May emulate Victoria

The reports would suggest the Queen, who is 73, has no intention of abdicating in favour of the Prince of Wales.

The last British monarch to complete 50 years on the throne was Queen Victoria, who went on to celebrate her diamond jubilee in 1897 and died four years later.

Lambeth Palace has refused to comment on private conversations between the Archbishop and the Queen.

Dr Carey, the son of an east London porter and a life-long Arsenal fan, became the 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury in 1991.

Under the normal rules for archbishops, he can choose to remain in the post until his 70th birthday, in 2005.