diff --git a/.changeset/angry-rats-turn.md b/.changeset/angry-rats-turn.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..342e2dff2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/angry-rats-turn.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'astro': patch
+---
+
+Implements the Astro.response RFC
diff --git a/packages/astro/src/@types/astro.ts b/packages/astro/src/@types/astro.ts
index 805eeb407..f396699d1 100644
--- a/packages/astro/src/@types/astro.ts
+++ b/packages/astro/src/@types/astro.ts
@@ -131,6 +131,18 @@ export interface AstroGlobal extends AstroGlobalPartial {
 	 * [Astro reference](https://docs.astro.build/en/reference/api-reference/#astrorequest)
 	 */
 	request: Request;
+	/** Information about the outgoing response. This is a standard [ResponseInit](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Response/Response#init) object
+	 * 
+	 * For example, to change the status code you can set a different status on this object:
+	 * ```typescript
+	 * Astro.response.status = 404;
+	 * ```
+	 * 
+	 * [Astro reference](https://docs.astro.build/en/reference/api-reference/#astroresponse)
+	 */
+	response: ResponseInit & {
+		readonly headers: Headers
+	};
 	/** Redirect to another page (**SSR Only**)
 	 *
 	 * Example usage:
@@ -1031,5 +1043,6 @@ export interface SSRResult {
 		slots: Record<string, any> | null
 	): AstroGlobal;
 	resolve: (s: string) => Promise<string>;
+	response: ResponseInit;
 	_metadata: SSRMetadata;
 }
diff --git a/packages/astro/src/core/app/index.ts b/packages/astro/src/core/app/index.ts
index 307508fc7..2d6554380 100644
--- a/packages/astro/src/core/app/index.ts
+++ b/packages/astro/src/core/app/index.ts
@@ -108,14 +108,12 @@ export class App {
 		}
 
 		let html = result.html;
+		let init = result.response;
+		let headers = init.headers as Headers;
 		let bytes = this.#encoder.encode(html);
-		return new Response(bytes, {
-			status: 200,
-			headers: {
-				'Content-Type': 'text/html',
-				'Content-Length': bytes.byteLength.toString(),
-			},
-		});
+		headers.set('Content-Type', 'text/html');
+		headers.set('Content-Length', bytes.byteLength.toString())
+		return new Response(bytes, init);
 	}
 
 	async #callEndpoint(
diff --git a/packages/astro/src/core/render/core.ts b/packages/astro/src/core/render/core.ts
index 0adac347e..333e9eec8 100644
--- a/packages/astro/src/core/render/core.ts
+++ b/packages/astro/src/core/render/core.ts
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ export interface RenderOptions {
 
 export async function render(
 	opts: RenderOptions
-): Promise<{ type: 'html'; html: string } | { type: 'response'; response: Response }> {
+): Promise<{ type: 'html'; html: string, response: ResponseInit; } | { type: 'response'; response: Response }> {
 	const {
 		links,
 		logging,
@@ -162,5 +162,6 @@ export async function render(
 	return {
 		type: 'html',
 		html,
+		response: result.response
 	};
 }
diff --git a/packages/astro/src/core/render/dev/index.ts b/packages/astro/src/core/render/dev/index.ts
index 410cb965b..07af9134f 100644
--- a/packages/astro/src/core/render/dev/index.ts
+++ b/packages/astro/src/core/render/dev/index.ts
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ export interface SSROptions {
 export type ComponentPreload = [SSRLoadedRenderer[], ComponentInstance];
 
 export type RenderResponse =
-	| { type: 'html'; html: string }
+	| { type: 'html'; html: string, response: ResponseInit }
 	| { type: 'response'; response: Response };
 
 const svelteStylesRE = /svelte\?svelte&type=style/;
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ export async function render(
 	return {
 		type: 'html',
 		html,
+		response: content.response,
 	};
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/astro/src/core/render/result.ts b/packages/astro/src/core/render/result.ts
index 358bef7e0..c72d1ae59 100644
--- a/packages/astro/src/core/render/result.ts
+++ b/packages/astro/src/core/render/result.ts
@@ -104,6 +104,18 @@ export function createResult(args: CreateResultArgs): SSRResult {
 
 	const url = new URL(request.url);
 	const canonicalURL = createCanonicalURL('.' + pathname, site ?? url.origin);
+	const response: ResponseInit =  {
+		status: 200,
+		statusText: 'OK',
+		headers: new Headers(),
+	};
+
+	// Make headers be read-only
+	Object.defineProperty(response, 'headers', {
+		value: response.headers,
+		enumerable: true,
+		writable: false,
+	});
 
 	// Create the result object that will be passed into the render function.
 	// This object starts here as an empty shell (not yet the result) but then
@@ -168,6 +180,7 @@ ${extra}`
 					// Intentionally return an empty string so that it is not relied upon.
 					return '';
 				},
+				response,
 				slots: astroSlots,
 			} as unknown as AstroGlobal;
 
@@ -202,6 +215,7 @@ ${extra}`
 			renderers,
 			pathname,
 		},
+		response
 	};
 
 	return result;
diff --git a/packages/astro/src/vite-plugin-astro-server/index.ts b/packages/astro/src/vite-plugin-astro-server/index.ts
index 0fdb8705b..5c8cafd77 100644
--- a/packages/astro/src/vite-plugin-astro-server/index.ts
+++ b/packages/astro/src/vite-plugin-astro-server/index.ts
@@ -94,8 +94,13 @@ async function writeSSRResult(
 		return;
 	}
 
-	const { html } = result;
-	writeHtmlResponse(res, statusCode, html);
+	const { html, response: init } = result;
+	const headers = init.headers as Headers;
+
+	headers.set('Content-Type', 'text/html; charset=utf-8');
+	headers.set('Content-Length', Buffer.byteLength(html, 'utf-8').toString());
+
+	return writeWebResponse(res, new Response(html, init));
 }
 
 async function handle404Response(
diff --git a/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/components/OverwriteHeader.astro b/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/components/OverwriteHeader.astro
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e3a99c6c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/components/OverwriteHeader.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+let gotError = false;
+try {
+	Astro.response.headers = new Headers();
+} catch(err) {
+	gotError = true;
+}
+---
+<div id="overwrite-error">{gotError}</div>
diff --git a/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/components/SetAHeader.astro b/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/components/SetAHeader.astro
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4186561f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/components/SetAHeader.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+---
+Astro.response.headers.set('Seven-Eight', 'nine');
+---
diff --git a/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/components/SetStatus.astro b/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/components/SetStatus.astro
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d98f3a8e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/components/SetStatus.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+---
+Astro.response.status = 403;
+---
diff --git a/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/pages/child-set-status.astro b/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/pages/child-set-status.astro
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8b66882f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/pages/child-set-status.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+---
+import SetStatus from '../components/SetStatus.astro';
+---
+<html>
+	<head>
+		<title>Testing</title>
+	</head>
+	<body>
+		<h1>Testing</h1>
+		<SetStatus />
+	</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/pages/child-tries-to-overwrite.astro b/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/pages/child-tries-to-overwrite.astro
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..35a207de7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/pages/child-tries-to-overwrite.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+---
+import SetAHeader from '../components/SetAHeader.astro';
+import OverwriteHeader from '../components/OverwriteHeader.astro';
+---
+<html>
+	<head>
+		<title>Testing</title>
+	</head>
+	<body>
+		<h1>Testing</h1>
+		<SetAHeader />
+		<OverwriteHeader />
+	</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/pages/some-header.astro b/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/pages/some-header.astro
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f2840ff94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/pages/some-header.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+---
+import SetAHeader from '../components/SetAHeader.astro';
+Astro.response.headers.set('One-Two', 'three');
+Astro.response.headers.set('Four-Five', 'six');
+---
+<html>
+	<head>
+		<title>Testing</title>
+	</head>
+	<body>
+		<h1>Testing</h1>
+		<SetAHeader />
+	</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/pages/status-code.astro b/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/pages/status-code.astro
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9d183beb0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/astro/test/fixtures/ssr-response/src/pages/status-code.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+---
+Astro.response.status = 404;
+Astro.response.statusText = 'Oops';
+---
+<html>
+	<head>
+		<title>Testing</title>
+	</head>
+	<body>
+		<h1>Testing</h1>
+	</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/packages/astro/test/ssr-adapter-build-config.test.js b/packages/astro/test/ssr-adapter-build-config.test.js
index 427049532..bb1c4514a 100644
--- a/packages/astro/test/ssr-adapter-build-config.test.js
+++ b/packages/astro/test/ssr-adapter-build-config.test.js
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import { load as cheerioLoad } from 'cheerio';
 import { loadFixture } from './test-utils.js';
 import { viteID } from '../dist/core/util.js';
 
-// Asset bundling
 describe('Integration buildConfig hook', () => {
 	/** @type {import('./test-utils').Fixture} */
 	let fixture;
diff --git a/packages/astro/test/ssr-api-route.test.js b/packages/astro/test/ssr-api-route.test.js
index 496b3a412..e4758f10e 100644
--- a/packages/astro/test/ssr-api-route.test.js
+++ b/packages/astro/test/ssr-api-route.test.js
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import { expect } from 'chai';
 import { loadFixture } from './test-utils.js';
 import testAdapter from './test-adapter.js';
 
-// Asset bundling
 describe('API routes in SSR', () => {
 	/** @type {import('./test-utils').Fixture} */
 	let fixture;
diff --git a/packages/astro/test/ssr-dynamic.test.js b/packages/astro/test/ssr-dynamic.test.js
index 47157e10b..8c200f1c5 100644
--- a/packages/astro/test/ssr-dynamic.test.js
+++ b/packages/astro/test/ssr-dynamic.test.js
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import { load as cheerioLoad } from 'cheerio';
 import { loadFixture } from './test-utils.js';
 import testAdapter from './test-adapter.js';
 
-// Asset bundling
 describe('Dynamic pages in SSR', () => {
 	/** @type {import('./test-utils').Fixture} */
 	let fixture;
diff --git a/packages/astro/test/ssr-request.test.js b/packages/astro/test/ssr-request.test.js
index 0cba2a49e..a9c1dd6b6 100644
--- a/packages/astro/test/ssr-request.test.js
+++ b/packages/astro/test/ssr-request.test.js
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import { load as cheerioLoad } from 'cheerio';
 import { loadFixture } from './test-utils.js';
 import testAdapter from './test-adapter.js';
 
-// Asset bundling
 describe('Using Astro.request in SSR', () => {
 	/** @type {import('./test-utils').Fixture} */
 	let fixture;
diff --git a/packages/astro/test/ssr-response.test.js b/packages/astro/test/ssr-response.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1b517d9ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/astro/test/ssr-response.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import { expect } from 'chai';
+import { load as cheerioLoad } from 'cheerio';
+import { loadFixture } from './test-utils.js';
+import testAdapter from './test-adapter.js';
+
+describe('Using Astro.response in SSR', () => {
+	/** @type {import('./test-utils').Fixture} */
+	let fixture;
+
+	before(async () => {
+		fixture = await loadFixture({
+			root: './fixtures/ssr-response/',
+			adapter: testAdapter(),
+			experimental: {
+				ssr: true,
+			},
+		});
+		await fixture.build();
+	});
+
+	it('Can set the status', async () => {
+		const app = await fixture.loadTestAdapterApp();
+		const request = new Request('http://example.com/status-code');
+		const response = await app.render(request);
+		expect(response.status).to.equal(404);
+	});
+
+	it('Can set the statusText', async () => {
+		const app = await fixture.loadTestAdapterApp();
+		const request = new Request('http://example.com/status-code');
+		const response = await app.render(request);
+		expect(response.statusText).to.equal('Oops');
+	});
+
+	it('Child component can set status', async () => {
+		const app = await fixture.loadTestAdapterApp();
+		const request = new Request('http://example.com/child-set-status');
+		const response = await app.render(request);
+		expect(response.status).to.equal(403);
+	});
+
+	it('Can add headers', async () => {
+		const app = await fixture.loadTestAdapterApp();
+		const request = new Request('http://example.com/some-header');
+		const response = await app.render(request);
+		const headers = response.headers;
+		expect(headers.get('one-two')).to.equal('three');
+		expect(headers.get('four-five')).to.equal('six');
+		expect(headers.get('seven-eight')).to.equal('nine');
+	});
+
+	it('Child component cannot override headers object', async () => {
+		const app = await fixture.loadTestAdapterApp();
+		const request = new Request('http://example.com/child-tries-to-overwrite');
+		const response = await app.render(request);
+		const headers = response.headers;
+		expect(headers.get('seven-eight')).to.equal('nine');
+		const html = await response.text();
+		const $ = cheerioLoad(html);
+		expect($('#overwrite-error').html()).to.equal('true');
+	});
+});