Prince William represented King Charles at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday (April 26), following the pontiff’s passing on Easter Monday at the age of 88.
Pope Francis died after battling double pneumonia, a condition that had kept him hospitalized for five weeks. His funeral service was held at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican at 10am local time on Saturday.
The Pope is currently lying in state as Italy observes a period of national mourning.
Pope Francis’ funeral marks the conclusion of a 12-year papacy defined by efforts to bridge divides between the global Church and other faiths, including forging strong ties with the British royal family.
Did King Charles attend the funeral of Pope Francis?
Following the Pope’s death on Easter Monday, King Charles shared his “profound sympathy” with the world.
However, the king himself did not attend the funeral. Instead, Prince William represented him at the service.
This decision aligns with royal protocol. Buckingham Palace stated that the king “will not travel to the Vatican, in accordance with protocol and precedence which dictates that the Sovereign does not attend funerals.”
Similarly, back in 2005, then-Prince Charles attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II.
On Saturday (April 26), the Prince of Wales took part in Pope Francis’ funeral. Reports suggest William was initially “reluctant” to follow the king’s directive.
According to the MailOnline, William’s attendance meant he could potentially miss watching his beloved Aston Villa play Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
The match was scheduled to kick off at 5.15pm (BST) the same day.
Why Kate Middleton didn’t attend the Pope’s funeral with Prince William
Prince William made the trip alone; his wife Kate, Princess of Wales, did not accompany him. Buckingham Palace recently confirmed that only William would attend the service. Kate’s absence reflects royal tradition, similar to when Camilla did not accompany Charles to Pope John Paul II’s funeral.
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Who else attended Pope Francis’ funeral?
Alongside Prince William, leaders and religious figures from around the world gathered in Rome to pay their respects.
US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer were all in attendance. Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were also present.
Pope Francis will be remembered for his deep compassion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska also traveled to Rome for the service.
The royal family’s connection to Pope Francis
Throughout the years, Pope Francis maintained a close and warm relationship with the British royal family.
Queen Elizabeth II met him in 2014. After Prince Philip’s passing in 2021, the Pope sent “heartfelt condolences,” acknowledging the Duke of Edinburgh’s lifetime of service.
More recently, King Charles and Queen Camilla visited Pope Francis in early April, marking their first meeting since Charles became monarch.
During the visit, the Pope expressed kind words for the royal couple’s 20th wedding anniversary and offered his blessings for the king’s continued recovery. Charles and Camilla were said to be “deeply touched” by his remarks.
Reports also indicate that royal residences lowered their flags to half-mast to honor Pope Francis.
Royal Insider has reached out to Kensington Palace for comment.