Prince William, the Prince of Wales, will represent King Charles at the funeral of Pope Francis this Saturday, according to an announcement from Kensington Palace. The service will be held at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, where world leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, US President Donald Trump, and French President Emmanuel Macron, are expected to gather.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were among the last prominent figures to meet with the late pontiff, holding a private audience at the Casa Santa Marta two weeks ago during their visit to Italy. Pope Francis passed away at the same residence on Monday morning.
Prince William’s attendance at the funeral marks another high-profile diplomatic engagement, following his meeting with President Trump in France last year. King Charles, then Prince of Wales, attended Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005, which delayed his wedding to Camilla until April 9. Coincidentally, their recent meeting with Pope Francis took place on their 20th wedding anniversary, during which the Pope offered them personal congratulations.
Buckingham Palace described the audience as a deeply meaningful moment and a highlight of the royal couple’s Italian tour. Originally, a state visit to the Vatican had been planned, but it was canceled due to the Pope’s declining health. During their meeting, King Charles and Queen Camilla expressed prayers for his recovery, while Pope Francis extended his well-wishes for the King’s ongoing cancer treatment.
A staunch advocate for interfaith dialogue, King Charles had intended to participate in an ecumenical service at the Sistine Chapel during the canceled state visit. Following the Pope’s death, the King released a statement honoring his compassion and legacy, with royal residences flying flags at half-mast as a sign of respect. The King also wore a black tie during a meeting with New Zealand’s prime minister at Windsor Castle on Tuesday.
Downing Street confirmed that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will also attend the funeral, with his spokesperson stating it was fitting for world leaders to pay tribute to the Pope’s leadership during a “complex and challenging time.”
For more political updates, visit London Pulse News.
