Prince William, the Prince of Wales, will attend the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, representing King Charles.
Kensington Palace announced that Prince William will represent the monarch at the service, which is expected to be attended by world leaders including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, US President Donald Trump, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The Vatican confirmed that the funeral will take place at St Peter’s Basilica following a meeting of cardinals.
The world is mourning the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88, following a cerebral stroke and subsequent heart failure.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were among the last prominent figures to meet Pope Francis before his passing.
Their private meeting took place on 9 April at Casa Santa Marta, where the Pope died just weeks later.
Palace officials described the 20-minute encounter as a “very significant and special moment.”
The meeting had originally been part of a broader state visit to the Vatican, which was scaled back due to the Pope’s declining health.
The date held personal significance for the King and Queen, who were celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary.
“Pope Francis gave them his best wishes for their anniversary,” Buckingham Palace said.
The King and Queen had been praying for the Pope’s recovery.
In return, Pope Francis expressed his hope for King Charles’s own health as he continues treatment for cancer.
King Charles, known for his commitment to interfaith dialogue, had hoped to mark the Vatican visit with symbolic gestures, including an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel.
Following the Pope’s death, the King issued a statement calling it a “devastating loss” and praised the late pontiff’s “compassion.”
Flags at royal residences have been lowered to half mast as a mark of respect.
This is not the first time a papal funeral has impacted royal plans.
In 2005, then-Prince Charles postponed his wedding to Camilla to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II.
Downing Street confirmed on Tuesday that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will also attend Saturday’s funeral.
His spokesperson said the prime minister had paid tribute to Pope Francis’s leadership “in a complex and challenging time” and added that it was “right, like other world leaders, that he pays tribute to his life and attends his funeral.”
(BBC)
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