Prince William will travel to the Vatican this week to attend Pope Francis' funeral on behalf of the British royal family. And if you're wondering why King Charles won't be there — he, in fact, isn't allowed to attend.
According to royal expert Katie Nicholl for Vanity Fair, “King Charles will not travel to the Vatican, in line with protocol and tradition that dictates that the sovereign does not attend funerals, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.”
This action avoids any impression of political or religious bias, especially in cases where the ceremony is associated with a religious authority such as the Pope.
This is not the first time an heir has attended a papal funeral in place of the sovereign. In 2005, King Charles, then a prince, attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II on behalf of Queen Elizabeth.
However, King Charles visited the Pope just days before his death and released a statement after his death:
“My wife and I were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Pope Francis. However, our heavy hearts were somewhat lightened by the fact that His Holiness was able to share an Easter greeting with the Church and the world he served so devotedly throughout his life and ministry,” said King Charles.
The King's message following the death of Pope Francis. pic.twitter.com/tnwvSoXcMh
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 21, 2025
Pope Francis' funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. After the ceremony, the Pope's body will be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, in accordance with his wishes, making him the first Pope to be buried outside the Vatican since Pope Leo XIII in 1903.
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Source: Cosmopolitan
