5 hours ago
1
Prince William joined world leaders as he represented his father, King Charles, at Pope Francis’ funeral in Vatican City on Saturday morning.
The 42-year-old future king arrived in St. Peter’s Square just after 9:30 a.m. local time without his wife Kate Middleton.
Kensington Palace confirmed the Duke of Wales would be traveling to Vatican City for the funeral.
William, dressed in a blue suit and black tie, sat alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Jordan’s King Abdullah and Queen Rania.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer also represented the United Kingdom in Vatican City.
Other foreign dignitaries included President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The late pontiff, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died just after 7:30 a.m. on April 21 after suffering a stroke and falling into a coma.
King Charles paid tribute to Francis but said he would not attend the funeral, citing royal protocol.
“My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis,” Charles said. “Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry.
“The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.”
The cancer-stricken Charles and Queen Camilla met with Pope Francis in the Vatican on April 9 — 12 days before his death.
The trio met privately for about 20 minutes as the meeting marked the final time the pope met with a head of state before his death.
The 76-year-old monarch said he wouldn’t attend the funeral, citing the royal protocol of sovereigns not attending funerals, according to Vanity Fair.
Charles attended the last state funeral of a pope, Pope John Paul II in 2005 in place of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The then-crown prince’s visit to the Vatican forced his wedding to Camilla to be delayed to April 9, 2005.
English (US)