King Charles III will not attend the funeral of Pope Francis, who died on April 21 after undergoing a stroke. The funeral is scheduled for Saturday in the city of the Vatican, where Prince William will represent the monarch.
The decision follows a longtime royal tradition. BUCKINGHAM Palace confirmed that the king’s absence is in accordance with the established protocol, which indicates that the British sovereign does not attend papal funerals. Queen Elizabeth II also followed this previous one, without attending the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005. At the time, Charles – then Prince of Wales – represented She at the ceremony.
As the supreme governor of the Church of England, the British monarch occupies a symbolic religious role which could have influenced the decision to maintain this tradition. Although the palace has not developed further, the Royal Katie Nicholl expert noted in the Vanity fair that the protocol and priority were key factors of the king’s decision.
A story of the royal protocol and papal funerals
Although he does not attend the funeral of the pontiff, King Charles maintained a personal and respectful relationship with Pope Francis during the life and papacy of the latter. Earlier this month, during a royal visit to Italy, King and Queen Camilla met the Pope in Casa Santa Marta, the Pope’s residence. The meeting was among the last of the Pope with foreign dignitaries.
New: The Prince of Wales will be on behalf of King Charles, attending the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday April 26 pic.twitter.com/ececipic9h
– Russell Myers (@RjMyers) April 22, 2025
After the Pope’s death, King Charles published a statement expressing his deep sadness and reflecting on their recent visit.
“My wife and I were very deeply saddened to learn the death of Pope Francis,” the statement said. “Our heavy hearts have been somewhat attenuated, however, 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 his ministry.”
A personal tribute of the king to Pope Francis
The king also paid tribute to the lasting inheritance of the Pope, noting his plea for world unity and environmental care.
“His holiness will remain memories for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all peoples of faith, and for those of good will that work for the benefit of others.”
Political leaders around the world, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will attend the funeral. In his statement, Starmer described the deceased pope as a “courageous” leader who represented “for the poor, the oppressed and the forgotten”.
The funeral will end a papacy defined by humility, reform and a strong voice on global issues of justice and climate change.
