APRIL 26, 2025
The Prince made brief small talk with multiple world leaders at the Pope’s funeral on Saturday
The Prince of Wales paid his respects to the Pope in his most solemn and significant duty on the world stage to date.
The Prince, attending his first international funeral as a representative of the King, took a moment’s silence in front of Pope Francis’s coffin, bowing his head.
Dressed as per requirements in a dark suit and black tie, the Prince made brief small talk with Donald and Melania Trump, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron, and Giorgia Meloni.
He was seated between Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, and the prime minister of Andorra for the service in St Peter’s Square.
It marked the first time that he has officially represented the monarch at a funeral, a role that his father undertook on numerous occasions when he was Prince of Wales.
Prince William was seated between Germany’s chancellor and the Andorran prime minister – DOMINIK BUTZMANN/Shutterstock
His attendance would have been particularly meaningful for the King, who was a friend of the late Pope and enjoyed a short, personal audience with him earlier this month during a state visit to Italy.
Prince William’s attendance at the funeral saw him further his connections with the next generation of world leaders.
He walked with Mr Trump, Mr Macron and Sir Keir Starmer, who was later photographed in conversation with Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Prince and Prime Minister stood together for a moment’s silence in front of the Pope’s sealed wood and zinc coffin, which was placed before the altar in St Peter’s Basilica.
The Prince, with his hands clasped, bowed his head as he stood in reflection before the funeral Mass.
The Prince of Wales bowed his head as he stood before the late Pope’s coffin.
He spoke briefly to the US president and first lady in the basilica on his way to the service. The two men had previously met in Paris for the reopening of Notre-Dame, where they held a bilateral meeting.
The Prince also spoke to Mr. Macron, King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, and seemed to have a warm conversation with Ms. Meloni, who also met the King and Queen during their April visit.
He sat a row behind Jordan’s King Abdullah and Queen Rania, who are on the council of the Prince’s Earthshot Prize.
The Prince joined some 55 heads of state, 14 heads of government and 12 reigning monarchs for the open-air service.
It was described as a major milestone in the Prince’s developing role as a global statesman as he continued to build the personal, international relationships that his father and late grandmother had before him.
The Princess of Wales, who is still undertaking a gradual return from work while in remission from cancer, did not join him.
The couple will travel to the Isles of Mull and Iona, situated off the west coast of Scotland, next week to celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary.
The Prince, who is a devoted Aston Villa fan, missed Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final as a result of attending the funeral.
Courtesy/Source: The Telegraph
