Real Reason Why King Charles Was Not Allowed to Attend the Pope’s Funeral — but Prince William Did

King Charles III paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Pope Francis through an official statement from the Palace. The monarch spoke highly of the Pope’s tireless commitment to philanthropy and climate change. Despite their good relationship, Charles is formally prohibited from attending his funeral. Royal expert Katie Nicoll revealed that, under royal protocol, reigning sovereigns are not allowed to attend funerals.

Pope Francis, who was the head of the Catholic Church, passed away last week, on April 21, from a stroke and subsequent heart failure. He was 88 years old. As per Hello! magazine, Prince William’s attendance on the monarch’s behalf, however, aligns with royal tradition. The outlet pointed out that the then-Prince Charles had also attended Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005 on behalf of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Royal expert Hugo Vickers also sheds light on the long-standing protocol in an article for The Sun. He told the outlet, “I mean, the Pope didn't come to the Queen's funeral, as you remember, and actually, Prince Charles went to the last, not Pope Benedict, Pope John Paul II's funeral.” Vickers also believes that William was ‘absolutely the right guy’ for the job. He added, “We have seen him step up and be deputised in such a strong way for King Charles because obviously with the King's health battles last year…he has had to step up a lot and I do think he's doing it very well while juggling family life.” When asked if Kate Middleton would accompany her husband, the expert explained, “William is the one who's going. He is representing the King. So it would be unusual if a couple went.”

Charles and Queen Consort Camilla expressed their ‘deep sadness’ in an official statement. As reported by People magazine, the statement partly read, “His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church, and his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith...Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many.” The monarch also recalled his many visits to meet the late Pope and added, “We were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.”

Charles and Camilla had a private gathering with Pope Francis on April 9 at the Vatican. They exchanged gifts, and the Pope congratulated the pair for their 20th anniversary. The two leaders also met during Charles' visits to Rome in 2017 and 2019 before he became King. As the British monarch, Charles is the leader of the Church of England, which split from the Catholic Church in 1534.