It will be Prince William attending the next papal funeral, as he represents, in familiar terms, his father King Charles III. This has been an exciting time for William. He had not met the Pope in person until now, so this is a special and historically significant moment for the British royal family.
King Charles meeting with the Pope shortly before his death in April 2022 with Queen Camilla. Their stay highlighted the relevance of the diplomatic relationship that exists between the British Crown and the Vatican. William’s attendance at this funeral signifies his commitment to preserving the new royal traditions established by his grandmother and father while deepening international diplomacy.
In modern history, Queen Elizabeth II was never represented at any of the last seven papal funerals by a head of state. The then Prince of Wales had to step in for Her Majesty in several important events. The most dramatic example came in 2005 during the funeral of Pope John Paul II. This pattern goes to show the royal family’s longstanding wariness of papal visits — a wariness that William is now carrying on, himself.
William’s attendance at the papal funeral is an indication of something greater even than an expressed personal tribute. It towers above London, symbolizing a commitment to preserving diplomatic relationships and fulfilling obligations to customs established long before the current iteration of the Commonwealth.
As royal commentator Emily Andrews recently told “That Grown-Up Kid Show,” this is no small undertaking.
“It’s quite a strange concept, isn’t it, to go to the funeral of someone you’ve never met before. But I think you have to remember that this is a massive diplomatic undertaking. It’s a sign of our country’s respect for the late Pope, and it’s also about him being at the heart of international relations.” – Emily
William’s decision to attend upholds royal precedent. Emily made this connection when she provided a historical overview of events.
“If you look at the last two papal funerals, certainly Pope John Paul II’s, it was the then Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, who represented the Queen. The Queen never attended any papal funerals. So, this is really a continuation of recent tradition.” – Emily
