King Charles will not be in attendance as Pope Francis is laid to rest this weekend, new reports reveal.
According to the BBC, Kensington Palace confirmed that Prince William, the heir to the throne, will be attending the funeral service for Pope Francis’ on behalf of his father on Saturday, April 26.
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While Buckingham Palace has not provided a clear reason why Charles will miss the event, the decision appears to be based on how the royal family has handled these situations in the past.
When Pope John Paul II died during the reign of Queen Elizabeth in 2005, Charles, then the Prince of Wales, attended the funeral service. He even pushed back his wedding to QueenCamilla in order to make his attendance possible.
William, 42, has already stepped in to represent the royal family on several occasions lately, especially after Charles was diagnosed with cancer last year.
Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, met with Pope Francis less than two weeks before he died, attending a private meeting with the leader of the Catholic Church on Wednesday, April 9 during a visit in Italy.
The pope died on Monday, April 21 after suffering a stroke, followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse. He was 88.
Following his death, the pope was remembered by Charles and Camilla in an official statement from the monarch, which read, “My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis…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 King’s message following the death of Pope Francis. pic.twitter.com/tnwvSoXcMh
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 21, 2025
“His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others,” the tribute continued. “His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many.”
