Prince William attended Pope Francis’ funeral on April 26, 2025, representing King Charles. While many praised his presence, some criticized his choice of outfit as disrespectful. William had never met the Pope, unlike his father and Queen Camilla.
Other royals present included monarchs and heirs from Spain, Belgium, Monaco, Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Catholic royals sat in the front row per Vatican protocol.
King Charles did not attend due to ongoing cancer treatment, so William stepped in for him.
Why Prince William attended the funeral of Pope Francis
Prince William attended Pope Francis’ funeral, following royal protocol that typically sees the heir to the throne represent the British monarchy at such events. Royal expert Hugo Vickers explained that Prince William’s attendance was in line with tradition, as his father, King Charles, didn’t travel due to health reasons. Vickers noted that Prince William has done well stepping in for his father, especially after King Charles’ health struggles.
Body language expert Judi James praised William for his composure during the funeral, stating that his subtle, respectful presence reflected the qualities of an ideal future king.
Prince William praised after stepping in for King Charles
Prince William received praise for stepping in for King Charles during Pope Francis’s funeral. A body language expert noted William’s calm and respectful demeanor, calling his actions “elegantly politely drama-free.”
King Charles, unable to attend, shared a heartfelt statement remembering Pope Francis’s compassion and dedication just days after their final meeting.
Although William was praised, some royal watchers criticized his choice of a blue suit instead of traditional black—similar to former President Donald Trump’s attire.
Prince William criticized for wearing blue suit at Pope Francis’ funeral
Prince William faced backlash online for wearing a navy blue suit instead of black at Pope Francis’ funeral. Many called it disrespectful, questioning why he didn’t follow tradition.
However, experts say blue isn’t necessarily wrong. A Vatican source confirmed there’s no strict dress code and that attendees wore what they felt was appropriate. Some Italian reports mention a preference for dark suits with black ties, but protocol isn’t mandatory.
So while some fans were upset, William didn’t break any official rules.
“For men, dark suit with a long black tie and a button of the same color on the left lapel of the jacket, where only Vatican honors can be placed. For women, a black dress, preferably long, of the same color as gloves and veil on the head, with the only allowed ornament being a string of pearls.”
Royals Don’t Always Wear Black to Funerals
Though black is traditional, royal family members have worn blue suits to funerals before. At Sir Bobby Charlton’s funeral in 2023, Prince William wore a blue suit. Similarly, at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, both Prince George and William wore navy. This aligns with formal dress protocols, including those for events like the Pope’s funeral. While the Royal Family is tied to the Church of England, Prince William is seen as less religious than past monarchs.
Pope Francis’ funeral – a “wake-up” call for Prince William
Royal historian Alexander Larman told GB News that Prince William may have received a “wake-up call” after attending the Pope’s funeral—despite never publicly showing interest in religion. While King Charles is deeply spiritual, William has stayed quiet on the subject.
“He’s never expressed faith or spoken about religion,” Larman said. “This could be a moment for him to reflect on its importance.”
Some are now also debating Prince William’s outfit—he wore a blue suit instead of black. Was that disrespectful?