Prince William Will Attend the Pope's Funeral Since King Charles Isn't Allowed
· Yahoo NewsPrince William will be traveling to the Vatican and attending the funeral of Pope Francis on behalf of the British royal family later this week. And if you're wondering why King Charles isn't attending, he literally isn't allowed.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl writes in Vanity Fair that King Charles "will not travel to the Vatican, in accordance with protocol and precedence which dictates that the Sovereign does not attend funerals, Buckingham Palace has confirmed." And this isn't the first time an heir has attended the funeral of a pope on behalf of the sovereign—back in 2005, then-Prince Charles attended Pope John Paul II's funeral on behalf of Queen Elizabeth.
That said, King Charles did visit the pope just a few days before his recent passing, and he released a statement after his death.
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“My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis,” Charles said. “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.”
“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,” he added. “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."
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