The reason King Charles is forbidden from attending the Pope’s funeral
Leaders from across the globe, from France’s President Macron to Argentina’s fiery President Javier Milei, along with Donald Trump and his wife, have confirmed their attendance. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will also be present. However, King Charles, who had a strong personal bond with the late pope, will not be attending for a rather strange and surprising reason—one rooted in centuries-old royal protocol that few people even know about.According to royal expert Katie Nicholl, protocol dictates that the Sovereign does not attend funerals, explaining why King Charles, despite being the last head of state to meet Pope Francis before his death, will stay behind. Instead, Prince William will attend in his father’s place, marking his first time officially representing the king at a major international funeral. This mirrors history, as then-Prince Charles represented Queen Elizabeth II at Pope John Paul II’s funeral.
What makes this event even more emotional is that King Charles and Pope Francis had met just days before his passing and shared a long-standing friendship. In a heartfelt statement, King Charles praised the pope’s compassion, unity, and devotion to both humanity and the planet, noting how deeply he touched lives worldwide. As William steps onto the world stage to honor the pope, it’s clear this farewell marks not only the loss of a beloved religious leader but also a poignant moment of history repeating itself.
