The news of the passing of Pope Francis sent waves of grief and sorrow through the Christian world.
The pontiff personally requested burial in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore instead of the Vatican. Before his funeral, his body will lie in state for three days at St Peter’s Basilica where hundreds of thousands of believers and world leaders will pai their tributes.
Among the world leaders expected to attend Pope Francis’ funeral are the presidents of most countries, President Macron of France to Argentina’s firebrand leader Javier Milei and Donald Trump and his wife.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the attendance, but King Charles will not attend the pope’s funeral for a very strange reason – he’s simply not allowed to go.
Katie Nicholl, a royal expert, explained that “King Charles, the last head of state to have an audience with Pope Francis, will not travel to the Vatican, in accordance with protocol and precedence which dictates that the Sovereign does not attend funerals.”
The king’s son, Prince William will instead attend the funeral on his father’s behalf, just like then-Prince Charles attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II on behalf of his mother, Queen Elizabeth III.
What is rather unusual in this situation is that King Charles and Pope Francis met just days before the pope’s passing. In fact, the two have been close friends.