King Charles and Prince William will not attend the formal inauguration of Pope Leo XIV next Sunday, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
Instead, the Duke of Edinburgh will represent the monarch at the ceremony, which will take place at a Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.
A Palace spokesperson stated: “The Duke of Edinburgh will represent His Majesty at the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV.”
The new pope was elected last Thursday, and his inauguration Mass is scheduled to take place 10 days later. While there are no strict rules governing the time between a papal election and inauguration, the gap is notably longer than in recent history. For comparison, Pope Francis was inaugurated just six days after his election in March 2013.
The Palace has not offered a specific reason for the absence of both King Charles and the Prince of Wales.
Royal Representation at the Vatican
This won’t be the first time a senior royal has stood in for the King in Vatican affairs. Just two weeks ago, Prince William represented the royal family at the funeral of the late Pope Francis in Rome. The Prince’s dignified presence was widely praised, with observers describing his role as a “perfect king” moment and a significant step in his evolution as a global statesman.
William joined world leaders and royalty from across the globe. Before taking his seat, he paid his respects at Pope Francis’ sealed coffin, standing alongside UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
King Charles himself once carried out similar duties, having represented Queen Elizabeth II at the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005.
At Pope Francis’ funeral, several other monarchs were also represented by senior family members. Denmark’s King Frederik sent Queen Mary in his place, while Norway’s King Harald and Queen Sonja were represented by Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
As Pope Leo XIV begins his papacy, the Duke of Edinburgh’s attendance underscores the continuing diplomatic relationship between the British monarchy and the Vatican, even in the absence of the King and his heir.
