Prince William Attends Pope Francis' Funeral in Vatican City, Kate Middleton Absent

Prince William attended Pope Francis' funeral in Vatican City on April 26, representing King Charles III, who did not attend due to longstanding royal protocol that prevents the reigning monarch from attending funerals. William was among several world leaders, such as Joe Biden and Donald Trump, present at the ceremony, and he attended alone without his wife, Kate Middleton. Kate's absence is consistent with royal tradition, as spouses of the Prince of Wales have typically not attended such events, and is also attributed to her ongoing recovery from cancer, during which she has reduced her public appearances. The decision for William to attend solo follows precedent, as King Charles (then Prince Charles) also attended Pope John Paul II’s funeral alone in 2005. The royal family expressed condolences, highlighting Pope Francis's compassion and commitment to unity and humanitarian causes. William's attendance marked his most significant official duty to date as heir to the throne.