Brittain’s Prince of Wales and prime minister Keir Starmer paid their respects to Pope Francis as they joined world leaders for his funeral in the Vatican’s St Peter’s Square in Italy on Saturday.
Prince William, who was representing his father King Charles III, stood side by side with the prime minister for a moment of silence in front of Pope Francis’ coffin.
The prince, wearing a dark blue suit and black tie, clasped his hands as he solemnly bowed his head ahead of the funeral mass, before walking through the ornate St Peter’s Basilica to meet a member of the clergy and be guided to his seat.
Ahead of the service, Sir Keir spoke to United States (US) president Donald Trump, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and French president Emmanuel Macron.
Zelensky and Trump had a 15-minute one-to-one meeting ahead of the service, a day after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian president Vladimir Putin – as talks between the three nations over ending the war in Ukraine continue.
The US and Ukrainian presidents were pictured locked in discussion while facing each other on a pair of red chairs against the ornate backdrop of the basilica, while another picture showed them with Sir Keir and Macron.
Zelensky said following the funeral that the meeting with Trump had been “good” and “very symbolic”.
They were among 55 heads of state, 14 heads of government and 12 reigning monarchs who joined mourners for the open-air service in front of the basilica.
Former US president Joe Biden also attended the event.
Prince William briefly spoke to Trump and first lady Melania Trump on his way into the service, Kensington Palace said.
He also spoke to Macron and his wife, Brigitte.
During the service, the prince was seated in the third row next to German chancellor Olaf Scholz, while Jordan’s King Abdullah and Queen Rania were seated in the row in front of him.
It is the first time the prince has represented the king – who is the head of the Church of England – at an international funeral.
The decision for the heir to the throne to attend a papal funeral is in keeping with modern tradition – after King Charles, while the Prince of Wales, attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005 on behalf of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Sir Keir was joined by his wife, Victoria, and foreign secretary David Lammy.
Pope Francis died aged 88 on Easter Monday.
The Vatican estimates that 250 000 people were in attendance at the Pope’s funeral in St Peter’s Square and the surrounding area. – BBC
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